|
|
History and Current Events April 2025 |
|
|
|
|
Recent Releases - History |
|
|
|
Gettysburg : the tide turns
by Bruce Chadwick
An in-depth oral history of the Gettysburg battle, combining firsthand accounts and historical narrative to depict the pivotal clash that halted Lee's Northern advance, questioned his tactics, elevated Meade's leadership and inspired Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Skillfully combining traditional historic narrative with the in-the-moment ethos of an oral history, Gettysburg: The Tide Turns brings this iconic battle to fresh and vivid life. "By turns amusing and bleak, it’s a stellar look at the folly, valor, and happenstance of war." (Publishers Weekly)
|
|
| Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of... by Eve L. EwingIn her scholarly and incisive history, sociologist Eve L. Ewing examines how the United States education system has perpetuated structural racism against Black and Indigenous children from the 18th century to the present. The author demonstrates that it’s in the DNA of American schools to serve as an effective mechanism maintaining inequality in the United States and argues that there should be a profound reevaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom. "A brightly intelligent, uncompromising, timely, and deeply clarifying investigation." (Booklist) |
|
|
|
The prosecutor : one man's battle to bring Nazis to justice
by Jack Fairweather
Recounts the story of Fritz Bauer, a gay, Jewish judge from Stuttgart who returned to postwar Germany and confronted former Nazis still entrenched in power to bring Holocaust criminals like Adolf Eichmann to justice and help to force the nation to confront its dark history. In a time when the history of the Holocaust is taken for granted, The Prosecutor reveals the courtroom battles that were fought to establish its legacy and the personal cost of speaking out. The result is a searing portrait of a nation emerging from the ruins of fascism and one man’s courage in forcing his people—and the world—to face the truth.
|
|
| Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa RogakBestselling biographer Lisa Rogak's evocative blend of history and collective biography chronicles the courageous exploits of four women who worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II: American reporter Betty MacDonald, Czech polyglot Zuzka Lauwers, American navy wife Jane Smith-Hutton, and German American film star Marlene Dietrich. For fans of: Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II by Elyse Graham. |
|
| Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America by Russell ShortoExamines the 1664 English takeover of Dutch-controlled New Amsterdam, exploring how negotiations shaped New York’s foundation as a diverse, capitalist hub while also examining the dispossession of Native Americans and the entrenchment of slavery, reflecting the enduring contradictions of America’s origins. "Shorto’s storytelling is wry and accomplished, transforming a campaign of letter-writing and procedural legerdemain into a brisk and amusing saga." (Publishers Weekly) |
|
|
Recent Releases - Current Events
|
|
| The Lost and the Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family, and Second... by Kevin FaganAn empathetic exploration of homelessness in San Francisco through the stories of Rita and Tyson, two individuals battling addiction and striving to escape their circumstances, as well as a commentary on the broader societal issues of housing inequality and addiction, shaped by the author’s personal experiences and journalistic background. "For those who seek to understand how anyone could end up this way, and who might want to help in some way, this book provides an often difficult—but necessary—experience." (Booklist) |
|
|
|
How Good It Is I Have No Fear of Dying : Lieutenant Yulia Mykytenko's Fight for Ukraine
by Lara Marlowe
A Ukrainian army commander recounts her experiences on the front line, from the personal tragedies of losing her father and husband to leading a drone unit in battle, offering a vivid portrayal of modern warfare and her nation's resistance. "This book provides everything readers want to know about the war in Ukraine and the indefatigable courage of that country’s fighters. A tour de force of hope and service amid the destruction of a horrific, ongoing war." (Booklist)
|
|
|
|
Seeking shelter : a working mother, her children, and a story of homelessness in America
by Jeff Hobbs
Presents a compelling account of Evelyn, a single mother of six navigating the realities of homelessness in Los Angeles amid a housing crisis, as she strives to keep her children in school and safe while working as a waitress, and ultimately transforms her life through her relationship with a compassionate social worker. "This is both an indictment of overwhelmed social services and a quietly optimistic celebration of resilience." (Booklist)
|
|
| Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash by Alexander ClappAn investigative account that exposes the hidden realities of the multibillion-dollar global garbage trade, revealing how waste is smuggled and sold across continents, often with dire consequences for vulnerable communities. Booklist calls it, "An investigative account that exposes the hidden realities of the multibillion-dollar global garbage trade, revealing how waste is smuggled and sold across continents, often with dire consequences for vulnerable communities." |
|
| Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass by Sarah JonesA powerful blend of narrative and reporting reveals America’s systemic racial and income inequality, spotlighting essential workers and vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and argues for a future where no one is deemed disposable amid persistent social injustices. "A barnburner of a book." (New York Times Book Review) |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contactthe Winfield Public Library
630-653-7599, 0S291 Winfield Rd.
Winfield, IL 60190
|
|
|