History
To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through WolfPAC. All books listed are linked to Braille and Audio Reading Download site (BARD) for downloading. Happy Reading!
July 2018
American History:
1944: FDR and the Year that Changed History by Jay Winik
DB 83669
Read by Peter Johnson. Reading time: 21 hours, 48 minutes.
LP 30473; 1027 pages.
Historian examines in detail many of the pivotal events of 1944, including the planning of Operation Overlord, D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and more. Discusses Roosevelt's leadership in this context, and the many difficult decisions and challenges he faced. 2015.
Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle that Shaped America's Destiny by Brian Kilmeade
DB 89580
Read by Brian Kilmeade. Reading time: 5 hours, 47 minutes.
LP 33114; 391 pages.
Recounts America's battle with the British for the city of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Discusses how Jackson rallied the city's inhabitants from all backgrounds to defend the city and America's trade. Some violence. 2017.
Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger
DB 88328
Read by Brian Troxell. Reading time: 11 hours, 10 minutes.
LP 33058; 551 pages.
Author of Journey beyond Selene (DB 50687) chronicles the Apollo 8 mission--manned by Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders--which was the first to successfully orbit Earth's moon. Discusses behind-the-scenes interactions in Mission Control, at the astronauts' homes, and in the labs tasked with making the mission a success. Some strong language. 2017.
Blood Brothers: The Story of the Strange Friendship between Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill by Deanne Stillman
DB 89925
Read by Ray Foushee. Reading time: 9 hours, 57 minutes.
The story of the unlikely friendship of Buffalo Bill Cody and Sitting Bull in the 1880s while performing in Cody's Wild West show. Discusses, among other things, Annie Oakley's role in their relationship, the rise of the Native American rights movement, and Sitting Bull's assassination. 2017.
A Colony in a Nation by Christopher Hayes
DB 89566
Read by Christopher Hayes. Reading time: 5 hours, 3 minutes.
Journalist argues that America in the early twenty-first century functions like a nation and like a colony simultaneously. In the nation, citizens venerate the law; whereas in the colony, they obsess over order, fear, aggressive policing, class division, and other conditions similar to those that sparked the American Revolution. Strong language and violence. 2017.
Defining Moments in Black History: Reading between the Lies by Dick Gregory
DB 90302
Read by Bob Moore. Reading time: 8 hours, 4 minutes.
Through a series of essays, civil rights activist examines key moments and subjects in America's black history. Topics include African ancestry, the Middle Passage, the Black Lives Matter movement, the Harlem Renaissance, and more. 2017.
Divided We Stand: The Battle over Women's Rights and Family Values that Polarized American Politics by Marjorie Julian Spruill
DB 87579
Read by Dina Pearlman. Reading time: 16 hours, 53 minutes.
An examination of the long-standing battle between feminists and their female challengers regarding women's rights. Discusses in particular the National Women's Conference in 1977, as well as the events leading up to that day and the aftermath. Some strong language. 2017.
Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West by Tom Clavin
DB 87428
Read by John Bedford Lloyd. Reading time: 13 hours, 13 minutes.
LP 33178; 613 pages.
Dodge City, Kansas started as a small military site and exploded with the coming of the railroad. By the 1870s, it was known as the most violent town in the West. The author recounts the infamous Dodge City War, led by frontier lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, who sought to restore order. Some strong language. 2017.
Jefferson's Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America by Catherine Kerrison
DB 90243
Read by Tavia Gilbert. Reading time: 17 hours, 6 minutes.
LP 33170; 759 pages.
An account of the varied trajectories of the lives of Thomas Jefferson's three daughters--Martha and Maria by his wife and Harriet by black slave Sally Hemings. Discusses the different limits all three faced, Harriet's escape from slavery, and more. Unrated. 2018.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore
DB 89743
Read by Angela Brazil. Reading time: 15 hours, 52 minutes.
LP 33036; 727 pages.
This is the story of hundreds of young, vibrant women who were sentenced to death by their employers. The so-called "Radium Girls" painted luminescent faces on clock and watch dials using a paint mixture that contained radium. Instructed to "lip-point" their brushes as they painted, they absorbed high doses of radium into their bodies. When the effects of the radium led to horrific disfigurement and pain, the company refused to take responsibility. Unrated. 2017.
The Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women who Propelled us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars by Nathalia Holt
DB 84440
Read by Erin Bennett. Reading time: 9 hours, 48 minutes.
LP 30474; 505 pages.
Biologist profiles the women who contributed to the development of the United States' space program, particularly the human computers, in the 1940s and 1950s. Uses interviews with living members of the team to depict life in science before the use of digital computing. 2016.
Rivals unto Death: Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr by Rick Beyer
DB 87292
Read by Rick Beyer. Reading time: 6 hours, 21 minutes.
An examination of the illustrious political careers of and rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. The author traces Hamilton and Burr's relationship back to the American Revolution, when both men served on Washington's staff, and continues through the years until their fateful duel. Some strong language. 2017.
The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire by Stephen Kinzer
DB 87563
Read by Various Narrators. Reading time: 10 hours, 57 minutes.
A journalist examines America's position at the dawn of the twentieth century when faced with the chance to take over foreign territory. Delves into the arguments both for and against imperial expansion given by historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, William Randolph Hearst, Mark Twain, Booker T. Washington, and Andrew Carnegie. 2017.
Unreal City: Las Vegas, Black Mesa, and the Fate of the West by Judith Nies
DB 87557
Read by Coleen Marlo. Reading time: 9 hours, 16 minutes.
A historian tracks four decades of conflict over land, water, and power that began with the division of the Arizona Black Mesa desert between the Hopi and Navajo tribes. Examines the involvement of the government and businesses, cultural collisions, and an extensive battle for resources. 2017.
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
DB 84626
Read by Scott Brick. Reading time: 13 hours, 21 minutes.
LP 30279; 860 pages.
Historian looks at the first four years of the Revolutionary War (1776-1780), focusing on two generals. Chronicles George Washington's many early defeats in battle, and his complicated relationship with his once-loyal general, Benedict Arnold. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2016.
The War before Independence: 1775-1776 by Derek W. Beck
DB 88053
Read by David Colacci. Reading time: 13 hours, 51 minutes.
A recounting of the turbulent events that took place as the American colonies drew ever closer to independence. Discusses the infamous Battle of Bunker Hill, the Battle of Quebec, and the Boston Campaign, among other encounters between the Americans and the British. Unrated. 2016.
Warner Bros: The Making of an American Movie Studio by David Thomson
DB 89274
Read by Gary Tipton. Reading time: 6 hours, 59 minutes.
A history of the film studio, founded in the early 1920s by four Jewish immigrant brothers. Covers the contributions and rivalries of the siblings, which culminated in Jack taking control of the studio. Also recounts stories of the studio's notable movies and movie stars. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2017.
Washington's Farewell: The Founding Fathers’ Warning to Future Generations by John P. Avlon
DB 88744
Read by Bob Moore. Reading time: 11 hours, 24 minutes.
An examination of the end of Washington's second term and the state of the young nation as he prepared to take his leave as leader. Discusses Washington's motivations for stepping down, his hopes for the future of the country, and the ways in which future leaders adopted the tenets of his message. 2017.
World History:
The Ambulance Drivers: Hemingway, Dos Passos, and a Friendship Made and Lost in War by James McGrath Morris
DB 87720
Read by Dean Temple. Reading time: 8 hours, 52 minutes.
Biographer depicts the friendship forged between John Dos Passos and Ernest Hemingway during World War I, when both were serving in the Ambulance Corps. Ultimately, however, the two remembered wartime very differently, which contributed to their friendship devolving into bitter, public fighting. Some strong language, some violence. 2017.
Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917--A World on the Edge by Helen Rappaport
DB 88082
Read by Catherine Byers. Reading time: 15 hours, 57 minutes.
Using eyewitness accounts, recounts the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. Examines the diaries and letters of individuals from many walks of life, including journalists, diplomats, businessmen, bankers, governesses, volunteer nurses, and expatriate socialites. 2016.
Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom by Thomas E Ricks
DB 89008
Read by James Lurie. Reading time: 9 hours, 58 minutes.
