The extraordinary career of George Catlett Marshall - America's most distinguished soldier-statesman since George Washington - whose selfless leadership and moral character influenced the course of two world wars and helped define the American century. Winston Churchill called him World War II's "organizer of victory." Harry Truman said he was "the greatest military man that this country ever produced." Today, in our era of failed leadership, few lives are more worthy of renewed examination than Marshall and his fifty years of loyal service to the defense of his nation and its values. Even as a young officer he was heralded as a genius, a reputation that grew when in WWI he planned and executed a nighttime movement of more than a half million troops from one battlefield to another that led to the armistice. Between the wars he helped modernize combat training, and re-staffed the U.S. Army's officer corps with the men who would lead in the next decades. But as WWII loomed, it was the role of army chief of staff in which Marshall's intellect and backbone were put to the test, when his blind commitment to duty would run up against the realities of Washington politics. Long seen as a stoic, almost statuesque figure, he emerges in these pages as a man both remarkable and deeply human, thanks to newly discovered sources. Set against the backdrop of five major conflicts - two world wars, Palestine, Korea, and the Cold War - Marshall's education in military, diplomatic, and political power, replete with their nuances and ambiguities, runs parallel with America's emergence as a global superpower. The result is a defining account of one of our most consequential leaders.
Dutton Caliber
|
9781101990971
|
Hardcover
Stamped from the Beginning
By Kendi, Ibram X
WINNER OF THE 2016 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTIONA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER IN RACE AND CIVIL RIGHTSFINALIST FOR THE 2016 NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR NONFICTIONTHE MOST AMBITIOUS BOOK OF 2016 - The Washington PostA BOSTON GLOBE BEST BOOK OF 2016A WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK OF 2016A CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2016A ROOT BEST BOOK OF 2016A BUZZFEED BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2016A BUSTLE BEST BOOK OF 2016NOMINATED FOR 2016 NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK OF NONFICTIONFINALIST FOR THE 2017 HURSTON/WRIGHT LEGACY AWARD IN NONFICTIONA KIRKUS BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2016A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF 2016 TO EXPLAIN CURRENT POLITICSA KIRKUS BEST HEARTRENDING NONFICTION BOOK of 2016AN ENTROPY BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2016THE WASHINGTON POST 2016 SUMMER READING LIST"ENGROSSING AND RELENTLESS" - The Washington Post"THIS DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF RACIST IDEAS SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING" - The Root"NOVELISTIC FLAIR" - The Stranger"AMBITIOUS, MAGISTERIAL" - Starred Kirkus Review"MUST FOR SERIOUS READERS" - Library Journal"HEAVILY RESEARCHED YET READABLE" - BOOKLIST "WORTH THE TIME OF ANYONE WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND RACISM" - The Seattle Times"EVER-RELEVANT CONTEXT FOR THE WHITE SUPREMACIST MOMENT" - The Dallas Morning News"A COMPELLING, THOROUGHLY ENLIGTENING, UNSETTLING, AND NECESSARY READ" - Vox"GRACEFUL, ENGAGING PROSE" - Tampa Bay TimesSome Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black president spelled the doom of racism. In fact, racist thought is alive and well in America--more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues in Stamped from the Beginning, if we have any hope of grappling with this stark reality, we must first understand how racist ideas were developed, disseminated, and enshrined in American society.In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Stamped from the Beginning uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to offer a window into the contentious debates between assimilationists and segregationists and between racists and antiracists. From Puritan minister Cotton Mather to Thomas Jefferson, from fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to brilliant scholar W.E.B. Du Bois to legendary anti-prison activist Angela Davis, Kendi shows how and why some of our leading proslavery and pro-civil rights thinkers have challenged or helped cement racist ideas in America.Contrary to popular conceptions, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. Instead, they were devised and honed by some of the most brilliant minds of each era. These intellectuals used their brilliance to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation's racial disparities in everything from wealth to health. And while racist ideas are easily produced and easily consumed, they can also be discredited. In shedding much-needed light on the murky history of racist ideas, Stamped from the Beginning offers us the tools we need to expose them--and in the process, gives us reason to hope.
