| History and Current Events January 2007 |
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"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
~ Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in reference to the contributions of airmen during World War II's Battle of Britain
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| New and Recently Released! |
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Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
- by Russell S. Bonds
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Publisher:
Westholme Publishing
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Pub Date:
10/31/2006
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Check library catalog
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ISBN:
1594160333
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During the early days of the American Civil War, a group of Union soldiers crossed Confederate lines into north Georgia to steal a steam engine known as the General. The raiders hoped to destroy Confederate supply lines and open Tennessee to Union forces--but the conductor of the General wasn't about to let them hijack the engine without a fight. In Stealing the General, author Russell S. Bonds brings to life this fascinating Civil War episode, describing the people involved, the details of the locomotive chase, and the decision to award the first Medals of Honor to six of the raiders. Publishers Weekly says this book is a "a fast-paced, extremely well-told tale of espionage, capture, trial and escape." |
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Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Torture Program
- by Stephen Grey
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Publisher:
St. Martin's Press
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Pub Date:
11/14/2006
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ISBN:
0312360231
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In this provocative investigation, British journalist Stephen Grey argues that the CIA and the U.S. government have used a program of "rendition" to hold and torture suspected terrorists in secret international prisons. Drawing on extensive interviews with government officials, former prisoners, and the pilots who have helped to transport and "disappear" prisoners, Grey examines the depth of the Bush administration's involvement, how Geneva Convention rules have been disregarded, and the ethical implications of the program. Anyone interested in probing the activities of the U.S. government as well as readers who like exposés should check out Ghost Plane. |
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The Few: The American "Knights of the Air" Who Risked Everything to Fight in the Battle of Britain - by Alex Kershaw |
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Publisher:
Perseus Books Group
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Pub Date:
11/30/2006
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ISBN:
0306813033
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The critically acclaimed author of The Bedford Boys and The Longest Winter is back with another riveting tale of heroism and courage during World War II. In 1940, as war exploded throughout Europe and as Hitler planned an invasion of England, the U.S. watched from afar and remained neutral. However, a few brave Americans defied U.S. law and joined the Royal Air Force. At the helm of RAF Spitfires, they fought side-by-side with British forces and helped turn the tide in the Battle of Britain. Grab this inspiring and rousing book for profiles of these individuals and details of their heroics. |
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The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation
- by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff
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Publisher:
Knopf
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Pub Date:
11/21/2006
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ISBN:
0679403817
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In The Race Beat, veteran journalists Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff, who were themselves "race beat" reporters in the 1950s and 60s, analyze how the American press helped to transform the nation's attitudes toward civil rights in the South. Using news stories, editorials, interviews, and oral histories, Roberts and Klibanoff examine the coverage of events such as the murder of Emmett Till, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the Birmingham bombings. Publishers Weekly says this gripping, anecdote-rich book is a "page-turner." |
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Sea of Thunder: Four Commanders and the Last Great Naval Campaign 1941-1945 - by Evan Thomas |
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Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
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Pub Date:
11/07/2006
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ISBN:
0743252217
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In this suspenseful account of the "last great sea battle ever fought," award-winning Newsweek editor Evan Thomas illuminates the October 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf. By following four naval leaders--two American commanders and two Japanese admirals--Thomas discusses how the cultural assumptions of both the Japanese and the Americans impacted the course of the battle. He also explains how blunders were made and highlights displays of courage and heroism. World War II aficionados who want to learn more about this often-overlooked Pacific engagement should enjoy Sea of Thunder. |
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God's War: A New History of the Crusades
- by Christopher Tyerman
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Publisher:
Belknap Press of Harvard University Press
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Pub Date:
10/30/2006
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ISBN:
0674023870
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The Crusades have long been reviled as one of the most horrific events in the history of Christianity and the world itself. In this sweeping narrative, Oxford University historian Christopher Tyerman reinterprets these mystifying, brutal, and contradictory campaigns, arguing that the Crusades were political maneuvers as well as manifestations of increased papal power in the medieval world. Destined to become the definitive account of this haunting chapter in world history, God's War is a "very rare thing: a readable and vivid history written with the support of a formidable scholarly background" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Focus on: All Things Food |
