History and Current Events January 2026 |
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Born Equal: Remaking America's Constitution, 1840-1920
by Akhil Reed Amar
In Born Equal, the prizewinning constitutional historian Akhil Reed Amar recounts the dramatic constitutional debates that unfolded across these eight decades, when four glorious amendments abolished slavery, secured Black and female citizenship, and extended suffrage regardless of race or gender. At the heart of this era was the epic and ever-evolving idea that all Americans are created equal. The promise of birth equality sat at the base of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. But in the nineteenth century, remarkable American women and men-especially Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Abraham Lincoln-elaborated a new vision of what this ideal demanded. Their debates played out from Seneca Falls to the halls of Congress, from Bloody Kansas to Gettysburg, from Ford's Theater to the White House gates, ultimately transforming the nation and the world.
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Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity
by Aimee Donnellan
A cure for obesity has long been the holy grail for the pharmaceutical industry, one that seemed unattainable until recent breakthroughs in type 2 diabetes research led to the development of Ozempic, a weight loss medication that activates a hormone in the stomach called GLP-1, making people feel fuller for longer. The treatment is so effective that it is already disrupting many industries--from healthcare to fast food to fashion--and it has quickly made its creator, Denmark's Novo Nordisk, the most valuable company in Europe. But the impact of GLP-1s goes far beyond billion-dollar profits; a true long-term cure for obesity could save 40 percent of American adults from dangerous, preventable illnesses. And as more potential benefits emerge, one question looms in the minds of investors, healthcare workers, and politicians: Are these drugs too good to be true? In Off the Scales, Reuters journalist Aimee Donnellan illuminates the history of a medical breakthrough that is poised to change the world, while raising difficult social questions about inequality and morality. Through original reporting and rigorous research, she forecasts the future of GLP-1s and examines what their explosive popularity tells us about our ideals of beauty and the lengths to which people will go in order to become thin.
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A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore
by Matthew Davis
"Well, most people want to come to a national park and leave with that warm, fuzzy feeling with an ice cream cone. Rushmore can't do that if you do it the right way. If you do it the right way people are going to be leaving pissed." Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent of Mt. Rushmore, shared those words with author Matthew Davis. From the tragic history of Wounded Knee and the horrors of Indian Boarding Schools, to the Land Back movement of today, Davis traces the Native American story of Mt. Rushmore alongside the narrative of the growing territory and state of South Dakota, and the economic and political forces that shaped the reasons for the Memorial's creation. A Biography of A Mountain combines history with reportage, bringing the complicated and nuanced story of Mt. Rushmore to life, from the land's origins as sacred tribal ground; to the expansion of the American West; to the larger-than-life personality of Gutzon Borglum, the artist who carved the presidential faces into the mountain; and up to the politicized present-day conflict over the site and its future. Exploring issues related to how we memorialize American history, Davis tells an imperative story for our time.
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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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The Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen--From Wtf to Serial
by Sean Malin
With over fifty official podcast networks, more than three million programs of every imaginable category available for download, and tens of millions of unique listens and views every week in the US alone--plus, our favorites being adapted into dozens of beloved films, TV series, and books--podcasts are now part of the fabric that makes up our everyday global media. Finally, here is an exclusive insider's perspective told through 101 different shows across dozens of genres. The Podcast Pantheon is the first book of its kind: A resource for discovering podcasts and learning more about how this multibillion-dollar industry came into being from the geniuses who created it. Delving into genres of all kinds--including fashion, food, health, sex, tech, and more--Malin profiles all the top podcasts, from Serial to Comedy Bang! Bang!, guiding fans to: Find out more about their favorite shows and how they got started. Learn about each podcast's influences and impact on culture, history, future shows, and the industry at large. Hear exclusive stories and enjoy never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos from favorite hosts. Discover hidden gems, whether an entirely new podcast, a new-to-you genre, or something reminiscent of an old favorite. Readers will find podcasts worth listening to and get expert advice on the best episodes to start with, solving one of the biggest and most intimidating hurdles when trying to dive into a longstanding show.
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History Hiding Around Broadway: Backstage Lore, Secrets & Surprises from New York's Famed Theater District
by Teale Dvornik
Go behind the scenes of the Great White Way with this illustrated guide to the Theater District's hidden history--an essential book for your explorations of the district from a seasoned Broadway guide. Broadway is one of New York's greatest treasures, and where there is treasure, there is a backstory. When it comes to Broadway, that backstory is fittingly juicy, dramatic, and unexpected. And no one knows these hidden histories like Teale Dvornik, who has been leading Broadway fans on tours of the theater district since 2017. With her immense knowledge and passion for the theater, Dvornik now takes readers on her one-of-a-kind tour of Broadway, stopping at each of the 41 theaters to tell us fun facts, lesser-known history, ghost tales, and interesting stories about actors, performances, stage flukes, blunders, and more, involving the biggest names and productions in theater history. Learn about the Tiffany chandeliers of the Belasco Theater, the trove of hidden jewels at the Gershwin (which houses years of history from the beloved musical Wicked), and the impresarios and players who influenced Broadway. Readers will also learn the fascinating back stories of theater myths, legends, and traditions. Where did the stage ghost light come from? What started the tradition of intermissions? Which theaters have secret connecting hallways? And much, much more! Along the way, Teale takes detours to explain stage lingo and dives into some of Broadways most popular shows, including CATS, Hello, Dolly!, and Rent.
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Smartphone Nation: Building Digital Boundaries When Offline Isn't an Option
by Kaitlyn Regehr
Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr--a celebrated researcher and professor of digital humanities--explains how we can hold on to the myriad benefits of technology while evading their hidden dangers. We are all using (and parenting around) a technology we didn't grow up with; it makes sense that we feel overwhelmed. In Smartphone Nation, Regehr explains how these technologies work, giving you the power to change the way you (and your family) use your devices. Regehr proposes a new, food pyramid-like framework for understanding and improving our digital consumption. Some tech, like nutrient-dense food, is good for us; it is vital in our lives. But so much of what we consume via algorithms is like candy that rots our teeth: it's disastrous for our wellbeing. Regehr's groundbreaking research reveals how we can reclaim control and maintain a healthy digital diet. Essential reading anyone who knows there's more to life than staring at a screen--or who wants to raise children who believe that, too. Thoughtful, clearsighted, and empowering, Smartphone Nation is essential reading for anyone who owns a phone.
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Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America
by Jonathan Karl
In Retribution, Jonathan Karl's unparalleled access brings us behind closed doors deep inside the White House and presidential campaigns, revealing the extraordinary moments that ended one man's presidency and brought another back to power. This is a story of unprecedented political plot twists, showing what happened behind the scenes as political fortunes fell and rose again, and as a new team coalesced around President Trump with the goal of creating an entirely new world order. From President Biden's shocking withdrawal and Vice President Harris's historic run, to the multiple assassination attempts on President Trump, his election, and the changes he has brought to every corner of the country, this book reveals in surprising new detail how we got here, and what we can expect from American politics in the years to come.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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