Books Read

Below is a list (with descriptions) of nonfiction books that Andrew has read.

• The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean
  • This book, as the title suggests, covers the history of the Periodic Table and the elements on it. Each element is covered group by group. The title refers to a gallium spoon dissolving when placed in hot water. 
• The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery by Sam Kean
  • The Tale of Dueling Neurosurgeons is devoted to both the brain and the history of neuroscience. The two dueling neurosurgeons are Amboise Pare and Andreus Vesalius. 
• The Violinist’s Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code by Sam Kean
  • The Violinist’s Thumb is similar to the two previous books and covers both genetics and the history of the study of genetics. The violinist in the title is Niccolò Paganini, who suffered from Marfan Syndrome. 
• Caesar’s Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us by Sam Kean
  • This fourth book by Sam Kean is about the history of air. The history of both air in general and the components of air are discussed.
• The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science by Sam Kean
  • Kean’s most recent book is about scientific ethics and the people who break them. The “icepick surgeon” in the title is lobotomist Walter Freeman. 
• The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton
  • Edith Hamilton’s book on Greek mythology, Mythology, is still commonly used today. This book by Hamilton covers Ancient Athens in the fourth century.
• Magnificent Machines by James May
  • Magnificent Machines covers the great technological developments of the 20^th century, from the Model T to the Space Shuttle and the pacemaker. Each chapter shares the development of these important technologies and how they impacted our modern world. 
• Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik
  • Stuff Matters covers ten important solids integral to modern life, from Chocolate to plastic. Each chapter is presented in a different way: while one chapter may focus on the history of a substance, another is written like a movie script. 
• Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik
  • A sequel to Stuff Matters, Liquid Rules covers ten important liquids. 
• SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard
  • SPQR covers Rome’s history from the legends of Romulus to 212 AD. The book largely focuses on the city of Rome opposed to the Roman Empire. Beard is very well known in her native Britain for her work studying classical history. 
• Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World by Dan Koeppel
  • Banana is a history of the banana, from ancient banana eaters to modern banana republics. The book also talks about the future of the banana industry, and how our current banana may soon be extinct.
• Brunel: The Man Who Built the World by Steven Brindle
  • This book is about the life and legacy of industrialist Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Each of his major accomplishments is covered, and it includes many little-known facts about Brunel’s life.
• What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Monroe
  • What if? was written by Randall Monroe, a former NASA scientist. In this book, Monroe answers life’s important questions with science, including: “What would happen if you tried to fly a normal earth plane above different solar system bodies?” and “What would happen if you tried to pitch a baseball at 90 percent the speed of light?”
• How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Monroe
  • How To is the sequel to What If?, with even more unique questions. While the questions are simple, such as “how to decorate a tree,” the answers are taken to the extreme. 
• Marco Polo: The Journey that Changed the World by John Mann
  • This book retraces the route of Marco Polo’s journey to China. The book discusses both what the sites Polo saw looked like in his day but also what they are like today, and what places from Polo’s time can still be visited.
• Paper: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky
  • This book covers the history of paper, from Egyptian papyrus to modern wood-based paper. It also covers the history of the uses of paper, from scrolls to books to money.
• Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
  • Salt is about the many uses of salt from across history. Like Paper, Kurlanksy is very detailed in his research of such a simple topic. Kurlanksy has also written books on the history of cod and a history of the oyster.
• The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Transformed Civilization by Vince Beiser
  • Like Salt, sand seems like too simple a topic to be the subject of a book. However, Beiser’s book covers the many uses of sand from construction to microchips. It also shares the stories of people who mine sand, including “sand pirates.”
• Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Pederson
  • Quackery covers the important medical missteps of the past, from radium cures to reusable laxatives. 
• The Sawbones Book: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine by Justin McElroy and Sydnee McElroy
  • Similar to Quackery, this book covers the worst ideas from medical history. Major topics are covered in more detail than in Quackery. 
• Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character by Adm. James G. Stavridis
  • In this book, Adm. Stavridis, a former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, documents the lives of ten important admirals from naval history, covering everyone from Francis Drake to Hyman Rickover. 
• Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans by Adm. James G. Stavridis
  • Also written by Stavridis, this book covers the history of each ocean and how they influence modern global politics.
• Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks by Ken Jennings
  • Maphead is about modern mapmaking and geography buffs. The book’s author, Ken Jennings, is best known for his 74-game record on Jeopardy!
• Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U. S. Navy by Ian W. Toll
  • Ian Toll’s Six Frigates covers the early U.S. Navy, from the original six ships to the end of the War of 1812. Major naval leaders from this era, such as Stephen Decatur and William Bainbridge, are also discussed.
• Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time by Michael Palin
  • Erebus documents the two voyages to the polar regions by the HMS Erebus, one trip to the Antarctic and one trip to the Arctic. The ship and her sister, the HMS Terror, mysteriously disappeared on their voyage to the Arctic. The author, Michael Palin, is best known as a part of Monty Python.
• A Short History of England: The Glorious Story of a Rowdy Nation by Simon Jenkins
  • A Short History of England covers English history from the Romans to today. The book focuses on politics, opposed to major societal changes.
• A History of the World in 12 Maps by Jerry Brotton
  • This book begins in Ancient Babylon and ends with Google Earth. Twelve major world maps are covered, in addition to the societies that produced them.
• The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough
  • The Pioneers traces the story of the Northwest Territory (the present-day Midwest), from the debate over its creation to the Civil War. 
• A People’s History of the Supreme Court: The Men and Women Whose Cases and Decisions Have Shaped our Constitution by Peter Irons
  • Irons’ book documents the history of the US Constitution, from its beginnings at the Constitutional Convention to how it has been interpreted by the Supreme Court over the past two centuries. Many of the major cases that have impacted our nation are covered in detail, and the book shows just how important our Constitution is in day-to-day life. 
• Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed the World by Penny Le Coutuer & Jay Burreson
  • This book covers seventeen molecules, and their important contributions to World History. The title refers to the tin buttons of Napoleon’s army, which may have led to his failure in Russia. 
• John Quincy Adams: American Visionary by Fred Kaplan
  • This excellent biography covers one of the most important and interesting forgotten presidents: John Quincy Adams. The book details many of the most interesting parks of his life: his childhood adventures to Europe, ending the War of 1812, his presidency, and his anti-slavery advocacy after he left office. 
• A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico by Amy S. Greenberg
  • Like John Quincy Adams, this book covers an often-forgotten part of American history before the Civil War: The Mexican American War. While the war is often a footnote, it created the legacy of James K. Polk, expanded our nation’s borders, and made Zachary Taylor president. This forgotten war greatly shaped our nation and Greenberg does an excellent job explaining its significance. 
• The Sphinx: Franklin Roosevelt, the Isolationists, and the Road to World War II by Nicholas Wapshott
  • While Pearl Harbor is often considered the point America entered World War II, America was already preparing for the conflict. The Sphinx covers Roosevelt’s attempts to convince the nation war was inevitable, and his efforts to prepare America for World War II. 
• This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War by Bruce Catton
  • Bruce Catton’s book covers the Union Army during the Civil War. The period from Bleeding Kansas to Appomattox is covered in detail. The book is considered a modern classic, and Catton is well known for his efforts in sharing the story of the Civil War.
• Sea of Glory: America’s Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 by Nathaniel Philbrick.
  • In 1838, an expedition set sail to the Pacific Ocean, with the goal of documenting the unexplored area like Lewis and Clark had done on land decades before. The voyage enhanced our scientific understanding of the Pacific, but due to the actions of its egotistical captain was deemed a failure and became a footnote of history. Nathaniel Philbrick’s book does an excellent job of covering the forgotten U.S. Exploring Expedition. 
• Conquest: How Societies Overwhelm Others by David Day
  • If there is more than one way to skin a cat, there are also many ways to conquer. Day’s book covers many of the ways utilized over the centuries, from warfare to cultural assimilation. 
• Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America’s Destiny by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager
  • As the title implies, this book covers the actions of Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, particularly at the Battle of New Orleans. While the Battle of New Orleans was technically fought after the end of the war, it still greatly increased the morale of the young nation.
• The Governors of Georgia, 1754 – 2004 by James F. Cook
  • The Governors of Georgia gives brief biographical information about each person who has held the office of Governor of Georgia. The highlight of the book is the Three Governors Controversy, when three men claimed they were the Governor of Georgia. 
• 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
  • 1491 is about the great empires and cultures that dominated the Americas before Columbus. From the complex Iroquois Confederation to the powerful Aztecs, and the administrative Inca to the forgotten Amazonian empires, 1491 covers a wide variety of cultures, societies, and civilizations. 
• A Brief History of the Age of Steam by Thomas Crump
  • This brief history covers the history of steam engines from their invention in the eighteenth century to the rise of internal combustion engines in the mid-twentieth century. The book discusses a wide variety of applications for the steam engine, from ships to trains.
• Metropolis: A History of Mankind, Humankind’s Greatest Invention by Ben Wilson
  • Metropolis has a simple premise: what if our greatest human invention is not a device or gadget but the city. This book covers the creation of the city in Mesopotamia to modern metropolises like New York and Los Angeles. The book also discusses how cities have adapted to new societies and situations.
• Seize the Fire: Heroism, Duty, and Nelson’s Battle of Trafalgar by Adam Nicholson
  • Seize the Fire is about the Battle of Trafalgar, particularly the English leaders. Because of the leadership shown by Lord Nelson and his “band of brothers,” the naval aspect of the Napoleonic Wars was over a full ten years before the fighting on land was done.
• The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T. J. Stiles
  • First working as a ferry operator, Vanderbilt was an early adopter of steam power in the ferry industry. With this advantage Vanderbilt became one of America’s wealthiest men, even before he became a railroad tycoon. The First Tycoon not only covers Vanderbilt’s life but also covers the changes in American capitalism that took place during his life.
• Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
  • Shackleton’s expedition is one of the most heroic and adventurous stories of the twentieth century, and since its publication in the 1950s Endurance has been the definitive book on the expedition. 
• The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s Ten-Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn
  • Starting in the mid-1910s, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, John Burroughs, and Harvey Firestone began taking summer road trips by automobile. For the next ten years they would visit remote parts of the country. At the same time the automobile was becoming more popular, and the Vagabond Trips coincided with the rise of the summer road trip in America. The Vagabonds is the story of these trips and how the public images of Ford and Edison changed during the decade they traveled.
• Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome’s Greatest Politician by Anthony Everitt
  • During Cicero’s life, he wrote many letters to a friend in Greece named Atticus. Amazingly a great deal of the content of these letters has been preserved, giving us a window into Cicero’s life. Using these letters to Atticus, Anthony Everitt’s Cicero chronicles the fall of the Roman Republic through the eyes of the esteemed Roman statesman. 
• The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books: Christopher Columbus, His Son, and the Quest to Build the World’s Greatest Library by Edward Wilson-Lee
  • “In fourteen-hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Columbus would return to America three more times, including once with his illegitimate son Hernando. The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books is about Hernando, who helped curate his father’s image. Additionally, Hernando had a quest of his own: to build the world’s largest library. 
• John Marshall: The Final Founder by Robert Strauss
  • This biography of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall tells his life’s story and how he influenced the nation. The book also argues that Marshall is the final founding father. 
• The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America’s Judicial Hero by Peter J. Canellos
  • The Great Dissenter is a biography of Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, the only dissenter in Plessy v. Ferguson. The book focuses on how Harlan was ahead of his time in many of his dissenting opinions and how he was later vindicated. 
• Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Life in War, Law, and Ideas by Stephen Budiansky
  • Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., like John Marshall and John Marshall Harlan, was a giant of Supreme Court history. Known for his witty sayings and easy to understand court opinions, Holmes also played a key role in how we understand the Constitution. 
• City of Fortune: How Venice Won and Lost a Naval Empire by Roger Crowley
  • At one time, the Mediterranean Sea was the most important waterway in the western world. One power ruled over the mighty Mediterranean: Venice. Rising to power after the Fourth Crusade, Venice would remain in control of Europe’s water trade until the Fall of Constantinople and the discovery of the New World.
• The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression by Amity Shlaes
  • The Forgotten Man recounts the Great Depression from the Roaring Twenties to the start of World War II. The book focuses on major players, such as Franklin Roosevelt, Father Divine, Andrew Mellon, and Wendell Willkie. The book covers much of the same time period of The Sphinx, but the two books have little overlap. 
• The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine by Lindsey Fitzharris
  • During Joseph Lister’s life, medicine changed from a messy, gory business into the clean and healthy profession it is today. Important in that change was the sanitizing of hospitals and the growing understanding of germ theory, and surgeon Joseph Lister played a vital role in both developments. 
• The Canal Builders: Making America’s Empire at the Panama Canal by Julie Greene
  • When the Panama Canal was built, thousands of workers flooded to Central America to work on the project. While some lived a life of luxury, others lived and worked in conditions now considered intolerable. The Canal Builders is the story of both the canal’s construction and the people who built it. 
• Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse by Kenneth Silverman
  • Samuel F. B. Morse was the nation’s most important painter, and one day had an epiphany. His idea became the American telegraph, which quickly became the standard telegraph in the world. Morse himself is a fascinating character, who briefly dabbled in politics and also helped pioneer American photography. 
• Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts
  • Napoleon: A Life covers Napoleon from his birth on Corsica to his death on St. Helena. In between is a story of war, love, and politics. Considered a hero by some and a villain by others, Napoleon: A Life examines the man behind the myths.
• Scientifica Historica: How the World’s Great Science Books Chart the History of Knowledge by Brain Clegg
  • Clegg’s book is about the history of science in writing, from Aristotle and Galen to Stephen Hawking. Scientifica Historica is devoted to the great science works of the past several millennia and covers every scientific topic imaginable. 
• Barons of the Sea: And Their Race to Build the World’s Fastest Clipper Ship by Stephen Ujifusa
  • In the 1830s, the opium trade with China was at its most lucrative point. In order to trade with China, it became necessary to build bigger and faster ships. This necessity created a new type of vessel called the Clipper Ship, and the race to build better ships would dominate the American shipping industry for the next thirty years.
• Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick
  • When the Pilgrims landed in 1620 they faced many hardships, but by 1621 they were celebrating Thanksgiving. While the story usually ends there, in the 1670s King Philip’s War would ravage New England. Mayflower provides more detail about the story of the Pilgrim’s crossing, and how their actions lead to a war fifty years later.
• Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky
  • Since the Middle Ages cod has been one of the world’s most important sources of food, and Cod traces the history of cod and cod fishing since then. Cod is also about how Cod has been overfished and may soon be gone from our menus forever. 
• The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shelf by Mark Kurlanksy
  • Since the earliest human settlements in New York harbor, the area has been known for its oysters. They became a business when the Dutch settled, an industry when the British took over, and an icon under the United States. The Big Oyster explains how the bivalve went from a world-renowned icon of New York City to a forgotten part of the history of the Big Apple. 
• Our First Civil War: Patriots and Loyalists in the American Revolution by H. W. Brands
  • Our First Civil War is about the conflict which divided America into two warring factions: the American Revolution. Why did some people decide to create a new country? Why did others wish to stay allied with Great Britain? These questions are the theme of Our First Civil War. 
• Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs by Buddy Levy
  • Conquistador is about the conqueror who took for Spain the world’s largest city: Hernán Cortés. At the time, Tenochtitlan was ten times larger than Europe’s largest city, and was the metropole of the massive Aztec Empire. Through firepower, diplomacy, and attrition, Cortés managed to capture the city for Spain. 
• The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party: Jacksonian Politics and the Onset of the Civil War by Michael F. Holt
  • Holt’s book documents the often forgotten and derided Whig Party. From its beginnings during Andrew Jackson’s presidency to its disintegration shortly before the Civil War, The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party seeks to answer questions about how the Whig party came into power and how and why it fell apart so soon. 
• The Nelson Touch: The Life and Legend of Horatio Nelson by Terry Coleman
  • Lord Nelson has been viewed variously as a hero, a villain, a daring adventure, a tyrant, and a saint. The Nelson Touch is a biography of the Admiral that seeks to examine these various interpretations and how they formed during and after his life, all while sharing his life story. 
• The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw
  • Before his son was president, many expected his father Joe would become president. The Patriarch is about the rise, fall, and rise again of the patriarch of one of the nation’s most powerful political families;
• Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose
  • In this book, Ambrose covers the birth and construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, one of the largest engineering feats of the nineteenth century. From its birth during the Mexican American War as a far-fetched dream to its realization after the Civil War, the railroad’s construction proves to be a fascinating story. 
• Alexander the Great: His Life and His Mysterious Death by Anthony Everitt
  • The goal of Everitt’s biography is to show that Alexander still deserves the title of “the Great.” His military conquests created one the the largest empires in the world, but it all came crashing down after his death. Alexander the Great is an excellent biography of a unique character from the ancient past. 
• The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans by David Abulafia
  • The Boundless Sea is an ambitious history of the oceans, from the earliest voyagers who set out into the Pacific to the massive container ships of today. Several thousand years of maritime history are covered in the weighty tome. 
