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History and Current Events August 2025 |
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| The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie EnglishFor almost five decades after the Second World War, the Iron Curtain divided Europe, standing as the longest and most heavily guarded border on earth. With the risk of nuclear annihilation too high for physical combat, conflict was reserved for the psychological sphere. No one understood this battle of hearts, minds, and intellects more clearly than Bucharest-born George Minden, the head of a covert intelligence operation known as the "CIA books program." This initiative aimed to win the Cold War with literature: to undermine the censorship of the Soviet bloc and inspire revolt by offering different visions of thought and culture to the people. This is a story about the power of the printed word as a means of resistance and liberation. Books, it shows, can set you free. |
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The aviator and the showman : Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the marriage that made an American icon
by Laurie Gwen Shapiro
The Aviator and the Showman unveils the untold story of Amelia's decade-long marriage to George Putnam, offering an intimate exploration of their relationship and the pivotal role it played. In this cinematic new account, Laurie Gwen Shapiro emphasizes Earhart's human side, her struggles, and her authentic aspirations, the truths behind her brave pursuits and the compromises she made to fit into societal expectations. With a trove of new sources including undiscovered audio interviews from those closest to Amelia, Shapiro presents her as a multifaceted woman--complete with flaws, desires, and competitive drive. It is a gripping and passionate tale of adventure, colorful characters, hubris, and a vivid portrait of a marriage that shaped the trajectory of an icon..
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On her game : Caitlin Clark and the revolution in women's sports
by Christine Brennan
America has never seen an athlete quite like Caitlin Clark. Attracting record-shattering attendance and TV ratings, she has riveted the nation with her famous logo threes and thrilling passes and changed how fans across the country view women’s sports. Drawing on dozens of extensive interviews and exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting, a veteran journalist narrates Clark's rise-including the formative experiences that led to her scoring more points than any woman or man in major college basketball history.
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The Moon : from imagination to exploration
by DK
Exploring theories for the Moon's origins around 4.5 billion years ago, the book charts its influence on the calendar systems and mythologies of early societies, and its role in the invention of the telescope and the sci-fi genre. It tells the incredible story of the Cold War space race and the first Moon landings. Illustrations capture the Moon's phases and motions in vivid detail, while stunning photography to bring the rich history of lunar observation and exploration to life. The last chapter features extensive coverage of NASA's Artemis mission to return astronauts to the lunar landscape in 2026, paving the way for future missions to Mars. The book also includes a guide to observing the Moon, complete with annotated maps and profiles of key physical features.
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The boys in the light : an extraordinary World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood
by Nina Willner
The extraordinary and inspiring true story of a band of young U.S. soldiers who fought together in World War II and, in the throes of combat, rescued two survivors-one of them the author's father--from Hitler's plot to exterminate the Jews of Europe. The Boys in the Light follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author's father, as they experience two sides of World War II. This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the bonds forged during war; a must-read for fans of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Erik Larson's The Splendid and the Vile.
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The Devil Reached Toward the Sky : An Oral History of the Making and Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb
by Garrett M. Graff
From Pulitzer Prize finalist Garrett M. Graff, The Devil Reached Toward the Sky is the panoramic narrative of how ordinary people grapple with extraordinary wartime risks, sacrifices, and choices that will transform the course of history. Theorists and engineers dare to experiment with forces of terrifying power for the purpose of creating an atomic bomb, knowing each passing day costs soldiers’ lives—but fearing too the consequences of their creation. Drawing from dozens of oral history archives and hundreds of books, reports, letters, diaries, and transcripts from across the US, Japan, and Europe, Graff masterfully blends the memories and perspectives from the known and unknown.
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The carpool detectives : a true story of four moms, two bodies, and one mysterious cold case
by Chuck Hogan
In 2020, Marissa, Jeannie, Samira, and Nicole find themselves at a familiar crossroads: when motherhood takes charge of their lives, they begin grappling with their own identities. Their thriving careers seem like a lifetime ago, and as their children become more independent, they struggle to find purpose. But when they meet at a bowling night fundraiser for their kids’ school, they discover a shared interest in true crime that crystalizes around a mysterious double homicide that took place in their hometown a decade earlier: A couple in their 60s vanished overnight from their home and mysteriously shuttered their family business, leaving millions of dollars unaccounted for.
But what if the moms could solve it? What if they could bring a killer to justice and give closure to a grieving family? An emotional and often terrifying odyssey through a DIY criminal investigation, The Carpool Detectives is the ultimate wish fulfillment for any true crime fanatic
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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