|
History and Current Events September 2018
|
|
|
|
| The Fighters by C.J. ChiversWhat it is: a collection of portraits detailing the experiences of six U.S. military servicemen serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, chronicled over 12 years of on-the-ground reportage.
Why you might like it: Searing and empathetic, this enlightening glimpse at combat will appeal to readers "no matter their feelings about the wars" (Booklist).
About the author: C.J. Chivers is a Gulf War veteran and New York Times senior editor who won a Pulitzer Prize for the story on which The Fighters is based. |
|
|
The Contest : The 1968 Election and the War for America's Soul
by Michael Schumacher
What it is: A timely and cautionary analysis of the enduring reverberations of America's fateful 1968 elections assesses key historical factors and the contributions of such important figures as Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Hubert H. Humphrey.
Why it's important: "Schumacher concludes that the 1968 election ushered in the current era of media as entertainment over analysis, bipartisanship's unravelling, and public cynicism of electoral politics." (Library Journal)
|
|
| The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy by Anna ClarkWhat it's about: the ongoing man-made water crisis that has afflicted residents of Flint, Michigan since April 2014 and to date has resulted in 12 deaths.
Why it's significant: Detroit-based journalist Anna Clark pulls no punches in this compelling call to arms, utilizing extensive research to show how racial inequality, housing segregation, and government underfunding led to this "decades-old, slow-burn emergency." |
|
|
The Viking wars : war and peace in King Alfred's Britain, 789-955
by Max Adams
What it's about: the history of Britain during the violent era of Viking raids between 789 and 954, which ultimately led to the creation of the modern kingdoms of England, and highlights the important influence of Alfred the Great. By the author of In the Land of Giants.
Reviewers say: "Adams is careful to discuss the reliability of his sources, when historians disagree, and which elements are conjecture... well worth the effort for anyone interested in early medieval history." (Publishers Weekly)
|
|
| Blood & Ivy: The 1849 Murder That Scandalized Harvard by Paul CollinsWhat it's about: On November 23, 1849, Boston physician George Parkman disappeared after making his rounds at Harvard Medical College. His dismembered body was later discovered in the lab of chemist John White Webster, spawning an infamous murder trial that produced legal and forensic precedents.
Don't miss: this evocative and atmospheric true-crime account includes appearances from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Herman Melville, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. |
|
| Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth MacyWhat it is: a gut-wrenching history of America's rising opioid epidemic that puts a human face on the disheartening statistics.
Why it matters: Journalist Beth Macy began her research in her own community of Roanoke, Virginia, highlighting the day-to-day struggles of those from all walks of life struggling with addiction. |
|
| Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O'BrienWhat it is: an intriguing, richly detailed history of five women (including Amelia Earhart) who competed in the national air races of the 1920s and 1930s -- and changed aviation forever.
For fans of: Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures and its film adaptation.
Reviewers say: "A vivid, suspenseful story of women determined to defy gravity -- and men -- to fulfill their lofty dreams" (Kirkus Reviews). |
|
|
The heritage : Black Athletes, a divided America, and the politics of patriotism
by Howard Bryant
What it's about: A senior ESPN writer traces the rise, fall and return of the athlete activist, sharing insights into the particular challenges of historical and present-day black athletes in forging cooperative relationships between sports and politics.
Reviewers say: "A fascinating and complex look at the role of black athletes as political activists. Bryant's analysis of the intersection of professional sports and promoting patriotism (or nationalism, depending on one's point of view) is especially enlightening." (Library Journal)
|
|
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
|
|
|