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History and Current Events June 2025 |
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Recent Releases - History |
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| The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick AtkinsonThis 2nd well-researched volume of Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson's Revolution Trilogy utilizes dozens of maps and full-color illustrations to chronicle key events from the middle years of the American Revolution, covering the years 1777-1780, tracing the Continental Army’s fight for survival, George Washington’s struggles for resources, Benjamin Franklin’s diplomacy in Paris, and British attempts to suppress the rebellion in the face of mounting costs. |
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A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects
by Robell Awake
Black artisans have long been central to American art and design, creating innovative and highly desired work against immense odds. Atlanta-based chairmaker and scholar Robell Awake explores the stories behind ten cornerstones of Black craft. "The history offers fascinating insight into the creative ways Black artists have pushed back against oppression, and Holland’s dazzling illustrations highlight the dignity of the featured individuals and the remarkable craftsmanship that went into their creations. This will expand readers’ understanding of what crafts can do, and what they’re for." (Publishers Weekly)
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The Einstein of sex : Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, visionary of Weimar Berlin
by Daniel Brook
More than a century ago, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, dubbed the 'Einstein of Sex,' grew famous (and infamous) for his liberating theory of sexual relativity. In an era when gay sex was a crime and gender roles rigid, Hirschfeld taught that each of us is their own unique mixture of masculinity and femininity. But he also enraged the Nazis, who ransacked his Institute for Sexual Science and burned his books. "This will stick with readers long after they finish the last page." (Publishers Weekly)
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| The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William DalrympleBestselling author and historian William Dalrymple's latest reveals the overlooked role India played in shaping ancient civilization's culture, politics, religion, economy, and more. "Dalrymple’s writing is always animated, enlivened by color plates that allow readers to readily envision the sights evoked here. A passionate tribute to the glories—and influence—of ancient India." (Kirkus Reviews) |
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| America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg GrandinThis sweeping history of the Western Hemisphere from a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian re-examines the intertwined destinies of North and South America, challenging traditional narratives and revealing a complex and dynamic relationship shaped by conflict, cooperation and mutual influence. "It's a monumental new view of the New World," raves Publishers Weekly. |
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| Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael LuoNew Yorker executive editor Michael Luo's intimate and richly detailed history chronicles Chinese immigration and exclusion in America from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. "Readers interested in American history, not only Chinese American history, will savor these pages. An estimable and vital work of history that honors the Chinese American experience." (Kirkus Reviews) |
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| Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools by Mary Annette PemberOjibwe journalist Mary Annette Pember's well-researched debut examines the origins and evolution of Native American boarding schools in the United States, revealing how the impacts of her own mother's experiences at a Catholic-run school contributed to her family's generational trauma. "Her mother’s story provides a heartbreaking, personal focus to Pember's history of the overall tragedy of the treatment of Native Americans in the U.S." (Booklist) |
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Recent Releases - Current Events
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Careless people : a cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism
by Sarah Wynn-Williams
An insider account charting one woman's career at the heart of one of the most influential companies on the planet, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them. Facebook attempted to suppress the book's distribution, and the book is "a withering takedown of Facebook’s hypocrisy." (Publishers Weekly)
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Apple in China : the capture of the world's greatest company
by Patrick McGee
Looks at how Apple helped build China's dominance in electronics assembly and manufacturing, only to find itself trapped in a relationship with an authoritarian state making ever-increasing demands. This account makes the "subject of global supply chains riveting, with epic narratives of bleeding-edge product design and colorful portraits of larger-than-life leaders. The result is a fascinating analysis of how global capitalism conquered China—and vice versa." (Publishers Weekly)
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Looking at women looking at war : a war and justice diary
by Viktoriëiìa Amelina
When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Victoria Amelina was busy writing a novel, taking part in the country’s literary scene, and parenting her son. Now she became someone new: a war crimes researcher and the chronicler of extraordinary women like herself who joined the resistance. She died at age 37 from a Russian cruise missile, and left behind an incredible account of the ravages of war and the cost of resistance.
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The optimist : Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the race to invent the future
by Keach Hagey
A detailed account of Sam Altman's rise from a curious child in St. Louis to the co-founder of OpenAI, exploring his ambitious journey in Silicon Valley, his leadership struggles, and his unyielding belief in AI's potential. "An exemplary blend of biography, financial technology reportage, and futurology." (Kirkus Reviews)
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They poisoned the world : life and death in the age of forever chemicals
by Mariah Blake
A landmark investigation of the chemical industry's decades-long campaign to hide the devastating effects of "forever chemicals," told through the story of a small town on the frontline of an epic public health crisis. "Impeccably researched and outrageous both in the scope of the company’s malfeasance and the efforts of those who support it, the narrative never strays from its relentless documentation of the generational price paid for our decades of lax regulation. A must-read." (Booklist)
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contactthe Winfield Public Library
630-653-7599, 0S291 Winfield Rd.
Winfield, IL 60190
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