Nation Books
|
9781568584638
|
Hardcover
The Hamilton Scheme
By Hogeland, William
"William Hogeland is the best guide I have found to understanding how we today are, for good and evil, children of Alexander." -- J. Bradford DeLong, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Slouching Towards UtopiaHow Alexander Hamilton embraced American oligarchy to jumpstart American prosperity. . "Forgotten founder" no more, Alexander Hamilton has become a global celebrity. Millions know his name. Millions imagine knowing the man. But what did he really want for the country? What risks did he run in pursuing those vaulting ambitions? Who tried to stop him? How did they fight? It's ironic that the Hamilton revival has obscured the man's most dramatic battles and hardest-won achievements -- as well as downplaying unsettling aspects of his legacy.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
|
9780374167837
|
Hardcover
Life in the Fast Lane
By Wall, Mick
From iconic rock journalist Mick Wall comes the definitive account of America's best-selling band of all time - who have sold more records than Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones combined - exploring the hedonistic days of the '70s music scene in LA, their ruthless, meteoric rise to fame, and the dark truths beneath their musical façade of peaceful, easy feelings."Surely make you lose your mind ... " So the Eagles warn us about the outrageous and ruthless lifestyle of the ambitious rock-n-roller. In fact, Don Henley could barely listen to the track "Life in the Fast Lane" when they were recording it. He was so high that it made him sick. The band that embodied the American dream with globe-straddling success, impossibly luxurious lives, and almost supernatural talent also descended into nightmare with bloodletting betrayal, hate-filled hubris, the skeletons of perceived enemies, brutally discarded lovers and former band mates left unburied in the road behind them.
Diversion Books
|
9781635768909
|
Paperback
1944
By Winik, Jay
New York Times bestselling author Jay Winik brings to life in gripping detail the year 1944, which determined the outcome of World War II and put more pressure than any other on an ailing yet determined President Roosevelt.It was not inevitable that World War II would end as it did, or that it would even end well. 1944 was a year that could have stymied the Allies and cemented Hitler's waning power. Instead, it saved those democracies - but with a fateful cost. Now, in a superbly told story, Jay Winik, the acclaimed author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval, captures the epic images and extraordinary history as never before. 1944 witnessed a series of titanic events: FDR at the pinnacle of his wartime leadership as well as his reelection, the planning of Operation Overlord with Churchill and Stalin, the unprecedented D-Day invasion, the liberation of Paris and the horrific Battle of the Bulge, and the tumultuous conferences that finally shaped the coming peace.
Simon & Schuster, 2015.
|
9781439114087
|
Print book
A Day in September
By Budiansky, Stephen
A panoramic account of the fateful Civil War battle and its far-reaching consequences for American society and culture.The Battle of Antietam, which took place on September 17, 1862, remains the single bloodiest day in America's history: more than 3,600 men died in twelve hours of savage fighting, and more than 17,000 were wounded. As a turning point in the Civil War, the narrow Union victory is well-known as the key catalyst for Lincoln to issue his Emancipation Proclamation.Yet Antietam was not only a battle that dramatically changed the fortunes and meaning of the war; it also changed America in ways we feel today. No army in history wrote so many letters or kept as many diaries as the soldiers who fought in the Civil War, and Stephen Budiansky draws on this rich record to re-create the experiences of those whose lives were forever changed, whether on the battlefield or in trying to make sense of its horrors in the years and decades to follow.
W. W. Norton & Company
|
9781324035756
|
Hardcover
The Golden Screen
By Yang, Jeff
The Golden Screen is the first of its kind history and celebration of Asian Americans on the big screen. Written by New York Times bestselling author Jeff Yang, this collection covers more than 130 films, spanning more than 100 years - from Cecil B. DeMille's 1915 film The Cheat to Wayne Wang's The Joy Luck Club to the Daniels' Everything, Everywhere All at Once in 2022. With exquisite original art from Asian illustrators and personal anecdotes from writers, actors, producers, and directors all over Hollywood, this groundbreaking book explores how these iconic films have shaped how America sees Asians and how Asian Americans see themselves.. In 2018, the critical and financial success of Crazy Rich Asians ignited new fires in Hollywood to create and back Asian-centric stories.
Black Dog & Leventhal
|
9780762482221
|
Hardcover
The Politicians and the Egalitarians
By Wilentz, Sean
One of our most eminent historians reminds us of the commanding role party politics has played in America's enduring struggle against economic inequality."There are two keys to unlocking the secrets of American politics and American political history." So begins The Politicians & the Egalitarians, Princeton historian Sean Wilentz's bold new work of history.First, America is built on an egalitarian tradition. At the nation's founding, Americans believed that extremes of wealth and want would destroy their revolutionary experiment in republican government. Ever since, that idea has shaped national political conflict and scored major egalitarian victories -- from the Civil War and Progressive eras to the New Deal and the Great Society -- along the way.Second, partisanship is a permanent fixture in America, and America is the better for it. Every major egalitarian victory in United States history has resulted neither from abandonment of partisan politics nor from social movement protests but from a convergence of protest and politics, and then sharp struggles led by principled and effective party politicians. There is little to be gained from the dream of a post-partisan world.With these two insights Sean Wilentz offers a crystal-clear portrait of American history, told through politicians and egalitarians including Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, and W. E. B. Du Bois -- a portrait that runs counter to current political and historical thinking. As he did with his acclaimed The Rise of American Democracy, Wilentz once again completely transforms our understanding of this nation's political and moral character.
