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A fast-paced account that is strongly recommended for lovers of action-oriented narrative nonfiction, and for women’s history collections.
Reeves shows that battles can reveal heroism not through victories but at a basic level of survival. He has produced an evocative account of the human costs of the Civil War.
William C. Kashatus writes an essential work on the Underground Railroad. Dorothy Wickenden fills a gap in the telling of women's and abolitionist history.
Brisk and entertaining, this biography should draw the attention of readers interested in the social effects of the Spiritualist movement, or in 19th-century women’s history.
An instructive book about Civil War generalship that will engage and inform anyone interested in the dynamics of command from the perspective of those in charge.
This insightful and engaging survey is essential reading for scholars as well as casual readers of history.
Combining social and military history, Brown’s latest book gives readers a heartbreaking picture of all that Japanese Americans sacrificed for their country during World War II.
Belying its sensational title, this detail-rich account is a sober and humane chronicle of relationships among the explorers and their struggle for survival in the long polar night. Armchair travelers will enjoy.
Standout narrative nonfiction that will engage bibliophiles and readers who enjoy historical nonfiction.
Not for a general audience, but this book will delight devoted readers who are searching for ways to more deeply understand the mind and heart of one of the greatest presidents.
Did Synnott and his team solve mountaineering’s greatest mystery? No spoilers here, but this is a must-read for outdoor enthusiasts and readers of Everest and exploration history.
Filling a gap in the telling of women’s and abolitionist history, this highly readable book gives these three women their due. Wickenden’s deft touch will allow this book to appeal to a wide audience.
This compelling history of a time that mirrors our own will be enjoyed by readers interested in American history and politics.
O’Donnell has made a career of shedding light on underreported yet interesting incidents in American wars, but his writing often veers into hagiography. This book will attract Revolutionary War enthusiasts, but it pales in comparison to Winning Independence, by John Ferling, which offers a comprehensive look at pivotal moments of the war.
This accessible account, based on a solid foundation of primary and secondary sources, offers a fascinating window into the world of combat soldiers, shorn of nostalgia. A welcome purchase for libraries, and a must for readers interested in firsthand perspectives of World War II.
Thomas Dyja writes an engaging social history of New York. Jelly-Schapiro's entertaining book draws attention to how places are named. The latest by Craig Taylor will delight armchair travelers.
A varied and comprehensive overview of modern camping with ample detail and sociological perspective on the origins of camping and its roles in war, protest, consumerism, and class discrimination.
This most recent book by Lankes is ideal for readers seeking a more comprehensive look at information dissemination technology, its context, and its impact on the way in which we now live.
An enjoyable and informative work that’s highly recommended for any reader interested in the history of mahjong specifically or 20th-century U.S. cultural history generally.
Roberts’s original book will cause historians to reexamine generalities about Indigenous and Black people in Oklahoma and their empowerment and identity; and to extend the story of Reconstruction and its aftermath westward in time and space
Much has been published about the wartime Soviet Union since 1991, but this book’s forceful style and its use of Soviet sources ensure it will have lasting value in World War II scholarship. The use of personal anecdotes and statistical evidence is laudable.
Readers who enjoy history, adventure, and nature writing, and fans of Egan, Candice Millard, and Jack London, will savor this page-turner.
A scholarly history that questions the misconception that Indigenous concepts of justice were brutal. While well-documented, such a complex historical analysis is best suited for academics and informed subject specialists.
Explaining how trafficking in slaves advanced private and public priorities as it produced great wealth and promoted national growth, Rothman displays the ever-present and impoverishing cost to the enslaved. A must-read account that sheds light on the interdependence of slavery and capitalism in the United States.
Readers of The New Yorker or The Atlantic will appreciate this detailed look into the Cold War. This sweeping synthesis evinces a polymath’s range and grasp but treads familiar ground with its focus on the Western canon.
Harden succeeds in bringing often-forgotten history front and center. A well-written, fast-paced account that is highly recommended to all readers.
This thought-provoking history is based on vast primary sources, and while the narrative sometimes bogs down in excessive detail, Zelikow’s sharp account brings World War I into focus and raises a number of fascinating “what if” scenarios. Recommended for all extensive history collections.
Advanced readers of American history, political science, and law will enjoy this detail-rich and erudite example of crime and justice in early America.
A poignant, beautifully told story of a young man wanting to help create a bridge between Palestinians and Israelis. Best suited for those interested in Jewish and Middle East studies and contemporary social history.
Marvel fills his work with meticulous, well-documented details on the span of Porter’s life, from his early years in a military family, through his previous military career in Mexico and Utah, to his ongoing devotion to clearing his name. Such precision occasionally bogs down the generally lively narrative, but both Civil War buffs and military historians will find this book essential to understanding the complex soldier.
