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History and Current Events January 2026 |
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The History of Money: A Story of Humanity
by David McWilliams
In The History of Money , McWilliams takes us across the world, from the birthplace of money in ancient Babylon to the beginning of trade along the Silk Road, from Marrakech markets to Wall Street. Along the way, we meet a host of innovators, emperors, frauds, and speculators, who have disrupted society and transformed the way we live. Filled with memorable anecdotes, and with a foreword by Michael Lewis, The History of Money is an essential, extremely readable history of humanity's most consequential invention.
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| Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century by W. David MarxSurveying a wealth of topics including influencer culture, generative AI, identity politics, and more, culture writer W. David Marx's incisive analysis examines the cultural stagnation of the 21st century, detailing how an emphasis on profits and popularity weakens artistic expression. Further reading: Culture Creep: Notes on the Pop Apocalypse by Alice Bolin. |
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The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty
by Tracy Borman
In the long and dramatic annals of British history, no transition from one monarch to another has been as fraught and consequential as that which ended the Tudor dynasty and launched the Stuart in March 1603. At her death, Elizabeth I had reigned for 44 turbulent years, facing many threats, whether external from Spain or internal from her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. But no danger was greater than the uncertainty over who would succeed her, which only intensified as her reign lengthened. Her unwillingness to marry or name a successor gave rise to fierce rivalry between blood claimants to the throne--Mary and her son, James VI of Scotland, Arbella Stuart, Lady Katherine Grey, Henry Hastings, and more--which threatened to destabilize the monarchy.
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| Driven by the Monsoons: Through the Indian Ocean and the Seas of China by Barry CunliffeArchaeologist Barry Cunliffe's sweeping and illuminating history surveys nearly two millennia of Asian history by exploring the role the Indian Ocean played in trade and travel. Try this next: The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple. |
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| Barbieland: The Unauthorized History by Tarpley HittJournalist Tarpley Hitt's funny and engaging debut details the origins, evolution, and cultural impact of the iconic Barbie doll, which launched in 1959. For fans of: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl by Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks. |
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| Mexico: A 500-Year History by Paul GillinghamHistorian Paul Gillingham's evocative and nuanced history of Mexico's global influence chronicles the country's evolution, from Spain's colonization of the Aztec empire in the early 16th century to Mexico's role today. Further reading: America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin. |
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| The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter IsaacsonBestselling biographer Walter Isaacson (Steve Jobs) turns his attention to the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence (which begins with "We hold these truths to be self-evident..."), offering a word-by-word breakdown of its significance. Published to coincide with the document's 250th anniversary, this "short, smart analysis" (Kirkus Reviews) will appeal to fans of The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America by Jeffrey Rosen. |
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| Daring to Be Free: Rebellion and Resistance of the Enslaved in the Atlantic World by Sudhir HazareesinghHistorian and Black Spartacus author Sudhir Hazareesingh's thought-provoking revisionist history eschews Eurocentric notions of abolition to reveal the forgotten ways in which enslaved Africans and African Americans actively resisted their captors in thought and deed. Further reading: Brooding Over Bloody Revenge: Enslaved Women's Lethal Resistance by Nikki M. Taylor. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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