Manhattan Public Library: History and Current Events: February 2026

Recent Releases

Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster
by Jacob Soboroff

From the MSNBC Senior National and Political Correspondent and author of Separated comes a gripping and revelatory account of the devastating 2025 Los Angeles fires, which he covered on the ground as an LA native.

24 Hours at the Capitol: An Oral History of the January 6th Insurrection
by Nora Neus

Emmy Award-nominated producer and freelance journalist Nora Neus' compelling follow-up to 24 Hours in Charlottesville is a nail-biting, minute-by-minute oral history of the January 6, 2021 United States Capitol attack, featuring never-before-heard firsthand accounts from lawmakers, staffers, and police officers who were there. Further reading: Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th by Mary Clare Jalonick.

A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and the Fight to Modernize Literature
by Adam Morgan

The life and times of literary pioneer and queer icon Margaret C. Anderson, who risked everything to be the first to publish James Joyce's Ulysses in America.

The Traitors Circle: The True Story of a Secret Resistance Network in Nazi Germany...
by Jonathan Freedland

In this evocative and nail-biting account, journalist and bestselling author Jonathan Freedland (The Escape Artist) chronicles the lesser-known story of German resistance movements during World War II. Further reading: Defying Hitler: The Germans Who Resisted Nazi Rule by Gordon Thomas and Greg Lewis.

Focus on: Black History Month

My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future
by Alice Randall

In her impassioned and insightful blend of history and memoir, Nashville-based songwriter and producer Alice Randall (the first Black woman to co-write a number one country song) spotlights trailblazing yet forgotten Black country musicians whose artistry has influenced the genre. Try this next: Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King by Preston Lauterbach.

HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience
by Ayesha Rascoe (editor)

Edited by NPR's Ayesha Rascoe, this inspiring essay collection features 16 pieces penned by graduates of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), detailing how their college experiences shaped them. Further reading: Historically Black Colleges and Universities' Guide to Excellence by William R. Harvey.

The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women's...
by Lindsey Stewart

Black feminist philosopher Lindsey Stewart's sweeping and richly detailed follow-up to The Politics of Black Joy traces the origins and evolution of West African spiritual practices in America, popularized by enslaved conjure women who utilized their skills to heal their communities. Try this next: When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery.

A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects
by Robell Awake

Ten illustrated essays tell the stories of handcrafted objects and their makers, providing inspiration and insight into Black history and craftsmanship--

Contact your librarian for more great books!