An essential listen that should be a part of every collection. Burnham’s message that a true reckoning with the past can only happen with the help of informed, justice-minded citizens resonates.
Tamkin’s conclusion that Jews are so diverse that they cannot be categorized, and in fact, there are no “bad Jews,” resonates. While her study could have benefited from a deeper, more scholarly approach, this work should ignite conversations on both sides of the aisle.
History buffs who are interested in a comprehensive statistical analysis of the numbers of Jewish soldiers who fought in the Civil War and their personal stories, both factual and legendary, will find much to ponder here.
Despite McCormick’s engaging performance, this dense book may bog some listeners down. An enlightening addition to music history and Black history collections, although the print edition better reveals the breadth of Gaddy’s research.
Graeber’s intriguing final work will have listeners wondering if the pirates of Madagascar established something revolutionary. Did their society experiment with ideas that would later be discussed in European salons? An excellent and thought-provoking addition to large public library and academic collections, but possibly too scholarly for smaller public libraries.
Between Lawrence’s excellent narration and Robb’s appealing and informative writing, listeners are in for an audio treat. A recommended purchase for all public library collections.
This book provides a new lens through which to understand Lincoln’s motivations and the issues that modified his worldview. Lincoln aficionados, Civil War buffs, and students alike should enjoy.
The motives of secret organization Free Joseon and its founder Adrian Hong are vividly revealed and compellingly narrated; it would make a perfect follow-up to Blaine Harden’s Escape from Camp 14.
This harrowing narrative includes the point of view of Japanese civilians who were victims of the U.S. war strategy; a timely reminder of the human costs of war.
Black’s engrossing account, mixing espionage with true crime and military history, is not to be missed. Highly recommended for all public library collections.
This title reveals an important history that continues to affect perceptions and attitudes on both sides of the border. Highly recommended for all public libraries.
Egan’s riveting page-turner offers profound insights to readers willing to peer into layers of American hypocrisy, intolerance, malignant indifference, and public culpability.
While serious history buffs may wish for more facts and less supposition, this glimpse into the human side of piracy strikes a chord. Recommend to listeners who enjoy stories about the golden age of piracy and colonial American history.
Vaporis includes scholarly research but writes for the general reader. Interest in samurai culture is significant, and this non-sensational choice emphasizes scholarship.
A subtle, insightful book likely to be on many readers’ radar for its nuanced look at the consequences of a racial divide with roots that, as Jacobson makes clear, are longstanding, systemic, and institutional.
Readers interested in the Second Amendment’s origins or in assessing arguments about its meaning will likely and deeply appreciate this comprehensive history.
Parsell’s readable, well-researched biography will bring Scidmore back into the limelight, appealing to readers with an interest in geography, journalism, conservation, and women’s studies.
This thoroughly researched work is highly recommended for readers interested in the history of Christian missions to China. The inclusion of biographical information for many of the people involved enhances the text.
This book focuses on the informative and archaeological aspects of swords, not violence. It will likely please readers who are fascinated by weapons and by those who would normally be hesitant to pick up a book about tools of war.
An intimate portrait of FDR’s inner circle during the New Deal. Readers of U.S. history, economics, and political science should greatly enjoy this volume.
This honest and compassionate depiction of someone who was true to their passions will inspire readers, especially those interested in LGBTQIA+ history.
This definitive testament to Tubman’s life and works will appeal to all readers. An indispensable resource for those interested in learning more about enslavement, women’s studies, and 19th-century American history.
Still, readers will find Guiteau’s devolution into an assassin and the history of Oneida both fascinating and shocking, with uncanny parallels to today’s news stories.
Highly recommended to those interested in civil rights, global justice, or Black Power movements, feminism, critical race theory, modern history, and biographies and memoirs.
A timid religious leader, afraid to wield his moral authority against oppression and destruction, reminds listeners of the dangers of silence. Recommended for those interested in the papacy or World War II in Europe.
History and true crime buffs, legal historians, and gender studies scholars will appreciate Sweet’s riveting exposé of the tremendous gender and class bias in postrevolutionary America.
Despite some unevenness in the sound levels throughout the production, this engrossing and empathetically told audiobook will likely capture the interest of listeners who enjoy the works of Oliver Sacks and Sam Kean.
A captivating, if occasionally overawed, portrait of extraordinary wealth across multiple generations. Suggest to listeners who enjoyed Anderson Cooper’s Vanderbilt.
This audiobook, recounting the tremendous accomplishments of women working in unaccommodating and unappreciative environments, should appeal to readers of women’s studies and history. Share with fans of Beverly Weintraub’s Wings of Gold or Liza Mundy’s Code Girls. Librarians may also enjoy reading about the important cataloging work done by one of Sears’s primary researchers, the multilingual oceanographic librarian Mary Grier.
Despite the captivating tale of admirable bravery, this book could have benefited from a more skilled narrator and sound engineer. An optional audio purchase for most libraries.
This quirky history is both entertaining and informative; an ideal recommendation for anyone who enjoyed Amy Stewart’s Drunken Botanist or Lydia Kang’s Quackery.
A critical addition to sociological, historical, and anthropological collections, this book provides a multifaceted account of working within the BIA. Lambert has a rich perspective as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, anthropologist, and former United States government employee.
Highly recommended for all students of the Scythians and Classical Persia or China. A similar work that focuses on the archeological evidence left by the Scythians is Barry Cunliffe’s The Scythians.
While the authors have done significant research in some areas, the book’s shortcomings result in the need for a library to have significant, additional material on hand to provide other perspectives and more solid facts.
Successfully contextualizing war in a socially and politically polarized country, Eisenberg offers surprises, such as the beneficial role of insider and former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to reduce troop involvement in Vietnam.
Flores-Villalobos beautifully tells the story of these women and brings this important history to life using a vast array of archival sources. A recommended purchase for academic libraries.
While some of Seward’s conjectures may leave readers unsatisfied, this is, nevertheless, a riveting, and detailed account of the life and times of an enigmatic ruler.
Academic libraries should seriously consider adding this set (in one form or the other), as its interdisciplinary approach will support many departments and research paths.
This painstakingly researched compendium, compiled by authors who are themselves Indigenous “firsts,” is an affordable and essential purchase for all reference collections.
Galor argues that embracing equality, education and diversity are keys to our historical thriving and future survival. A timely book that is recommended for libraries where Thomas Piketty, Jared Diamond, and Yuval Harari are popular.
Wellesley’s elegant voice and careful pacing allow listeners to absorb the many details, and warm delivery of the “human stories” that “smudge” the manuscripts make this a delightful listening experience for history buffs and book lovers.
Readers will be delighted by the knowledgeable Aquila’s survey of a period not completely covered by his earlier works, though even nostalgic baby boomers might question the suggested optimism and innocence of a crisis-ridden era.