History and Current Events
October 2025
Recent Releases
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History
by Moudhy Al-Rashid

In her accessible and illuminating debut, historian Moudhy Al-Rashid utilizes eight artifacts, including cuneiform tablets and weapon fragments, to explore everyday life and culture in ancient Mesopotamia. Further reading: The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World by Selena Wisnom.
To Lose a War : the Fall and Rise of the Taliban
by Jon Lee Anderson

Collects nearly twenty-five years of reporting to trace the evolution of the U.S. war in Afghanistan from early intervention to withdrawal, documenting battlefield victories, political missteps, and the long-term consequences of military overreach and shifting priorities.
The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America
by David Baron

Science journalist David Baron (American Eclipse) chronicles how early-20th century astronomers, writers, and intellectuals popularized a cultural fascination with Mars (and its potential lifeforms) that ushered in a new era of exploration, tabloid journalism, and conspiracy theories. Try this next: Dead Air: The Night That Orson Welles Terrified America by William Elliott Hazelgrove.
Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West
by Peter Cozzens

Historian Peter Cozzens' rollicking revisionist history of Deadwood, South Dakota, the Black Hills Gold Rush settlement famously immortalized in the HBO series Deadwood, offers a nuanced portrait of the town's origins and its larger-than-life characters. For fans of: Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter by Tom Clavin.
The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making & Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb
by Garrett M. Graff

Combines archival research with firsthand accounts from political leaders, scientists, soldiers, and survivors to chronicle the development and use of the atomic bomb, examining its ethical, military, and human consequences during the final months of World War II and the start of the Cold War. Illustrations. Maps.
The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces
by Seth Harp

Journalist and Iraq War veteran Seth Harp's disturbing debut chronicles the criminal exploits of United States Special Forces soldiers based at North Carolina's Fort Bragg military base, where a 2020 double murder exposed a drug trafficking operation. Try this next: Code Over Country: The Tragedy and Corruption of SEAL Team Six by Matthew Cole.
History Matters
by David G. McCullough

This posthumous collection of essays from the legendary historian looks at subjects such as the character of American leaders, the influence of art and mentors and the importance of understanding the past to better navigate the present and future.
Launching Liberty: the Epic Race to Build the Ships That Took America to War
by Doug Most

As German U-boats attacked in 1940, FDR and Hoover Dam contractor Henry Kaiser initiated a nationwide shipyard competition to construct ships as quickly as possible; driven by duty and the thrill of innovation, workers reduced the shipbuilding timeline from months to days.
Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization
by Tim Queeney

A sailor explores the history of rope through the story of civilization—from Magellan's world-circling ships, to the 15th-century fleet of Admiral Zheng He, to Polynesian multihulls with crab claw sails, he shows how without rope, none of their adventurous voyages and discoveries would have been possible.
Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire
by Barry Strauss

Drawing upon historical documents and recent archaeological discoveries, historian Barry Strauss explores two centuries of Jewish rebellion against the Romans, from the conquest of Jerusalem in 63 B.C.E. to the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132-136 C.E. "There is no better history of this important but little-known subject," raves Library Journal. Further reading: Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations by Martin Goodman.
Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves
by Johnathan Walton

Podcaster and reality TV producer Johnathan Walton draws upon his own experiences as the victim of a con artist in this candid guide to helping readers avoid scams. For fans of: My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress by Rachel DeLoache Williams.
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