Citations are few, authors’ opinions and statements are strong: not a book for serious historians. It will appeal to the authors’ fan base.
Readers interested in the South and Confederacy will benefit from this fine work that broadens our understanding of this important era of American history.
Build dimensional and complete collections with these essential titles that recognize African American history as intertwined with U.S. history and provide intersectional context to lived experiences.
A valuable addition to public library collections, the latest from Loftis will especially engage those interested in World War II history and espionage.
Villoro is not for the casual reader but for those who are interested in a deeply complex yet personal social history of Mexico City. The book serves as a nice complement to The Mexico City Reader (2004).
A must for all students, researchers, and general readers with an interest in Black lives, this essential overview of the CCP’s legacy offers fresh understanding of the history of organized Black activism and commitment to community efforts for equal rights. Highest recommendation.
This important, absorbing work shows that the full story of the Cuban Missile Crisis must be told from its global perspective. See Martin Sherwin’s Gambling with Armageddon for another account that places the Crisis in its Cold War context.
As a whole, this collection showcases the vastness of Black thinking and writing, and nicely complements works by Martha S. Jones and Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers. Complete with a list of suggestions for further reading, this winning anthology is a must for all interested in Black history, but unsure where to start.
At a time when definitions of citizenship and civil rights are again under assault, Masur’s careful accounting of the ways Americans came to understand such terms provides an informed perspective to appreciate that such concepts never were, and thus never are, self-evident. They require due diligence and vigilance to secure and sustain at all levels of government. An essential book.
It is more important than ever that China’s history be widely known, and this irresistible volume will help readers recognize its many cultural legacies.
PREMIUM
In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire
An intriguing-but-flawed exploration of an often-overlooked aspect of Elizabethan history.
PREMIUM
Fears of a Setting Sun
Though Written primarily for history lovers, this thought-provoking book may strike a chord with others as well.
Often chilling, sometimes inspiring, inexpressibly moving, this volume, while not comprehensive, provides an essential record for all readers interested in history, morality, politics, and human nature.
This gripping story is an important reminder of the many layers of injustice still present in the United States, and would be a timely, relevant addition to most true crime and history collections.
This well-written and researched book will strongly appeal to those interested in U.S. history and civil rights.
Heyrman’s previous experience writing on this era of evangelicalism gives her a noted assurance in navigating the complexities of this incident, and she infuses what might have been a dry recounting of facts and dates with effective levels of tension and emotion, making this not only a valuable book for scholars of this subject area but also interesting for a more general audience.
Existing fans of Weir’s histories will enjoy this newest installment, while those interested in English queens of this time period will find this a suitable if occasionally patchy overview.
An absorbing account of a visionary project that will engage readers interested in Southern history.
An engaging social history that touches on issues of freedom and liberation, issues that continue to resonate today.
PREMIUM
Himalaya: A Human History
For readers interested in a detailed, wide-ranging overview of the history and people of the Himalaya in relation to outside influences.
Readers who enjoy British and royal history as well as fans of the Netflix series The Crown will greatly enjoy this insightful book.
This detailed and thoroughly researched work is essential reading for all students of modern Chinese history.
Highly recommended for fans of historical biography, especially as it intersects with the Civil War.
The personal sacrifice of soldiers in war often gets lost in military histories, and Jordan's moving account of the 107th Ohio is a welcome corrective.
A giant tome that will be indispensable for advanced students and readers of history, especially those wishing to learn more about this pivotal era.
Aside from the idealization of Washington and some prominent historians, this is an informative narrative of the contested founding of the nation’s capital for both general readers and academics.
PREMIUM
Fortune’s Many Houses: A Victorian Visionary, a Noble Scottish Family, and a Lost Inheritance
This work uses primary resources to tell the story of a special couple who were the exception rather than the norm. While there are a few other works about them, including their own 1927 reminiscence We Twa, this balanced recounting will be enjoyed by those who savor details on nobility during the Victorian era.
With a cast of colorful characters, some familiar and others not, and a variety of stories that will be new to casual readers, this is a strong recommendation for most libraries with history-loving patrons. For readers of Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre and A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell.
An excellent, well-researched introduction to a long-forgotten British colony of America’s Revolutionary era; for general readers.
Wilkinson is a master storyteller, and the narrative is so engaging that readers will find it hard to put down. This comprehensive study is highly recommended for anyone interested in the exploration and study of Egypt, both ancient and modern.
PREMIUM
War of Shadows: Codebreakers, Spies, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East
A solid analysis of how espionage impacted an important theater, this book should appeal to anyone interested in World War II history, particularly intelligence operations.
