| The Story of Egypt: The Civilization That Shaped the World by Joann FletcherAncient Egyptian civilization lasted for 4,000 years and produced a dazzling array of monumental architecture, art, and religious writings. In The Story of Egypt, archaeologist Joann Fletcher provides a comprehensive and accessible summary of those millennia. Fletcher pays more attention to female rulers than do many other historians, and she emphasizes the importance in Egyptian cosmology of balancing female and male elements. She provides fascinating details of distinct cultures in the Lower and Upper Nile regions, describes technological developments that enabled Egypt to flourish, and provides historical context from the wider region. While Fletcher addresses general readers, her authoritative scholarship backs up her animated narrative. |
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| The Dream of Enlightenment: The Rise of Modern Philosophy by Anthony GottliebIn this lively and informative survey, author Anthony Gottlieb explores the intellectual history of Europe from the 1630s to the late 18th century. Discussing the era's seminal thinkers, including Descartes, Hume, Hobbes, Voltaire, and Rousseau, Gottlieb compares and contrasts their philosophical methods, shows how post-Galilean science led to new approaches to thinking, and points out the Enlightenment's influence on later philosophers such as John Stuart Mill and Bertrand Russell. The Dream of Enlightenment follows Gottlieb's study of earlier philosophy in The Dream of Reason; his next projected volume will pick up the story with Immanuel Kant. |
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| His Final Battle: The Last Months of Franklin Roosevelt by Joseph LelyveldThough the details weren't generally known, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's heart was failing by late 1943 when he met with Josef Stalin and Winston Churchill in Tehran. Award-winning journalist Joseph Lelyveld explores the final year and a half of FDR's life in His Final Battle, reviewing the vital choices FDR had to make and the implications of each. This absorbing account draws on standard historical records and the personal writings of close associates to highlight Roosevelt's official actions and private thoughts -- though the inner workings of his mind remain elusive. Lelyveld's "elegant, affecting" (Kirkus Reviews) study sheds new light on the longest-serving U.S. President. |
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| The Rest I Will Kill: William Tillman and the Unforgettable Story of How a Free Black... by Brian McGintySoon after the beginning of the American Civil War, a commercial ship sailing from New York to Uruguay was captured by Confederate privateers, who took the cargo and imprisoned the crew. Planning to sell William Tillman, the schooner's free African American cook, in Charleston, they kept him and two crewmates on board to help sail the ship. In The Rest I Will Kill, historian Brian McGinty relates how Tillman killed the Confederate captain and two others, chained up the rest, and navigated back to New York. This gripping account brings to light a "little-known gem" (Kirkus Reviews) of Civil War history. |
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| American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804 by Alan TaylorAccording to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Alan Taylor, the American Revolution was a complex and tumultuous process rather than a straightforward, clearly defined rebellion. In American Revolutions, he details several aspects of the conflict, including disagreement among colonists, continued disorder after the peace treaty was signed, the effects of westward expansion on Native Americans, and the significance of slavery. He sheds light on postwar developments, including the global effects of the French Revolution and U.S. political divisions in the early 19th century. This accessible and engaging work is deeply researched and thoroughly documented. American history buffs as well as people interested in the history of revolutions won't want to miss this comprehensive analysis. |
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| The Watchers: A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I by Stephen AlfordCatholic foes at home and abroad plotted tirelessly to murder or overthrow England's Queen Elizabeth I; in turn, her chief "spymaster," Sir Francis Walsingham, established a dazzlingly complex network of agents who safeguarded her long reign with ruthless cunning and efficiency. The Watchers illuminates 16th-century spygames in an action-packed narrative laced with masterful understanding of Elizabethan society's greatest hopes and fears. Fans of the period will love this "irresistible" (Booklist) read; political history buffs interested in the roots of modern espionage -- or the fine line between national security and repression -- will, too. |
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| The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai BirdIn The Good Spy, author Kai Bird builds a comprehensive profile of CIA intelligence officer Robert Ames, who died in the 1983 bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Ames specialized in Arabic language and Arab history and politics, becoming a recognized expert who served as a key policy advisor to U.S. decision makers. Committed to finding solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ames emphasized fact-finding and rational policy analysis despite American partisan political pressures and decreasing stability in Lebanon and Iran. This page-turner portrays a family man and dedicated professional within a detailed history of the region, along with information about the bombers and where they were as of the book's 2014 publication. |
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| Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo by Jack CheeversIn January 1968, at the height of the Cold War, North Korean gunboats surrounded an American spy ship in international waters, took the crew prisoner, and made off with a boatload of top-secret documents. The incident of the USS Pueblo became an embarrassment for President Lyndon Johnson's administration and a cause célèbre for conservative politicians. During the following 11 months, the Americans were tortured and forced to make false confessions. In Act of War, journalist Jack Cheevers details the international political context, the events surrounding the Pueblo's capture, and the crew members' ordeal, especially the heroism of Commander Lloyd Bucher. Espionage buffs and aficionados of Cold War history shouldn't miss this thrilling account. |
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| Good Hunting: An American Spymaster's Story by Jack Devine with Vernon LoebJack Devine, who retired in 1999 as the associate director of overseas operations for the CIA, served under U.S. presidents from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton. In this compelling memoir, he relates the history of covert actions during that period, details several instances of mole-hunting in the Agency, and discusses the state of intelligence work since his retirement: he continues to support the use of covert operations while expressing doubt about the current emphasis on paramilitary actions. Whether you're fascinated by spycraft or more interested in the undercover history of the late 20th century, you'll find Good Hunting an engaging and informative read. |
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| The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville by Clare MulleyIn The Spy Who Loved, author Clare Mulley vividly depicts the exploits of Christine Granville, one of the few female British special agents operating behind enemy lines during World War II. Despite the British Intelligence Service's opposition to women's participation, she provided invaluable assistance to the Allied cause, employing her remarkable facility with languages, considerable courage and physical ability, and charismatic personality. Mulley did extensive documentary research on Granville (who was murdered in 1952), making up for her associates' reluctance to supply personal recollections of her exploits. For additional page-turning accounts of female British intelligence agents, try Sarah Helm's A Life in Secrets or Marcus Binney's The Women Who Lived for Danger. |
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