• Conquering Gotham: Building Penn Station and Its Tunnels by Jill Jonnes
  • New York City’s Pennsylvania Station is a lost wonder of the Gilded Age. In Conquering Gotham, Jill Jonnes seeks to share the history of the creation of this Beaux-Arts monument from its conception in 1900 to its opening a decade later. 
• Crusaders: The Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands by Dan Jones
  • Since the first crusade in the eleventh century, they have been idolized, vilified, and examined repeatedly. Crusaders seeks to share the story of the (many) Medieval crusades by providing overviews of their cause, leaders, battles, and effects on both sides of the conflict. Jones also seeks to show why the crusades are still relevant in the twenty-first century. 
• All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard-Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy by Phil Keith with Tom Clavin
  • Eugene Bullard was a hero of France, serving in both world wars. He was a spy, helping the French as the Nazi’s overtook Europe. He was a boxer, who gained fame across the Old World. He was a nightclub owner, who was acquainted with everyone from Langston Hughes to Fred Astaire and Josephine Baker to Louis Armstrong. Most importantly, he was the first African American military pilot in history. All Blood Runs Red is the remarkable story of this often forgotten individual. 
• American Republics: A Continental History of the United States, 1783-1850 by Alan Taylor
  • The history of early America is a nice, leisurely stroll through the first 70 years of our country. It covers a variety of subjects that impacted the nation and is a great starting point for research into this period. 
• Nathaniel’s Nutmeg: or, The True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader who Changed the Course of History by Giles Milton
  • Nathaniel’s Nutmeg covers the early history of the English East India Company and its rivalry with its Dutch counterpart. At the heart of the conflict is the Banda Islands, home of nutmeg trees. Eventually, one of these islands, Run, was exchanged for New Amsterdam. Because of this, the tiny island of Run will change the course of American history. 
• Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony by Lee Miller
  • The mystery of Roanoke will likely never be solved. The colonists of England’s first New World settlement were last seen in 1587 and the colonists were never seen again. This is book on the colony, Miller proposes that Lord Walsignham hired spies to doom the expedition and that the colonists were sold into slavery in the middle of North Carolina. While the book does bounce around the island’s history, it still provides an entertaining read. 
• Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern by Mary Beard
  • Since Ancient Rome the imperial images of Roman emperors have captivated audiences. Who were these individuals? How did they choose to be represented? How have others depicted them? These questions, and more, are detailed in this fascinating book by Mary Beard. 
• John Marshall: The Man who Made the Supreme Court by Richard Brookhiser
  • John Marshall’s time on the Supreme Court changed our nation’s government forever. Regarded by some to be the final founding father, this biography by well-known author Richard Brookhiser is an exemplary look at his life and legacy. 
• The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson
  • The desert’s of Egypt, even in the twenty-first century, are barren and inhospitable. How did one of the world’s longest lasting ancient civilizations grow and thrive in Egypt? What caused its fall? Wilkinson’s history of Ancient Egypt seeks to answer these questions while showing the pharaohs that reigned for over two thousand years. 
• Mirage: Napoleon’s Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt by Nina Burleigh
  • When Napoleon arrived in Egypt in 1798 he entered an unknown, antique land. To study the wonders of Egypt he brought with him a group of scientists called the savants. Mirage is the story of these scientists’ studies with several looks at individual savants. 
• The Keys of Egypt: The Obsession to Decipher Egyptian Hieroglyphs by Lesley and Roy Adkins
  • When the scientist’s of Napoleon returned to Egypt, they brought with them enough material from the expedition to start the field of egyptology. There was only one problem: no one could read hieroglyphics. The Keys of Egypt is both the story of the race to read hieroglyphics, and the story of the man who cracked the code, Jean-Francois Champillon.
• The First World War by John Keegan
  • World War I changed the face of the Earth, literally and figuratively. The impact of the war can still be felt across the globe, from America to Europe and the Middle East to Africa. The First World War is the story of this conflict: how it started, how it was fought, and how it ended. Keegan provides a wonderful overview of “the war to end all wars.”
• The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry
  • The 1918-19 Influenza pandemic, that spread across the globe in wake of World War I, remains the deadliest pandemic in history. The Great Influenza is the story of the American scientists working to stop the pandemic and the public who was faced with a menace unlike any seen before. 
• General Patton: A Soldier’s Life by Stanley P. Hirshson
  • Patton is a figure of contradictions, and remains one of the best loved general’s of World War II. In this biography, Hirshson traces Patton’s life from his birth to his death, and finally his legacy. 
• The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter
  • The Monuments Men, also called the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program, was a group of soldiers during World War II dedicated to preserving Europe’s cultural heritage. The Monuments Men tells the story of these brave soldiers and their quest to save the past for the future. 
• The Three Governors Controversy: Skullduggery, Machinations, and the Decline of Georgia’s Progressive Politics by Charles S. Bullock III, Scott E. Buchanan, and Ronald Keith Gaddie
  • Georgia’s Three Governors Controversy, which took place in 1947, is easily the strangest event to ever take place in Georgia political history. During this time our state had not one, not two, but three men who claimed they were the Governor of Georgia. This book shares the story of and the people involved with that unique chapter of our history.
• Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
  • David Starr Jordan was one of the best known ichthyologists (fish scientists) of his time. His rows and rows of specimens represented decades of hard work. One day, during the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, his collection was destroyed entirely. Why Fish Don’t Exist is the story of Jordan, his collection, and how he rebuilt. It is also partly a memoir of the author, and is one of the most unique books I have read this year.
• All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
  • All the President’s Men is considered a non-fiction classic. The book is about the investigations into Watergate, and was written by the reporters who first brought attention to the story. From burglary to the mysterious “Deep Throat,” All the President’s Men is an exciting tale of scandal and intrigue. 
• Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings by Neil Price
  • The Vikings are some of the most enigmatic people in history, only because of their status as pop culture icons. Children of Ash and Elm seeks to show who the Vikings actually were: in society, in trade, and in war.
• The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester Arthur by Scott S. Greenberger
  • Few presidents are more forgotten than Chester Alan Arthur. Becoming our nation’s leader after the assassination of James A. Garfield, many viewed Arthur’s ascendancy with trepidation. He proved a capable leader, and The Unexpected President shows why Arthur should be remembered.  
• The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen
  • Since the Library of Alexandria the library has been a place of learning, and a status symbol. The Library: A Fragile History traces the many rises and many falls of libraries in world history. From the Medieval monasteries to the large public libraries of today, The Library is both comprehensive and engaging. 
• Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester
  • There is very little that is done in life that does not involve land. It makes up 25% of the globe, and a great deal more of our day-to-day lives. Land seeks to share the story of this asset: how it is viewed, how it is owned, and how it is fought over. Winchester, in this far-reaching book, seeks to show just how important land truly is. 
• Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor by Russell S. Bonds
  • On April 12, 1862, the locomotive General was stolen, starting the Great Locomotive Chase. Stealing the General tells the story of this exciting adventure and the men who participated in it. Ultimately, the first Medals of Honor would be awarded to several of the “Andrews Raiders.”
• Grant by Ron Chernow
  • Grant is not just the biography of a well-respected General, but the story of a forgotten President. Chernow seeks to show why Grant was one of the greatest Generals of the Civil War, and how his historical reputation has suffered because of his honesty and forward-thinking qualities. It is an excellent read, and provides valuable insight into the life of Ulysses S. Grant. 
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
  • Considered a modern classic, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is about Savannah, the oldest city in Georgia. The book is filled with unique individuals and stories that highlight the uniqueness of the historic city. 
• Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland
  • Rubicon tells the story from Sulla to Augustus, when the Roman Republic ended and was replaced by an empire. Along the way notable Romans like Caesar, Cicero, Pompey, Mark Antony, and Brutus are all introduced. This is a wonderful work about the first fall of Rome. 
• Sons of the Waves: A History of the Common Sailor, 1740-1840 by Stephen Taylor
  • Sons of the Waves was read in preparation for reading Master and Commander, and provides valuable insight into the life of historic sailors. From mutinies to shipwrecks to battles to exotic destinations, this book is truly remarkable in its scope. 
• Visions of Science: Books and Readers at the Dawn of the Victorian Age by James A. Secord
  • Visions of Science documents seven important science books from the early Victorian era. Each book was meant for readership by the general public with the goal of improving the scientific knowledge of the public. 
• Cork Wars: Intrigue and Industry in World War II by David A. Taylor
  • One of the forgotten sagas of World War II is the role the cork industry played. In Cork Wars, David A. Taylor uncovers this hidden history through the eyes of people in the industry. The story of the Crown Cork & Seal Co., the main focus of the book, involves everything from espionage to horticulture. 
• The Age of Wood: Our Most Useful Material and the Construction of Civilization by Roland Ennos
  • Wood at one time was ubiquitous in homes, buildings, and tools. This book is the story of wood as a material, and how we as a species have been changed by wood and how we have changed it in turn. Ennos seeks to show why wood has apparently gone away, and why we should resurrect it as the material of the future. 
• Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy by Larry Tye
  • In this biography, Larry Tye seeks to show the true Joe McCarthy, good and bad. The common idea of Joe McCarthy as a bully is shown to be true and, in some cases, understated. Above all the book is a warning against future demagogues. 
• Herbert Hoover: A Life by Glen Jeansonne
  • Herbert Hoover is an often maligned president, but what was he really like? This biography seeks to show, convincingly, that Hoover is in fact one of our more impressive presidents. During his life it is estimated he provided food to over 83 million individuals, and during his time in office was less complacent than commonly presented. This book is a fascinating portrait of a unique American. 
• Manifest Destiny’s Underworld: Filibustering in Antebellum America by Robert E. May
  • In the 1850s, Americans believed the future of the United States lay in South America. Individuals like John Quitman and William Walker sought to take over countries like Cuba and Nicaragua for the young republic.  Manifest Destiny’s Underworld is a history of these modern day pirates, and shows the importance they played in American politics and culture before the Civil War. 
• A History of the Life and Death Virtues and Exploits of General George Washington by Mason Locke Weems
  • Also called The Life of Washington, this biography has had a greater impact on Washington’s legacy than any other book about the statesman. Sadly, the book is also famous for its made-up stories, exaggeration of the truth, and hyperbole. It is interesting as a piece of Washingtoniana, but not as a legitimate biography. 
• Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
  • After reading Weems’ biography of our first president, I decided to read a book by an actual historian. In this story of Washington’s life, Ron Chernow shows how George Washington actually was a great man, but with a well-hidden temper and some contradictory views. Chernow shows how Washington became “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts in his countrymen.” 
• Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H. W. Brands
  • Andrew Jackson is considered by some to be one of our greatest presidents, while others vilify him and believe he is not worthy of praise. What was his life like, and is he deserving of either reputation? H. W. Brands examines Jackson’s life, from his early exploits in the American Revolution, to his heroism at the Battle of New Orleans, to his presidency in the Jacksonian Era. Brands shows that he is well deserving of his reputation as a war hero, but he could also be temperamental and impulsive and he let this impact his presidency. 
• Theodore Roosevelt in the Field by Michael R. Canfield
  • Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most imposing presidents. His time as a soldier and a politician made him a formidable figure in his time, and still continue to impress those who study his life. Roosevelt also had a strong interest in natural history and in the outdoors, and in this biography Canfield seeks to share this facet of the president’s personality. Using original entries from Teddy’s diary, Theodore Roosevelt in the Field covers his small childhood museum to his time in the Dakota Badlands, all the way to his travels through Africa and the Amazon. 
