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We the People : A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill LeporeWhat's inside: Acclaimed Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore (These Truths*) examines the evolving meaning of the U.S. Constitution, tracing generations of interpretation and amendment efforts. Lepore argues that the founders envisioned a living, adaptable document: thereby challenging modern originalism and advocating for democratic engagement in shaping constitutional change. Praise: "[A] galvanizing and paradigm-shifting take on America’s slow descent into plutocracy." (Publishers Weekly) |
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reflects on democratic theory, historical legacy, and rising inequality to argue that American democracy has yet to be fully realized, calling for bold political and economic reforms to transform outdated institutions and fulfill the nation's founding promise for all. Praise: "Nwanevu offers remedies for an ailing American democracy... His writing is vibrant, even optimistic, animated by a clear belief that self-governance is the best kind of governance, and damn the torpedoes. A resounding, persuasive call for a truly inclusive government of the people." (Kirkus) |
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Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America by Sharon Udasin and Rachel FrazinWhat it is: the disturbing story of how toxic PFAS have poisoned our country in nearly every aspect of consumer life, following decades of commercial greed and dismissal of known health risks. Based on corporate archives and original reporting, journalists Udasin and Frazin expose how everyday products—from cooking pans, to mascara, to raincoats—have leached these "forever chemicals" into our drinking water and created a public health emergency. Praise: "[A] detailed exposé of corporate evasiveness, inadequate governmental response, and determined lawyers and grassroots activists... An eye-opening chronicle of a pervasive chemical disaster that must be more urgently and openly addressed." (Booklist) |
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What's inside: In this powerful exposé, an Iraq War Marine Corps veteran and an environmental historian team up to examine the long-term health effects faced by military personnel. They focus on the underreported complications of exposure to toxic chemicals, including those from jet fuel, fire retardants, pesticides, dust, and the cocktail of toxicants emitted by open-air “burn pits”. The result is an unflinching, inside account of how this "slow violence" exacerbates health concerns among veterans, including PTSD and brain injuries. Praise: "A searing mix of wartime memoir and scientific analysis... [Howe and Lemons] astutely explain how the complexities of toxic combat ecosystems are ignored... A gripping war narrative and a sobering indictment of the American military." (Publishers Weekly) |
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What's inside: In this engaging history, renowned Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt (Tyrant*, Will in the World*) examines the life and legacy of the Bard's greatest rival: the controversial, transgressive, and larger-than-life playwright Christopher "Kit" Marlowe, tracing his journey from humble beginnings, to artistic and political notoriety, to shocking murder victim at age 29. Praise: "In Dark Renaissance, Mr. Greenblatt tells this murky but exhilarating tale with pace and gusto... No one can speculate with greater authority than Mr. Greenblatt." (The Wall Street Journal) |
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Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy by Tre JohnsonWhat's inside: Cultural critic Tre Johnson's impassioned debut essay collection examines the ways in which Black genius is overlooked and undervalued, revealing how gentrification, cultural appropriation and extraction, and policy undermine Black creatives' accomplishments. Praise: "The book we have been waiting for from Tre Johnson…This collection of sharp, funny, and brilliantly discursive essays cut through the craziness of our current moment with clear-eyed sanity." (The Boston Globe) |
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| Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire*by Barry StraussWhat's inside: Drawing on historical records and recent archaeological discoveries, historian Barry Strauss (The War That Made the Roman Empire) 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.
Praise: "Strauss hits another home run with this thorough account of the tumultuous relations between Rome and its most contentious subjects, the Jews, in ancient times... There is no better history of this important but little-known subject." (Library Journal) |
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A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins by Gareth HarneyWhat's inside: This accessible history traces ancient Rome's rise to power through the stories of twelve remarkable coins, revealing how Romans used currency to immortalize their gods, emperors, and conquests, and connecting modern readers with the empire's epic past. Praise: "Delightful... fascinating, original and fun. The story of Rome is of course extraordinary. But the way it is told by Harney brings it to life.” (Financial Times) |
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| Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West*by Peter CozzensWhat it is: Historian Peter Cozzens' rollicking 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. Praise: "The bloody, muddy true story of the real Deadwood... If you thought HBO’s television series of the same name, created by the manically brilliant David Milch, was hyperbolic, buckle in... The TV characters were all real and they’re all here... [A] fast-paced and unbelievable-if-it-weren't-true story.” (The Washington Post)For fans of: Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter by Tom Clavin. |
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| Praise: "An unsettling read, the book will nevertheless enlighten anyone concerned about U.S. foreign policy and the role of the military in it. A scathing exposé of drug trafficking, homicide, and suicide in the U.S. military." (Kirkus) |
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Praise: "Provocative and illuminating... Lemov’s deeply researched exploration reveals how the persuasive power wielded by charismatic figures can answer, in a warped way, a person’s yearning for self-reinvention and meaning." (Publishers Weekly) |
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| Praise: "Acknowledging how improbable the situation seems, Walton candidly illustrates how he fell for every ruse and serves up useful advice for spotting the grandiosity of scammers.... undeniably fascinating." (Publishers Weekly) |
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| Could Should Might Don't: How We Think About the Future by Nick FosterWhat's inside: Futurist and designer Nick Foster blends history and current events to examine four mindsets of how people approach the future: "could" (based on projections), "should" (based on goals), "might" (based on data), and "don't" (based on consequences). The result is a thought-provoking look at the history of the future, and the impact of our imaginings. Praise: "This is the book on the future we’d been waiting for―an impassioned argument for replacing lazy certainties and fearful fantasies with a rigorous, rationally optimistic, and ultimately empowering stance toward what might be coming next." (Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks*) |
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Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomyby Mary RoachWhat's inside: New York Times bestselling author Mary Roach (Stiff,* Fuzz*) peeks into current scientific efforts to recreate the impossible complexities of human anatomy―from stem cells to working iron lungs―and explores the difficult ethical and medical questions prompted by the human body's failings. Praise: "An incredible journey of discovery, humor, awe and inspiration... the real power of the book lies in its humanity ... [Roach] praises the progress science has made without resorting to the spectacle and fanfare of the futurist, and without losing sight of the people." (The Wall Street Journal) |
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The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution*by Eric FonerWhat it's about: how the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th constitutional amendments impacted an America still reeling from the aftermath of the Civil War.
Read it for: an incisive and resonant look into how the Reconstruction amendments are interpreted and debated in contemporary political discourse, particularly in relation to voter rights.
Praise: Few reading experiences on the history of race in America have been as profound for me as the works of Eric Foner." (Henry Louis Gates Jr., The New York Times)
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Contact your librarian for more great books! |
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