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History and Current Events April 2025 |
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| Is it for you? Stewart's rigorous study may not be without political bias, but there are insights here for all readers, regardless of political opinion. As Foreign Affairs praises, "Among the dozens of books that have attempted to identify the forces that Trump rode to power, this is one of the most closely reported and cogent." |
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Praise: "Osgood writes with such a sure hand, and has such a deft command of historical facts, as to make each stage of Rome’s growing disorder seem plausible, lamentable and disturbingly familiar." (The Wall Street Journal) |
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| Praise: "A fascinating and eye-opening look at how American schools have helped build and reinforce an infrastructure of racial inequality... a must-read for every American parent and educator. (Esquire) |
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Praise: "Novelistic and immersive, this historical saga astounds." (Publishers Weekly) |
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The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queensby Nicola ClarkWhat it is: a fascinating deep dive into the lives of Tudor ladies-in-waiting. Drawing on rigorous research, Clark illuminates how these women served as confidantes and political agents for figures like Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, and how their personal choices and alliances influenced the monarchy during a tumultuous era. Praise: "Lively and vivid. Clark brings these ladies—traditionally the window dressing of Tudor literature—forward and casts them as the heroes of their own dramas. While Clark reminds us that ‘women’s history does not need to be exceptional to be relevant,’ her subjects are anything but ordinary." (The New York Times Book Review) |
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What it is: a seasoned investigative journalist reveals the intricacies, hypocrisies, and inner maneuverings of the Holy See, bringing all the momentous disputes and issues vividly to life. Drawing on research across four continents, including hundreds of interviews and exhaustive archival material, Philip Shenon presents a consummate, vibrant history of the modern Church. Praise: "An extraordinary accomplishment: controversial, but crucial for discussions in today’s Catholic Church." (Kirkus) |
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| Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash by Alexander ClappWhat's inside: Journalist Alexander Clapp's well-researched debut explores the disturbing history behind the rise of the global trash trade and the catastrophic implications of this multi-billion dollar industry for the Global South. Praise: "Clapp sounds the alarm ... Despite such depressing conclusions, reading Waste Wars isn’t depressing. Clapp is a lively writer, and his deeply researched book deftly combines history and global economics with stories of real people and tangible details of modern life. You will never look at plastic bags the same way." (The Washington Post) |
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White Light: The Elemental Role of Phosphorus...by Jack LohmannWhat's inside: In this profound, genre-bending book, debut author Jack Lohmann explores the cyclical nature of life and death through the history and impact of phosphorus, from its discovery as a fertilizer to its role in global agriculture and environmental degradation. Through lyrical prose and meticulous research, Lohmann uses the element as an indicator of how we interact with our planet and our mortality. Praise: "Via lyric, literary prose and journalistic storytelling, Lohmann lays bare a hidden ecological tragedy for scientifically curious readers." (Library Journal) |
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| The Lost and the Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family, and Second...*by Kevin FaganWhat it is: Award-winning San Francisco Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan's moving and intimate social history explores homelessness through the experiences of a pair of individuals trying to get by in San Francisco, California.
Praise: "An earnest reminder of the moral side of the crisis: why it is still worth fighting for the basic dignity of all people, especially those who live and die in the teeth of the American contradiction." (The New Yorker) |
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| Praise: "A masterful account of the international struggle for control of 17th-century Manhattan, a fascinating, often overlooked saga... A bracing narrative of the international standoff that birthed America’s biggest city." (Kirkus) |
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What's inside: Acclaimed writer Michael Lewis (Moneyball*, The Big Short*) curates this "terrific" (The New York Times) anthology of essays on public service and servants. Expanding on the popular Washington Post series, Lewis invites his favorite writers to profile someone doing an interesting job for the government. The result is a compendium of stories about everyday Americans highly committed to their work -- whether it be digitizing archives, chasing down cybercriminals, or discovering new planets -- and universally reluctant to take credit for it. Contributors include: Michael Lewis, Dave Eggers, Casey Cep, Sarah Vowell, John Lanchester, W. Kamau Bell, and Geraldine Brooks. |
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| Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa RogakWhat it is: Bestselling New Hampshire-based biographer Lisa Rogak chronicles the courageous exploits of four women who worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II: American reporter Betty MacDonald, Czech polyglot Zuzka Lauwers, American Navy wife Jane Smith-Hutton, and German American film star Marlene Dietrich. Praise: "A clean, compact story about four amazingly successful soldiers in one of our first information wars." (Bookpage) |
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In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space by Irvin WeathersbyWhat it is: a powerful exploration of America's ongoing confrontation with white supremacy in the public sphere. Weathersby examines the context and history of how monuments, architecture, city planning, third spaces, and historical landmarks are tied to racial trauma, while offering a hopeful reimagining of these spaces to promote healing. Praise: "A sobering elegy for all we misremember." (Booklist) |
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Meet Me at the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy by Shamichael HallmanWhat's inside: an inspiring argument for the importance of public libraries as inclusive community spaces that bridge social divides and foster connection. As the country faces an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, and we enter one of the most divisive times in our national history, Hallman argues that libraries offer a refuge for anyone and everyone to open their minds, understand differences, and engage in important conversations.
About the author: Shamichael Hallman is a social, civic, and tech innovator. He is the former Senior Library Manager of the historic Cossitt Library in Memphis Public Libraries, and currently serves as the Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council.
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What's inside: Science journalist Charles Piller exposes how Alzheimer's disease treatment has been set back by corrupt researchers, negligent regulators, and the profit motives of Big Pharma. Arresting and disturbing, PIller's tale is one with huge ramifications not only for Alzheimer's disease, but for scientific research, funding, and oversight at large. Praise: "[A] gripping story of medical groupthink and warped incentives" (The Economist); "A troubling look at the corruption of Big Science." (Publishers Weekly) |
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Praise: "Ratner closes by arguing that good science-based education should be put to work to supplant bad information and bad intentions...An intriguing look at the costs to children's health." (Kirkus) |
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The Devil's Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance by Dan EganWhat it is: In this major work of explanatory science and environmental journalism, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times best-selling author investigates the past, present and future of phosphorus, exploring how diminishing access to the element will endanger our food systems and fuel global conflict. Praise: "... lively, and thought-provoking... an easily digestible introduction to a major global issue..." (Science); "Disquieting…A fine account, worthy of fertile discussion..." (Kirkus) |
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Contact your librarian for more great books! |
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