LP 33166; 587 pages.
A dual biography of George Orwell and Winston Churchill. Both almost died in the 1930s, and the author speculates on the loss their deaths could have meant to the entire world, given the impact of their subsequent careers. Examines their respective actions, works, and legacies. Unrated. 2017.
Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard
DB 86014
Read by Simon Vance. Reading time: 10 hours, 16 minutes.
LP 30812; 605 pages.
The author of Destiny of the Republic (DB 73787) provides a narrative of Winston Churchill's lesser-known exploits during the Boer War. Describes his capture and subsequent escape across hundreds of miles of enemy territory, with nothing but a wad of cash and a few pieces of chocolate. Unrated. 2016.
March 1917: On the Brink of War and Revolution by Will Englund
DB 88458
Read by Will Englund. Reading time: 11 hours, 48 minutes.
An account of events of importance that took place across a single month. Discusses America's entrance into World War I, Czar Nicholas II's abdication, and more. Draws on diaries, memoirs, newspaper accounts, and oral histories to provide details. 2017.
My European Family: The First 54,000 Years by Karin Bojs
DB 88931
Read by Faith Potts. Reading time: 16 hours, 28 minutes.
A Swedish journalist examines the history of Europe through the lens of researching her family history via DNA analysis. Chronicles the emergence and development of humans on the continent from her first likely ancestor fifty-four thousand years ago until society in the twenty-first century. Translated from the 2015 Swedish edition. 2017.
The Plague of War: Athens, Sparta, and the Struggle for Ancient Greece by Jennifer Tolbert Roberts
DB 88455
Read by Catherine Byers. Reading time: 16 hours, 22 minutes.
An account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta that began in 431 BC and continued until Sparta's defeat at Leuctra in 371 BC. Describes how this long period of war affected life in the two city-states, as well as its impact on Greek cultural life. 2017.
Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans by James Stavridis
DB 88183
Read by Marc Cashman. Reading time: 11 hours, 4 minutes.
An account of the history of naval power, examining its role in shaping the world. The author discusses how oceanic geography has shaped the fates of nations and examines pivotal moments in history determined by naval engagement. Unrated. 2017.
The Sultan and the Queen: The Untold Story of Elizabeth and Islam by Jerry Brotton
DB 88013
Read by Ralph Lister. Reading time: 12 hours, 40 minutes.
A look at how, after being excommunicated and facing economic limitations for her Protestant merchants, Queen Elizabeth began to court leaders in the Middle East, including Ottoman Sultan Murad III, with whom she formed an alliance. Discusses the surprising extent of Elizabethan England's relationship with the Muslim world. Unrated. 2016.
The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors by Dan Jones
DB 89194
Read by Dan Jones. Reading time: 15 hours and 35 minutes.
LP 33057; 695 pages.
The author of The Plantagenets (DB 76853) examines the history of the Knights Templar, a band of religious warriors that emerged in the aftermath of the First Crusade. Discusses the knights' role in history--including their banking practices--as well as their ultimate downfall. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017. The author of The Plantagenets (DB 76853) examines the history of the Knights Templar, a band of religious warriors that emerged in the aftermath of the First Crusade. Discusses the knights' role in history--including their banking practices--as well as their ultimate downfall. Unrated. 2017.
The Tunnels: Escapes Under the Berlin Wall and the Historic Films the JFK White House Tries to Kill by Greg Mitchell
DB 86267
Read by John Lee. Reading time: 12 hours.
LP 30813; 592 pages.
An account of two separate attempts to rescue East Germans by tunneling beneath the Berlin Wall. Television networks helped fund these attempts in return for being allowed to film them, but the footage was ultimately suppressed by the government for fear of raising international tension. Unrated. 2016.
The Vietnam War: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C Ward
DB 89374
Read by Various Narrators. Reading time: 31 hours, 18 minutes.
The authors draw on interviews with both Americans and Vietnamese to examine the perspectives of people involved at all levels of the Vietnam War, including soldiers and their families, high-level officials, protesters, POWs, and more. Based on the documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, and introduced by the filmmakers. Unrated. Bestseller. 2017.