Award-winning historian Antony Beevor moves from Stalingrad and Berlin to the beaches at Normandy for this "outstanding, comprehensive account" (Booklist) of the campaign there. Offering insight into the experiences of American, Canadian, and British soldiers as well as the French civilians involved, Beevor documents the German response, the heavy casualties suffered on all fronts, and the challenges faced by military leaders. D-Day is a well-researched and wide-ranging history that can be appreciated by readers versed in the subject as well as those new to the topic.

This sequel to the well-received America's Women (published in 2003) chronicles the women's civil rights movement throughout the past half century, focusing primarily on the 1960s and the efforts of female baby boomers. Drawing on oral history and research in a variety of disciplines, New York Times columnist Gail Collins (the paper's first female editorial page editor) writes of Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem as well as of Hillary Clinton's recent presidential campaign and the sexism faced by former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor. "A revelatory book for readers of both sexes," says Kirkus Reviews.

Though Lady Jane Grey's story is fairly well-known--she ruled for less than two weeks in 1553 before being replaced by the Catholic Mary Tudor and executed the next year--she and her two sisters, Katherine and Mary Grey, could have had a much bigger impact on the history of England had they not fallen prey to the political infighting of the Tudor clan. After Jane's death, her sisters found they had to be extremely careful lest they set off the wrath of Elizabeth I; both were eventually imprisoned. This compelling history of three "fascinating and often overlooked women" (Publishers Weekly) is sure to appeal to the many fans of British history in general and Tudor history in particular.

After a year in which forest fires devastated parts of Australia and the U.S., this dramatic history of the largest-ever forest fire in America is especially timely. In 1910, the fire that ravaged Washington, Idaho, and Montana burned more than three million acres in only a couple of days, destroyed towns, killed nearly 100 people, and required the efforts of about 10,000 firefighters--but it also led to increased support for a national forest service. Juxtaposing the stories of the individuals who fought--and died in--the fire with the underlying political landscape in the U.S., National Book Award-winner Timothy Egan sheds light on America's early conservation efforts and the terrible fire that helped move them forward.

Despite the cheerful cover, you need only read the subtitle of bestselling author Barbara Ehrenreich's latest to realize that she's not necessarily a fan of relying on positive thinking to get things done. In fact, she believes that on a personal level it leads to dangerous self-delusion and on a national level it has played a role in both the current economic climate and the situation in Iraq. Linking optimism as a cultural trait to the nation's willingness to accept positive military forecasts and turn a blind eye to looming financial disaster, Ehrenreich warns that focusing on positive thinking to the exclusion of all else leaves the U.S. without plans for when things do go wrong. This is "bright, incisive, provocative thinking from a top-notch" writer, says Kirkus Reviews.

You are probably aware of the health care discussions currently taking place in Washington, D.C., and across the U.S. If you're looking for more information (and you can't get your hands on the bestselling The Healing of America by T.R. Reid), journalist Jonathan Cohn's Sick is a good place to start. In addition to detailing the failures of the American health care system--from skyrocketing medical care costs to the inability of many Americans to afford adequate coverage--he offers personal stories of those affected. Regardless of your stance on health care reform, you'll find much food for thought here. For an explanation of how the American political system affects health care reform, try former senator Tom Daschle's Critical, which also addresses how those problems could be fixed.

The military doesn't consist solely of the men and women who head off to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan; the wives, husbands, parents, and children of U.S. soldiers are often unsung heroes who steadfastly support and ground their loved ones in times of both peace and conflict. Journalist Kristin Henderson--herself a military spouse--chronicles the lives of two military wives at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, from their anxiety about the impending deployments of their husbands to the difficulties of life once their soldiers return home. Those with loved ones in the military might find this book comforting; those without will be better able to understand the people who make up the armed forces.

Political scientist Seth G. Jones (of the RAND Corporation) is armed with suggestions for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan; among them are fostering bonds with local tribes, strengthening the national security forces, and destroying the Taliban's stronghold in Pakistan. In addition to an exploration of current efforts there, he also delves into Afghanistan's history and the results that others have had there--most notably Alexander the Great, the U.S.S.R., and Victorian-era Britain. Though the situation in Afghanistan is a complex one, this well-researched book provides a detailed overview of U.S. operations there since 2001.

Expanding on a series of articles published in The New Yorker, writer Elizabeth Kolbert has created an "unbiased overview" (Publishers Weekly) of a burgeoning crisis. As glaciers melt and animals adapt to growing--or shrinking--climate zones, Kolbert approaches climate change from every angle, visiting the Arctic and interviewing researchers and environmentalists. With skill, she explains the science behind climate change, draws frightening parallels to lost ancient civilizations, and presents the personal tales of those who are being affected most. She also explores what's being done by governments and local organizations, and includes a bibliography for future reading. For more, try Tim Flannery's The Weather Makers or Eugene Linden's The Winds of Change.

Written by president of the Environmental Defense Fund Fred Krupp and journalist Miriam Horn, Earth, the Sequel offers an overview of the world's current energy needs, what is being done to meet them, and what we need to do in order to reduce the effects of global warming. Focusing just as much on entrepreneurs as on scientists, Krupp and Horn discuss progress in the areas of biofuels, solar power, and other alternative sources of energy. If you're interested in sustainability and alternative energy, you'll want to take a look at the many possibilities highlighted here.

Though published before Justice David Souter retired, leaving room for Sonia Sotomayor to become the first Hispanic judge to sit on the U.S.'s highest court, The Nine nevertheless provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the powerful, often secretive world of the Supreme Court works. In addition to a profile of each of the justices, author Jeffrey Toobin discusses some of the more controversial cases that came in front of the courts presided over by Chief Justices William Rehnquist and John Roberts, including Bush v. Gore. Don't miss this "compelling look at the power and politics behind the Supreme Court" (Booklist).