• Thaddeus Stevens: Civil War Revolutionary, Fighter for Racial Justice by Bruce Levine
  • During the Civil War, few Americans were as forward-thinking as Thaddeus Stevens. The leader of the “Radical Republicans,” Stevens fought for the rights of African Americans across the nation. After the war’s end, he set his sights on not reversing the progress that had been made after four years of struggle. This biography of Stevens covers his early life and political career, followed by his important role in one of the crucial periods of American history. 
• Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire by Simon Winchester
  • After being the undisputed world leader for a century, the British Empire fell apart. Its colonies were lost, and the sun finally set on the once powerful imperial power. Except, it didn’t quite happen that way. Even today, Britain still has colonies strung across the world, from Bermuda to the Indian Ocean to Pitcairn Island, home of the Bounty’s mutineers. Outposts is the story of the British Empire in the 1980s, when Hong Kong was still an imperial possession. In the book, Simon Winchestter shares the story of these colonies, how they became British, and why they continue to swear allegiance to the British Crown. 
• Anything for a Vote: Dirty Tricks, Cheap Shots, and October Surprises in U.S. Presidential Campaigns by Joseph Cummins
  • Since the founding of our nation, political campaigns have been dirty. Anything for a Vote chronicles the tactics used over the centuries to win elections, from spreading false rumors to wiretapping offices.
• A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America’s First Presidential Campaign by Edward J. Larson
  • For the first dozen years of our country, the presidential elections were tame affairs, and it was obvious who would win before voting began. During John Adams presidency, America began to further split into two parties fighting for control of the new nation. A Magnificent Catastrophe is the story of the first presidential election under this new partisan system, and how it helped create the idea of a modern presidential election. 
• Fraud of the Century: Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel Tilden, and the Stolen Election of 1876 by Roy Morris Jr.
  • The 1876 election is the most controversial in American history, yet is often overlooked. From election day until inauguration day, both sides claimed their candidate was the president-elect. This book shares the story of how both parties worked to make these individuals, Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden, the President of the United States.
• If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future by Jill Lepore
  • In If Then, Jill Lepore shares the forgotten story of the largely forgotten Simulmatics Corporation. Simulmatics and people connected to the company pioneered modern election campaigns, email, and even social media. In this book, Lepore shows how the groundwork for the modern age was laid in presidential elections and the Vietnam War. 
• Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun: Hernando de Soto and the South’s Ancient Chiefdoms by Charles M. Hudson
  • When de Soto visited the Southeast during his 1539 – 1543 expedition, what did he see? In this book, Charles Hudson shows the great societies de Soto visited and the people he encountered. Along the way, Hudson shows where the places are today, and how to get a feel for what they were like centuries ago. 
• Spectacular Rogue: Gaston B. Means by Edwin P. Hoyt
  • Gaston Means is considered one of the greatest con men in American history, yet few remembered his life today. This book tells his story, from a humble school master to one of the most talked about people in America. 
• King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild
  • Unknown to many, one of the largest genocides in world history took place in the Congo. All of this was because of one man: King Leopold II of Belgium, who had sole control of the Congo Free State. King Leopold’s Ghost documents the atrocities caused by the Belgian king, and the efforts to stop his reckless destruction. 
• Capitalism in America: A History by Alan Greenspan and Adrian Wooldridge
  • This overview of America economic history begins shortly after the founding of our nation, and ends with the 2016 election. While the book does a good job explaining the millionaires and economic trends of the Gilded Age onwards, it does comparatively very little to explain the economy before the 1870s and 1880s. 
• We Have Not a Government: The Articles of Confederation and the Road to the Constitution by George William Van Cleve
  • In the crucial years between the end of the American Revolution and the US Constitution, our nation’s guiding document was the Articles of Confederation. The Articles, which created a weak central government and gave almost all power to the states, was ineffectual. We Have Not a Government is the story of how this document came to be seen as inadequate, and why the United States ultimately settled on a more powerful sovereign federal government. 
• Electric City: The Lost History of Ford and Edison’s American Utopia by Thomas Hager
  • In the 1920s, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, was one of the most talked-about locations in America. Henry Ford planned on creating a seventy-five-mile long city on the Tennessee River, with its focal point being a dam at the shoals. Electric City is about Ford’s dream city, why it failed, and how it was resurrected in the New Deal as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). 
• The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution by John Oller
  • Serving in South Carolina in the two years preceding Yorktown, Francis Marion is sometimes called the “Washington of the South.” In fact, Francis Marion has more places named for him than any other officer of the American Revolution, with the exception of Washington. The Swamp Fox is the story of Marion’s daring exploits during the war that made him an American hero.
• Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg
  • What was Charles Lindbergh like? Was he an American hero or a Nazi sympathizer? Was he a grieving father or a despot when it came to his family? In this excellent biography, A. Scott Berg seeks to show the many sides of Charles Lindbergh, and how, in the end, he was a bit of all of the above. 
• Ahkenaten: Egypt’s False Prophet by Nicholas Reeves
  • Of all the Pharaohs who ruled Egypt, none are today more debated than Ahkenaten. The father of Tutankhamun,  Ahkenaten turned Egypt into a monothesitc society. The question is, why? In Ahkenaten, Nicholas Reeves seeks to show the political and social changes at the heart of the radical departure from tradition. 
• The Right To Vote The Contested History Of Democracy In The United States by Alexander Keyssar
  • It is today easy to take universal suffrage for granted, but for most of our nation’s history many people were excluded from this fundamental right. The Right to Vote shares how people who don’t own property, African-Americans, and women gained the right to vote, and why the path to universal suffrage was not always straight. 
• James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath
  • Of the first five presidents, James Monroe is probably the one least-remembered. Unlike his predecessors, he was not an important figure during the American Revolution, but he does have the distinction of being the only person to serve as both Secretary of State and Secretary of War at the same time. This biography of Monroe illuminates his life, from his humble Virginia beginnings to his presidency and beyond.
• Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City of the Incas by Mark Adams
  • Machu Picchu is one of the most enigmatic places on Earth. In this book, Mark Adams embarks on a trek across the Andes to learn about this lost city. As he ventures through remote mountains and ancient ruins, he shares the story of Hiram Bingham’s similar trips a century before. Part travelog and part historical narrative, Turn Right at Machu Picchu is a wonderful and unique way to learn about this important site. 
• The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian by Robin Lane Fox
  • In this sweeping history of the Classical World, Robin Lane Fox covers the history of the Greeks and Romans. From the birth of democracy in Athens to the despotic Roman emperors, Fox shows how varied the classical world could be. 
• Lost and Found: Heinrich Schliemann and the Gold That Got Away by Caroline Moorehead
  • Heinrich Schliemann’s finding of “Troy” is one of the most important archaeological finds from the Greek bronze age, even if he was wrong. The German merchant-turned-archeologist and pathological liar found the correct site, but dug down too far past the Homeric city he was looking for. Regardless, the gold he found is considered a treasure. Lost and Found is the story of this unique archaeologist and how his gold was found, lost, and found again. 
• Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose
  • While the basics of the Lewis and Clark story are familiar to many Americans, the details of their historic journey are unknown to many. This illuminating history of the trip covers the expedition from its beginnings with the Louisiana Purchase to its end to years later. This story is placed within the context of the life and death of Meriwether Lewis, one of the expedition’s leaders.  It is a story of heroism, adventure, but with a sad end to Lewis’s story. 
• The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815 – 1914 by Richard J. Evans
  • In the aftermath of Napoleon, the ancien régimes across Europe began to be replaced by more democratic governments. New advances in science and technology began to improve the quality of life (for some), while new artistic movements changed the cultural landscape of the continent. In this history, Richard J. Evans explores the story of Europe from after Napoleon to the start of World War I. Along the way, he shows the conflicts that led to the war and the reasons it was so catastrophic. 
• Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson
  • Battle Cry of Freedom is considered to be the definitive one-volume history of the Civil War. Filled with detail, it is a masterpiece. Unlike some books on the topic, it provides a great deal of background information, and the Civil War does not begin until a quarter of the way through the book. Along the way, McPherson is able to share the stories of politics, battles, and leaders in a compelling and interesting way. 
• The Zealot and the Emancipator: John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, and the Struggle for American Freedom by H. W. Brands
  • John Brown, the leader of an abolitionist revolt, has gone down in history as a mysterious, controversial figure. At the same time of his exploits, young Illinois lawyer Abraham Lincoln was making a name for himself, and would eventually become president. This book is the story of how these two individuals both worked to fight slavery, one in battle and one in politics. 
• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
  • This biography tracks Abraham Lincoln and his integral cabinet secretaries: William Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edwin Stanton, Montgomery Blair, and Edward Bates. Each of these secretaries had presidential aspirations, and it was their rivalry which helped lead the Union war effort. By capitalizing on their strengths and meditating disputes, Lincoln was able to create an incredibly effective leadership team, all while remaining the nation’s leader. 
• American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies by Michael W. Kaufmann
  • John Wilkes Booth is known as the man who killed Abraham Lincoln, but why did he do it? How did he plan it? Who were the others who joined him in the plan? This book chronicles all facets of the assassination, from the deed itself to the man who planned it, and his flight from justice to his companions’ execution. Throughout the book, Kaufmann brings to light the story of the actor-turned-killer.
• The Republic for Which It Stands: The United States during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896 by Richard White
  • After the chaos of the Civil War, American began efforts to rebuild. While many hoped a “more perfect” society would emerge, it was still marked by conflict and inequality. In this book, a sequel to The Battle Cry of Freedom, Richard White seeks to show how these grand plans derailed, leaving with the complicated, fascinating period of the Gilded Age. 
• Crazy Horse: A Life by Larry McMurtry
  • This biography is less than 150 pages, but the relative shortness of this book highlights how little we know about Crazy Horse. McMurtry is able to shed light on what we do know, and what we think we know, about a person viewed by some as a messianic figure. 
• Iron Empires: Robber Barons, Railroads, and the Making of Modern America by Michael Hiltzik
  • During the Gilded Age it was the railroads that led the nation’s economy. No business of this size had ever been seen before in America, or indeed anywhere. In “Iron Empires,” the story of the financial leaders who led these railroads is shared. While some of them worked to create modern, efficient business, others only saw a chance to plunder. How these differing ideals converged is the hallmark of this comprehensive work. 
• Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America by T. J. Stiles
  • The dust jacket of Custer’s Trials refers to T. J. Stiles as “this generation’s finest biographer.” The book lives up to these high expectations. George Armstrong Custer is both an often remembered and easily forgotten figure. In this masterful biography, the life of Custer outside of Little Bighorn in full and stunning detail. 
• New York Exposed: The Police Scandal That Shocked the Nation and Launched the Progressive Era by Daniel Czitrom
  • In the nineteenth century, it was an unspoken fact that the New York Police Department was corrupt. One man, Rev. Charles Parkhurst, sought to reform the city. New York Exposed is the story of his crusade to clean up Gotham, and how it spawned similar movements across the nation.
• Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw
  • Of all the Gilded Age industrialists, Andrew Carnegie is the most controversial. Famously, after the Homestead Strike, he decided to give away his fortune to atone for his actions. In Andrew Carnegie, Nasaw shows how this story is fictitious, and that it was always Carnegie’s life goal to give back to the world the fortune he made. 
