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History and Current Events January 2018
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| The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner by Daniel EllsbergWhat it's about: Author Daniel Ellsberg (who leaked the Pentagon Papers) recounts his role in the RAND Corporation's 1960s study of the U.S. policy on nuclear strikes. Framed as a memoir, The Doomsday Machine explains how the nuclear policy developed, its flaws (which continue to the present), and the urgency of reducing the availability of nuclear weapons.
Why you'll want to read it: This sobering and thought-provoking book shines a spotlight on issues that have become more prominent since North Korea started demonstrating their missile capabilities. |
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| It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree by A.J. JacobsWhat it's about: A global adventure in family tree-climbing, Esquire contributing editor A.J. Jacobs' engaging study of genealogy and genetics provides often startling insight into tradition, clannishness, and individual identity.
Is it for you? This peripatetic approach to individual family history and the history of human beings offers laugh-out-loud humor and intriguing information, whether you're interested in genealogy or hadn't given it a second thought. |
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| Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics by Lawrence O'DonnellWhat it's about: Host of The Last Word on MSNBC and advisor to U.S. Senate committees Lawrence O'Donnell became fascinated with politics at age 17 when he observed the 1968 general elections. Here he reviews the tumultuous political year and the race that captivated him. Is it for you? Whether you remember 1968 yourself or know it from history, you'll enjoy the ringside seat O'Donnell offers in Playing with Fire.
Further reading: For general background on the 1960s, pick up Maurice Isserman and Michael Kazin's America Divided. |
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| Revolution Song: A Story of American Freedom by Russell ShortoWhat it's about: Drawing on his subjects' diaries and correspondence as well as official records and other sources, historian Russell Shorto highlights the ideals of the American Revolutionary period by vividly portraying six individuals of the time. Why it's significant: Revolution Song presents history through personal life stories, offering a closeup of both social life and political philosophy. He adds power to his narrative by connecting the individuals' concerns to vital issues of our time. |
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| The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen ThorpeWhat it's about: Author Helen Thorpe spent a year immersed in the lives of recently arrived high-schoolers who could speak no English when they started school. She empathetically depicts 22 refugee teenagers and their English Language Acquisition teacher.
Important aspects: Thorpe portrays the students' traumatic passages to the U.S., the complexities of assimilating into American culture, and the teacher's ability to create community in his classroom. Why it's significant: The Newcomers spotlights people directly concerned with the political hot topic of immigration. |
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| The Rush: America's Fevered Quest for Fortune, 1848-1853 by Edward DolnickWhat it's about: The California Gold Rush, which was kicked off by the discovery of gold in January 1848 at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.
Who will want to read it: American history buffs, those interested in financial history, and readers who appreciate vivid details of an exciting time.
Nuggets: Savvy business owners made their fortunes by selling provisions and accommodations to those with Gold Rush Fever. |
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| Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe by George FriedmanBackground: The Treaty of Rome authorized the formation of the European Economic Community, effective January 1, 1958. This grew into today's European Union.
Why it's significant: Intelligence expert George Friedman discusses the global stresses that threaten European stability and key flashpoints within Europe. He traces centuries of Europe's social and intellectual history and examines the fragile structure of the EU.
Further reading: Take a look at Belgian Guy Verhofstadt's Europe's Last Chance, which argues for a strong federal European democracy. |
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| Helga's Diary: A Young Girl's Account of Life in a Concentration Camp by Helga Weiss; translated by Neil BermelWhat it is: A personal record of the Holocaust by one of the few survivors of the Auschwitz concentration camp, which was destroyed in January 1945 just before Soviet troops arrived. Helga Weiss' diary depicts the frantic efforts of Nazi administrators to shuttle captive Jews to a functioning camp in the face of Allied advances.
What sets it apart: Begun when Weiss was eight years old, the diary depicts a child's-eye view of the Holocaust, from a Prague bomb shelter in 1938 to the end of World War II. It concludes with a 2011 interview with the author. |
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The Two-State Delusion: Israel and Palestine -- A Tale of Two Narratives
by Padraig O'Malley
Why this date: January 20, 1996 - Yasir Arafat became the first democratically-elected leader of the Palestinian people with 88.1 percent of the vote.
What it is: The question of peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel is fraught with the complexities of both shared and disputed histories. In The Two-State Delusion, conflict resolution specialist Padraig O’Malley provides a clear and accessible summary of the conflict.
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Elizabeth : The Forgotten Years
by J. A. Guy
What it is: Elizabeth was crowned queen on 1/15/1559 at the age of twenty-five, but it was only when she reached fifty and all hopes of marriage were behind her that she began to wield power in her own right. Based on new archival material, a biography of the ambitious Tudor queen focuses on her life at the height of her power, including revolts in Ireland, riots in the London streets of London and a conspiracy to overthrow her.
What sets it apart: "A vivid and fascinating warts-and-all portrait of the ageing Elizabeth, backed by meticulous research" - Claire Tomalin, author of Jane Austen
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Forsyth County Public Library 585 Dahlonega Street Cumming, Georgia 30040 770-781-9840www.forsythpl.org/ |
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