July 2017 list by Dan Berube
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| Scars of Independence: America's Violent Birth by Holger HoockAccording to historian Holger Hoock, the American Revolution wasn't only a conflict over principles, but also a violent civil war whose legacy historians have only recently recognized. In Scars of Independence, he carefully assesses how this violence affected everyone: Patriot and Loyalist civilians, military personnel on all sides, Native Americans, and free and enslaved blacks. Hoock's balanced and accessible historical analysis includes explicit descriptions of atrocities, which may be disturbing to some readers. Library Journal calls the book "as fascinating as it is enlightening." |
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Back Over There
by Richard Rubin
Moving chronologically and based on a popular New York Times series, this travelogue visits the locations of American battle sites in France during World War I, visiting cemeteries, farmland and bombed out ghost towns that were never rebuilt.
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| The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard RothsteinIn this thoroughly researched analysis, housing policy expert Richard Rothstein traces the development of America's restrictive residential codes back to the early 20th century. He shows that modern segregation is built on overlapping local, state, and federal laws -- not just on prejudice-based social customs. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive review of law and policy or an accessible discussion of the history, you'll find The Color of Law both informative and sobering. |
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Good Friday on the Rez: A Pine Ridge Odyssey
by David Bunnell
A mix of memoir and recent Native American history is told through a car trip around the Pine Ridge Reservation where the author lived during and after the siege at Wounded Knee, tracking the torment and resurrection of the Native American people.
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I Hate Everyone, Except You
by Clinton Kelly
A snarky collection of essays by the Emmy Award-winning moderator of The Chew charts his journey from a misfit youth to an awkward adult, exploring his haphazard experiences with 1980s porn, Jersey's premiere water parks, his sister's cheerleading endeavors, a life-threatening mud bath and more.
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| Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of Bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State by Ali SoufanIdentifying the primary goals of different terrorist leaders, antiterrorism expert Ali Soufan explains how radical Islamists think. Drawing on both unclassified reports and his own knowledge from working in the FBI, he reveals that al-Qaida cells have continued to grow and organize, so that they again represent a significant threat. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews notes that Anatomy of Terror offers a lucid account of this "dizzying scenario of violence." |
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Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom
by Thomas E. Ricks
A dual portrait of Winston Churchill and George Orwell focuses on the pivotal years from the mid-1930s through the 1940s, describing how both suffered nearly fatal injuries before their vision and campaigns inspired action to preserve democracy throughout the world.
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A Speck in the Sea
by John Aldridge and Anthony Sosinski
Two veteran sailors who co-own and operate a Montauk lobster boat recount the 2013 search-and-rescue mission for co-author John Aldridge, describing how his partner, their families, the local fishing community and the U.S. Coast Guard in three states mobilized an unprecedented and ultimately successful operation.
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Law & Disorder: The Chaotic Birth of the NYPD
by Bruce Chadwick
Describes the lawlessness of New York in the mid-1800s where the riots, street gangs, prostitutes and gambling emporiums created such rampant violence, it ultimately led to the founding of the first professional police force in the city.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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