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History and Current EventsJanuary 2016
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"It started with mud, and manure, and Carl Graham Fisher." ~ from Earl Swift's The Big Roads
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| Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories by Rob BrothertonAccording to psychologist Rob Brotherton, conspiracy theories naturally appeal to almost everyone, though some people are more inclined to look for conspiracies where they don't exist. Reviewing the history of conspiracy theories, which can be dated at least to ancient Athens, Suspicious Minds explores the phenomenon and discusses its impact on society. While Brotherton doesn't believe, for example, that the moon landings were a hoax, he does express sympathy for those who find reassurance in such beliefs. This scientifically based, engagingly written, and informative book will keep you reading to the very last page. |
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| The White Road: Journey Into an Obsession by Edmund de WaalAward-winning author and ceramic artist Edmund de Waal chronicles his longstanding obsession with porcelain and traces its history in this absorbing book -- part memoir, part history, and part travelogue. Through vivid descriptions of his discoveries, accessible explanations of the chemistry of porcelain ceramics, and compelling accounts of porcelain's history, The White Road paints an absorbing word portrait of the substance, the locales that produce it, and de Waal himself. Anyone curious about the subject of ceramics or interested in travel memoirs will find this book enthralling. |
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| Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda HervieuxIn the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the only African American battalion to land made an invaluable contribution, but the soldiers' valor has long gone unrecognized on account of racism. In Forgotten, journalist Linda Hervieux draws on official records and interviews with a few surviving soldiers to portray the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. Though the men were subjected to racist treatment from basic training on, the battalion served bravely and skillfully at Normandy, and their medics heroically saved numerous lives. For another riveting book on African American troops in World War II, read Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Brothers in Arms. |
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| Science of the Magical: From the Holy Grail to Love Potions to Superpowers by Matt KaplanThe history of science surprisingly reveals a close relationship with magical beliefs, according to science journalist Matt Kaplan. In Science of the Magical, Kaplan discusses how phenomena such as the parting of the Red Sea described in the Book of Genesis may have natural explanations, and the birth of the X-Men comic book heroes could have been inspired by concerns about the effects of nuclear fallout. Kaplan isn't out to debunk either science or religious and spiritual beliefs -- he's respectful of both and doesn't unreasonably stretch his theories. His fascinating catalog of unusual events demonstrates an "ever-present human concern with control over life, death, and the elements" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| War of Two: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Duel That Stunned the Nation by John SedgwickPossibly the most scandalous political rivalry in the history of the United States, the interactions between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr dated back at least to the Revolutionary War; they culminated in the 1804 duel that left Hamilton dead and Vice President Burr a fugitive. In War of Two, journalist John Sedgwick examines the record of their contributions to the young country, during which they sometimes collaborated but often were at odds. Sedgwick's "entertainingly irreverent" (Kirkus Reviews) character study illuminates important aspects of early American politics in addition to the men's biographies. |
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| Beyond the Blue Horizon: How the Earliest Mariners Unlocked the Secrets of the Oceans by Brian FaganAn esteemed historical anthropologist with decades of sailing experience looks at when, where, and how humanity first traveled the seas. Beyond the Blue Horizon describes the watercraft and navigational methods "primitive" peoples developed around the world, from the Polynesians and prehistoric Americans to the 8th-century Vikings. Along the way, this delightfully "salty work of historical imagination" (Publishers Weekly) probes an even more fascinating central mystery: why ever did they first go beyond sight of land, given the obvious risks? The author's in-depth research into archaeology and maritime history -- plus compelling personal insights into long-distance navigation -- provide tantalizing clues. |
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| Engines of Change: A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars by Paul IngrassiaThe annals of the motorcar from the Model T to the Prius reflect the modern history of America, as portrayed in Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Ingrassia's Engines of Change. Ingrassia engagingly discusses the significance of 15 automobiles, tracing their development and profiling key figures in automotive history. Covering the impact of foreign-made cars such as the Volkswagen Beetle, he also explains the importance of the 1959 Cadillac's exaggerated tail fins. Superb photographic illustrations round out this engrossing combination of social and industrial history. |
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| The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built... by Doug MostWhile Alfred Beach, Scientific American's editor, proposed underground railways for urban transport in 1849, and London's underground opened in 1863, America's first subways didn't open until the turn of the century. In The Race Underground, Boston Globe editor Doug Most vividly recounts the development of Boston's and New York City's subways, depicting the two Whitney brothers, Henry of Boston and William of New York, as leaders in a race to complete their projects. Well-known figures (including Boss Tweed, Thomas Edison, and Andrew Carnegie) as well as unknown laborers and less famous engineers, financiers, and politicians fill the pages of this fascinating history of Gilded Age accomplishments. |
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| Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo by Tim ParksIs traveling in Italy via its trains wonderful, terrible, or both? Find out in this humorous, eye-opening travelogue by English expatriate and novelist Tim Parks. Riding all over the country, he uses Italy's trains as a lens into Italian life, past and present. Describing the memorable people he encounters (many of whom hate the train system), he offers a historical look at the railroads (he rides in pre-World War II cars and modern high-speed ones) and thoughtfully yet entertainingly ponders Italian society at large. Having worked and raised a family in Italy since 1981, Parks is a well-informed and wryly insightful guide to his adopted country. |
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| The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers... by Earl SwiftWhile most Americans take the Interstate Highway system for granted, either praising its convenience or cursing its congestion, few know the full history of its creation. While President Dwight Eisenhower gets credit for the technologically advanced Interstate roads, their origins go back to the early 20th century, when unsung visionaries conceived of hard-surfaced road networks to speed travelers and move goods. Leading politicians as early as President Herbert Hoover ensured the early U.S. Highway system's development; engineers, financiers, and laborers built it. In The Big Roads, journalist Earl Swift brings these obscure and famous people and the history of their work to life, offering enrichment to your next road trip. |
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