W. W. Norton & Company
|
9780393285024
|
Print book
The Brooklyn Experience
By Freudenheim, Ellen
From Paris to Rio, everyone s curious about hot, new Brooklyn. "The Brooklyn Experience, " Ellen Freudenheim s fourth comprehensive Brooklyn guidebook, offers a true insider s guide, complete with photographs, itineraries, and insights into one of the most creative, dynamic cities in the modern world. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge at dawn or sunset, discover thirty-eight unique Brooklyn neighborhoods, and experience the borough like a native. Find out where to go to the beach and to eat great pizza, what to do with the kids, how to enjoy free and cheap activities, and where to savor Brooklyn s famous cuisines. Visit cool independent shops, greenmarkets, festivals, and delve into the vibrant new cultural scene at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barclays Center, and the lively exploding neighborhoods of DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Bushwick. Included in the book are essays and the pithy, sometimes funny comments of sixty cultural, literary, and culinary movers and shakers, culled from exclusive interviews with experts from the James Beard Foundation to the cofounder of the famous Brooklyn Book Festival, as well as MacArthur genius award winners, to young entrepreneurs, hipsters, and activists, all of whom have something to say about Brooklyn s stunning renaissance. Neighborhood profiles are rich in user-friendly information and details, including movies, celebrities, and novels associated with each neighborhood. There are also 800 listings of great restaurants, bars, shops, parks, cultural institutions, and historical sites, complete with contact information. Targeting the independent, curious traveler, "The Brooklyn Experience" includes a dozen do-it-yourself tours, including a visit to Woody Allen s childhood neighborhood, and amazing Revolutionary and Civil War sites. Freudenheim draws clear and sometimes surprising connections between old and new Brooklyn. Written by an author with an astounding knowledge of all Brooklyn has to offer, "The Brooklyn Experience" will guide both first-time and repeat visitors, and will be a fun resource for Brooklynites who enjoy exploring their own hometown. "
George Marshall
By Roll, David L.
The extraordinary career of George Catlett Marshall - America's most distinguished soldier-statesman since George Washington - whose selfless leadership and moral character influenced the course of two world wars and helped define the American century. Winston Churchill called him World War II's "organizer of victory." Harry Truman said he was "the greatest military man that this country ever produced." Today, in our era of failed leadership, few lives are more worthy of renewed examination than Marshall and his fifty years of loyal service to the defense of his nation and its values. Even as a young officer he was heralded as a genius, a reputation that grew when in WWI he planned and executed a nighttime movement of more than a half million troops from one battlefield to another that led to the armistice. Between the wars he helped modernize combat training, and re-staffed the U.S. Army's officer corps with the men who would lead in the next decades. But as WWII loomed, it was the role of army chief of staff in which Marshall's intellect and backbone were put to the test, when his blind commitment to duty would run up against the realities of Washington politics. Long seen as a stoic, almost statuesque figure, he emerges in these pages as a man both remarkable and deeply human, thanks to newly discovered sources. Set against the backdrop of five major conflicts - two world wars, Palestine, Korea, and the Cold War - Marshall's education in military, diplomatic, and political power, replete with their nuances and ambiguities, runs parallel with America's emergence as a global superpower. The result is a defining account of one of our most consequential leaders.