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Charlemagne's Tablecloth: A Piquant History of Feasting
- by Nichola Fletcher
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Publisher:
St. Martin's Press
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Pub Date:
08/01/2005
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ISBN:
0312340680
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This engaging look at the history of feasts and feasting covers a smorgasbord of places, eras, and traditions, detailing everything from Japanese tea ceremonies and medieval banquets to Aztec cannibalism and Kwakiutl blubber-eating contests in British Columbia. Food writer Nichola Fletcher describes an assortment of savory (and not-so-savory) dishes, discusses the various cultural events that prompt feasting, and breaks down the rituals used in preparing and eating celebratory food. Check out Charlemagne's Tablecloth for a whirlwind culinary tour of grand (and sometimes astonishing) eating throughout the ages. |
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Salt: A World History
- by Mark Kurlansky
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Publisher:
Walker and Company
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Pub Date:
11/01/2001
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ISBN:
0802713734
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In Salt, historian Mark Kurlansky (Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World) reveals the surprising ways in which an ordinary substance--salt--has influenced mankind and helped shape civilization. Kurlansky describes the many uses and incarnations of salt, including as currency, a food preservative, the inspiration for trade routes, and as a metaphorical symbol for a variety of religions. Sprinkled throughout with interesting anecdotes and trivia, Salt is an around-the-world trip through military, economic, religious, governmental, cultural, and of course, food history. |
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Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food
- by Susan Marks
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Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
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Pub Date:
04/01/2005
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ISBN:
0743265017
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This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but Betty Crocker, one of the most recognizable, trusted, and sometimes controversial personas in all of American history and popular culture, isn't, in fact, a real person at all; she's actually an invented advertising brand, a creation of the Washburn Crosby Company (a forerunner of General Mills, which holds Betty's trademark). This history of the friendly domestic goddess documents her "birth" in 1921, her appearances on cookbooks and in media promotions, and the corporate endeavors behind her success as a social and marketing phenomenon. Peruse this entertaining book for the real story behind this kitschy cultural icon. |
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Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light
- by Mort Rosenblum
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Publisher:
North Point Press
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Pub Date:
02/15/2005
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ISBN:
0865476357
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It wouldn't be right to talk about food without mentioning chocolate, one of the most pleasurable of all edibles. In food journalist Mort Rosenblum's (Olives: The Life and Lore of a Noble Fruit) examination of this addictive treat, he travels around the world to discuss each step in the production of chocolate and to review a bevy of chocolate products, from Godiva (he thinks it's sub-par) to high-end French confections that only those lucky enough to be in-the-know can find. Rosenblum also delves into the history of the chocolate industry, including the legendary rivalry between the Cadbury and Fry companies. Keep a bar of chocolate handy as you devour this delectable book. |
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Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
- by Eric Schlosser
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Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin
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Pub Date:
01/01/2001
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Check library catalog
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ISBN:
0395977894
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Not only did the publication of journalist Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation present a scathing exposé of the fast food industry, but it also brought more attention to pre-existing and ongoing debates over how the industry has impacted and continues to affect American society. In eye-opening detail, Schlosser explores every facet of the industry, from meatpackers to drive-thru workers and from health ramifications to economic implications. Now that a film adaptation of Fast Food Nation has hit theaters, check out the book that got Americans thinking about just what exactly was lurking between the buns of their favorite burgers. |
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Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950's America
- by Laura Shapiro
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Publisher:
Penguin USA
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Pub Date:
03/29/2005
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ISBN:
014303491X
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During the 1950s, the introduction of time-saving pre-packaged meals and convenience foods revolutionized the way that postwar Americans prepared and cooked food. In this fascinating history, author Laura Shapiro traces the products, cookbooks, and marketing campaigns that led to this culinary sea change. She explains how and why some convenience foods (like canned peaches) caught on but some (such as canned hamburgers) didn't. If you have a fondness for--or are perplexed by--canned peas or frozen turkey dinners, Something from the Oven is both the perfect homage to and investigation of the way we eat now. |
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| Still looking for the right book? Contact your librarian. |
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