Readers interested in the Vietnam War and in women’s history will be engaged. See Joyce Hoffmann’s On Their Own: Women Journalists and the American Experience in Vietnam, a compilation of first-person accounts, for additional insight into Vietnam War–era women journalists.
Frank writes a fascinating story of grief and history that will draw readers in from the first page. Must-read narrative nonfiction.
Handling difficult topics with adroit respect and care, Lemmon offers a story that’s eminently relatable and speaks to the ongoing fight for women’s rights the world over. This is a story that needed to be told and needs to be heard. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in current events and women’s history.
With YA crossover appeal, this is an essential collection proving that African American history is American history, and that the two cannot be studied separately.
Featuring often-overlooked perspectives, this is an important read on America’s military involvement in Afghanistan..
This book will appeal to readers interested in the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and constitutional history.
PREMIUM
Craft: An American History
The history of craft is framed as the history of America in a dense compendium. A comprehensive volume perfect for academic use or ambitious novice readers.
Lang’s tour de force is a compelling and essential read. He shows how Americans’ self-anointed claim of exceptionalism was, and is, premised on a supposed consensus on liberty’s meaning that never was and perhaps will never be. Vital reading for all.
No comparable title exists that focuses exclusively on the mysterious background behind one single photo, making this compelling history an essential read for World War II enthusiasts.
Readers interested in German and Cold War history and cultural studies of religious and supernatural beliefs will find much to enjoy in this rich study.
This dense account is not written in a narrative format but seeks for a firm understanding of a pivotal moment in history. Casual readers will not get as much out of Bradbury’s book as serious students of history and readers who like deep analysis of events.
PREMIUM
Prisoners of History: What Monuments to World War II Tell Us About Our History and Ourselves
An insight into World War II that will appeal mostly to military enthusiasts and those interested in social history.
Covering subjects that are frequently mentioned in contemporary discourse but not always fully explained (see, for instance, the informative entry on historically Black colleges and universities), this is a valuable resource for a wide range of readers.
A moving account of not just a seminal battle but the lasting effects on those waiting for decades to know what happened to their loved ones.
This eminently readable study thoroughly details how European nations sought to redefine and rebuild themselves in the postwar era. It’s indispensable reading for those seeking to better understand modern world affairs.
This thoroughly researched work will engage anyone interested in military, social, and political history of Britain during World War II.
This is a satisfying contribution to World War II scholarship, highlighting a sophisticated, cultured, and still grassroots resistance effort. Recommended for public libraries.
While some of the material may be dense for non-classicists, there are many readers who will find the sections about how we tell and understand medical stories timely and important.
This detailed and meticulously-researched account is an important contribution to the history of American slavery. Recommended primarily for readers interested in the legal history of slavery and in stories of enslaved people who directly challenged the legality of slavery in the United States.
Well-written and well-researched, this work is recommended for those interested in causes of the Civil War, Mexican-American history, and human rights.
Information rich and accessible. For history and public policy readers seeking a global vision of the impact of world cities.
Holt presents a brief if full picture of the civil rights movement in America that will appeal to high school and college students.
This sumptuously illustrated study incorporating the latest archaeological findings is highly recommended for general and informed readers fascinated by the pyramids and ancient Egyptian civilization. Fans might also enjoy Mark Lehner’s The Complete Pyramids.
A signal contribution to U.S. antebellum historiography. Highly recommended for U.S. Middle Period, African American, and Civil War historians, and for all general readers.
Thanksgiving can often get lost in the commercialization of the holiday season, but this history of its origins puts the holiday in a fresh perspective. Readers seeking an inspiring story of persistence and achievement will appreciate.
This fascinating look at the lives and times of the six daughters of George III and Queen Charlotte delivers an engaging read for enthusiasts of the royals and British history.
Gabler explores the life and legacy of Ted Kennedy. Logevall writes a masterful first volume on the lasting influence of John F. Kennedy.
Anticipating basic questions, maintaining objectivity, and deploying an engaging style, Werner ably provides an introduction of Western history for general readers.
A skilled blend of interpretative essays and primary documents about the women’s suffrage movement recommended for students, teachers, and general readers.
Stunningly well-researched, this book fully examines a pivotal moment in Chicago’s history. Readers of Smith’s other Chicago-based books will find this fascinating. Fans of Erik Larson, American history, and the triumph of the human spirit will also greatly enjoy..
The latest book by Hess has deservedly reached the apex of Vicksburg scholarship to date and does justice to its author’s historical acumen. Highly recommended for all U.S. Middle Period and Civil War historians and biographers, together with students of military command and field strategy.
DeCaro has assembled fragments of Green’s life from the historical record in a judicious and thoughtful biography. Readers interested in antebellum, African American, and Civil War history will enjoy this brief biography.
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