• Johnstown Flood: The Incredible Story Behind One of the Most Devastating Disasters America Has Ever Known by David McCollough
  • The Johnstown Flood in 1889 shocked the nation: a dam, owned by a wealthy Pittsburgh millionaires club, burst in a rainstorm, destroying the towns and people of the valley below. In this volume, McCollough shares the stories of flood victims, how the flood came to be, and the efforts to recover from the disaster. 
• Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense: The Courtroom Battle to Save His Legacy by Dan Abrams and David Fisher
  • Theodore Roosevelt, in 1915, accused New York political boss William Barnes of controlling the state’s government. This accusation spawned a whole trial that ws set to upend Roosevelt’s legacy, by accusing the former president of being politically corrupt. Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense is the fascinating story of this trial, and how it almost ruined the legacy of one of our most important presidents. 
• Charlatan: America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock
  • Dr. John R. Brinley, the “goat-gland doctor” killed and injured countless individuals with his questionable medical procedure. Charlatan is the story of his dramatic rise and fall of his medical career, along with his political ambitions and radio station. It is a fascinating story of one of America’s most unique charlatans. 
• The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst by David Nasaw
  • Citizen Kane has immortalized William Randolph Hearst as a genius promoter, controversial politician, and the lover of his bad-actress-mistress. The Chief seeks to show the real Hearst, from his privileged beginning, stunning rise in newspapers, affair with Marion Davies, and his dramatic fall at the end of his career. It is a story of one of a man who was once among the world’s most powerful individuals, but has gone down in history as a parody of himself.
• The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire by Stephen Kinzer
  • The Spanish American War marked the first time the United States fought a war overseas. This momentous conflict was the result of several years of debate about America’s role in the world. The aftermath, including a war in the Philippines and Panama Canal, changed our nation’s connection to the rest of the world. This fascinating book takes a look at this period when U.S. foreign policy was altered forever. 
• Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent
  • When a ban on alcohol was placed in the US Constitution, some expected the 1920s to be a dry decade. Instead, the illegal buying and selling of alcohol became one of its hallmarks. This history of Prohibition traces the origins of the Temperance Movement to the Eighteenth Amendment, along with the chaos that ensued. 
• The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis
  • The Cold War defined the globe in the second half of the twentieth century. At the time, it was unclear which side might prevail, if any. In this succinct history of the Cold War, John Lewis Gaddis argues that the Soviet Union was doomed to fall from the beginning, and that it was ultimately charismatic figures and unhappy masses that led to the fall of the USSR. Gaddis masterfully guides the reader through foreign policy, ideology, and politics to provide a fascinating glimpse into what could have been the end of the world. 
• We Shall Not Be Moved: The Desegregation of the University of Georgia by Robert A. Platt
  • Across Georgia, many were unhappy with Supreme Court rulings like Brown v. Board. As it became increasingly clear the University of Georgia would have to desegregate, many fought viciously to prevent progress. We Shall Not Be Moved is the story of three students who tried to enter UGA, and the efforts to stop them from integrating the state’s flagship school.
• Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon by Craig Nelson
  • Looking back, the moon landing seems predetermined or like a natural course of events. It was anything but that. This fascinating history of Apollo 11 covers the earliest days of rocketry to the “one small step.” Along the way, the trials, pitfalls, and accidents of the program are shown and accentuate just how dangerous it was to try to send men to the moon, or beyond.
• Richard B. Russell Jr., Senator from Georgia by Gilbert C. Fite
  • Richard B. Russell was at one time the most powerful man in the Senate. This biography covers his early life, rise through Georgia politics, and his eventual dominance of the halls of Congress. Also shown is his controversial views that stood in the way of progress. Russell is a complicated figure, and Fite covers him and all of his facets. 
• 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann
  • The sequel to his best-selling book 1491, this volume covers the Columbian Exchange across the globe. Unlike its predecessor, this story is much more far reaching, covering everywhere from the Philippines to Virginia and Peru to Spain. It is a story of how the world has shrunk and globalized in the centuries since Columbus set sail. 
• Arthur: God and Hero in Avalon by Christopher Fee
  • For centuries, Arthur, King of the Britons, has been a mysterious, heroic figure. In this survey of Arthurian Legend, Christopher Fee traces Arthur from the earliest accounts to the present day. Along the way, Fee shows how Arthur’s life and legend can illuminate our understanding of an Ancient Britain. 
• Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages by Frances Gies and Joseph Gies
  • The Middle Ages are often maligned, and rarely recognized for technical achievements. Yet this same period saw the rise of great cathedrals, new developments in bridges and castles, and improvements in farming techniques. Through a myriad of examples, the Gies are able to show just how much civilization advanced during these supposed “dark ages.”
• The Light Ages: The Surprising Story of Medieval Science by Seb Falk
  • The Light Ages takes a look at the fourteenth century through the eyes of John Westwyk, a monk and astronomer. This book focuses on the importance of astronomy to the medieval in the so-called “dark ages,” and seeks to show the progress that was made in the centuries after Rome fell. The book is full of marvelous inventions and complicated science that show just how much scientific knowledge we owe to monks spread across Europe. 
• The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III by Andrew Roberts
  • King George III is America’s most hated monarch, but Andrew Roberts believes his infamy is not entirely deserved. While Roberts can be a bit too willing to offer praise to George III, he still manages to create a detailed biography of the controversial monarch. 
• Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaccson
  • As a printer, scientist, statesman, and ambassador, Benjamin Franklin was an American renaissance man. This definitive biography tells the story of this sometimes underestimated figure that showed the world just what America could do. 
• Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan
  • Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was a leader of two of the great enlightenment revolutions. Through his military exploits and in the United States, LaFayette became a name known around the world. His subsequent efforts in France turned him into the “hero of two worlds,” though it also led to his downfall. LaFayette played a critical role in the upheavals after Napoleon’s fall, making him one of the most critical characters in the revolutions of that age. 
• The Greek Revolution: 1821 and the Making of Modern Europe by Mark Mazower
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