Stamped from the Beginning
By Kendi, Ibram X
WINNER OF THE 2016 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTIONA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER IN RACE AND CIVIL RIGHTSFINALIST FOR THE 2016 NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR NONFICTIONTHE MOST AMBITIOUS BOOK OF 2016 - The Washington PostA BOSTON GLOBE BEST BOOK OF 2016A WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK OF 2016A CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2016A ROOT BEST BOOK OF 2016A BUZZFEED BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2016A BUSTLE BEST BOOK OF 2016NOMINATED FOR 2016 NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK OF NONFICTIONFINALIST FOR THE 2017 HURSTON/WRIGHT LEGACY AWARD IN NONFICTIONA KIRKUS BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2016A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF 2016 TO EXPLAIN CURRENT POLITICSA KIRKUS BEST HEARTRENDING NONFICTION BOOK of 2016AN ENTROPY BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2016THE WASHINGTON POST 2016 SUMMER READING LIST"ENGROSSING AND RELENTLESS" - The Washington Post"THIS DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF RACIST IDEAS SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING" - The Root"NOVELISTIC FLAIR" - The Stranger"AMBITIOUS, MAGISTERIAL" - Starred Kirkus Review"MUST FOR SERIOUS READERS" - Library Journal"HEAVILY RESEARCHED YET READABLE" - BOOKLIST "WORTH THE TIME OF ANYONE WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND RACISM" - The Seattle Times"EVER-RELEVANT CONTEXT FOR THE WHITE SUPREMACIST MOMENT" - The Dallas Morning News"A COMPELLING, THOROUGHLY ENLIGTENING, UNSETTLING, AND NECESSARY READ" - Vox"GRACEFUL, ENGAGING PROSE" - Tampa Bay TimesSome Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black president spelled the doom of racism. In fact, racist thought is alive and well in America--more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues in Stamped from the Beginning, if we have any hope of grappling with this stark reality, we must first understand how racist ideas were developed, disseminated, and enshrined in American society.In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Stamped from the Beginning uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to offer a window into the contentious debates between assimilationists and segregationists and between racists and antiracists. From Puritan minister Cotton Mather to Thomas Jefferson, from fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to brilliant scholar W.E.B. Du Bois to legendary anti-prison activist Angela Davis, Kendi shows how and why some of our leading proslavery and pro-civil rights thinkers have challenged or helped cement racist ideas in America.Contrary to popular conceptions, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. Instead, they were devised and honed by some of the most brilliant minds of each era. These intellectuals used their brilliance to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation's racial disparities in everything from wealth to health. And while racist ideas are easily produced and easily consumed, they can also be discredited. In shedding much-needed light on the murky history of racist ideas, Stamped from the Beginning offers us the tools we need to expose them--and in the process, gives us reason to hope.
The Hamilton Scheme
By Hogeland, William
"William Hogeland is the best guide I have found to understanding how we today are, for good and evil, children of Alexander." -- J. Bradford DeLong, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Slouching Towards UtopiaHow Alexander Hamilton embraced American oligarchy to jumpstart American prosperity. . "Forgotten founder" no more, Alexander Hamilton has become a global celebrity. Millions know his name. Millions imagine knowing the man. But what did he really want for the country? What risks did he run in pursuing those vaulting ambitions? Who tried to stop him? How did they fight? It's ironic that the Hamilton revival has obscured the man's most dramatic battles and hardest-won achievements -- as well as downplaying unsettling aspects of his legacy.
Life in the Fast Lane
By Wall, Mick
From iconic rock journalist Mick Wall comes the definitive account of America's best-selling band of all time - who have sold more records than Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones combined - exploring the hedonistic days of the '70s music scene in LA, their ruthless, meteoric rise to fame, and the dark truths beneath their musical façade of peaceful, easy feelings."Surely make you lose your mind ... " So the Eagles warn us about the outrageous and ruthless lifestyle of the ambitious rock-n-roller. In fact, Don Henley could barely listen to the track "Life in the Fast Lane" when they were recording it. He was so high that it made him sick. The band that embodied the American dream with globe-straddling success, impossibly luxurious lives, and almost supernatural talent also descended into nightmare with bloodletting betrayal, hate-filled hubris, the skeletons of perceived enemies, brutally discarded lovers and former band mates left unburied in the road behind them.
1944
By Winik, Jay
New York Times bestselling author Jay Winik brings to life in gripping detail the year 1944, which determined the outcome of World War II and put more pressure than any other on an ailing yet determined President Roosevelt.It was not inevitable that World War II would end as it did, or that it would even end well. 1944 was a year that could have stymied the Allies and cemented Hitler's waning power. Instead, it saved those democracies - but with a fateful cost. Now, in a superbly told story, Jay Winik, the acclaimed author of April 1865 and The Great Upheaval, captures the epic images and extraordinary history as never before. 1944 witnessed a series of titanic events: FDR at the pinnacle of his wartime leadership as well as his reelection, the planning of Operation Overlord with Churchill and Stalin, the unprecedented D-Day invasion, the liberation of Paris and the horrific Battle of the Bulge, and the tumultuous conferences that finally shaped the coming peace.
A Day in September
By Budiansky, Stephen
A panoramic account of the fateful Civil War battle and its far-reaching consequences for American society and culture.The Battle of Antietam, which took place on September 17, 1862, remains the single bloodiest day in America's history: more than 3,600 men died in twelve hours of savage fighting, and more than 17,000 were wounded. As a turning point in the Civil War, the narrow Union victory is well-known as the key catalyst for Lincoln to issue his Emancipation Proclamation.Yet Antietam was not only a battle that dramatically changed the fortunes and meaning of the war; it also changed America in ways we feel today. No army in history wrote so many letters or kept as many diaries as the soldiers who fought in the Civil War, and Stephen Budiansky draws on this rich record to re-create the experiences of those whose lives were forever changed, whether on the battlefield or in trying to make sense of its horrors in the years and decades to follow.
The Golden Screen
By Yang, Jeff
The Golden Screen is the first of its kind history and celebration of Asian Americans on the big screen. Written by New York Times bestselling author Jeff Yang, this collection covers more than 130 films, spanning more than 100 years - from Cecil B. DeMille's 1915 film The Cheat to Wayne Wang's The Joy Luck Club to the Daniels' Everything, Everywhere All at Once in 2022. With exquisite original art from Asian illustrators and personal anecdotes from writers, actors, producers, and directors all over Hollywood, this groundbreaking book explores how these iconic films have shaped how America sees Asians and how Asian Americans see themselves.. In 2018, the critical and financial success of Crazy Rich Asians ignited new fires in Hollywood to create and back Asian-centric stories.
The Politicians and the Egalitarians
By Wilentz, Sean
One of our most eminent historians reminds us of the commanding role party politics has played in America's enduring struggle against economic inequality."There are two keys to unlocking the secrets of American politics and American political history." So begins The Politicians & the Egalitarians, Princeton historian Sean Wilentz's bold new work of history.First, America is built on an egalitarian tradition. At the nation's founding, Americans believed that extremes of wealth and want would destroy their revolutionary experiment in republican government. Ever since, that idea has shaped national political conflict and scored major egalitarian victories -- from the Civil War and Progressive eras to the New Deal and the Great Society -- along the way.Second, partisanship is a permanent fixture in America, and America is the better for it. Every major egalitarian victory in United States history has resulted neither from abandonment of partisan politics nor from social movement protests but from a convergence of protest and politics, and then sharp struggles led by principled and effective party politicians. There is little to be gained from the dream of a post-partisan world.With these two insights Sean Wilentz offers a crystal-clear portrait of American history, told through politicians and egalitarians including Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, and W. E. B. Du Bois -- a portrait that runs counter to current political and historical thinking. As he did with his acclaimed The Rise of American Democracy, Wilentz once again completely transforms our understanding of this nation's political and moral character.
The Brooklyn Experience
By Freudenheim, Ellen
From Paris to Rio, everyone s curious about hot, new Brooklyn. "The Brooklyn Experience, " Ellen Freudenheim s fourth comprehensive Brooklyn guidebook, offers a true insider s guide, complete with photographs, itineraries, and insights into one of the most creative, dynamic cities in the modern world. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge at dawn or sunset, discover thirty-eight unique Brooklyn neighborhoods, and experience the borough like a native. Find out where to go to the beach and to eat great pizza, what to do with the kids, how to enjoy free and cheap activities, and where to savor Brooklyn s famous cuisines. Visit cool independent shops, greenmarkets, festivals, and delve into the vibrant new cultural scene at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barclays Center, and the lively exploding neighborhoods of DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Bushwick. Included in the book are essays and the pithy, sometimes funny comments of sixty cultural, literary, and culinary movers and shakers, culled from exclusive interviews with experts from the James Beard Foundation to the cofounder of the famous Brooklyn Book Festival, as well as MacArthur genius award winners, to young entrepreneurs, hipsters, and activists, all of whom have something to say about Brooklyn s stunning renaissance. Neighborhood profiles are rich in user-friendly information and details, including movies, celebrities, and novels associated with each neighborhood. There are also 800 listings of great restaurants, bars, shops, parks, cultural institutions, and historical sites, complete with contact information. Targeting the independent, curious traveler, "The Brooklyn Experience" includes a dozen do-it-yourself tours, including a visit to Woody Allen s childhood neighborhood, and amazing Revolutionary and Civil War sites. Freudenheim draws clear and sometimes surprising connections between old and new Brooklyn. Written by an author with an astounding knowledge of all Brooklyn has to offer, "The Brooklyn Experience" will guide both first-time and repeat visitors, and will be a fun resource for Brooklynites who enjoy exploring their own hometown. "