Nonfiction
‘The Jews and the Left’
By Batya Ungar-SargonAs journalist and author Ungar-Sargon states in her introduction, her latest book examines why Jews find themselves unwelcome in the party they’ve embraced for a century and what it portends. She takes readers from the Founders to the present in her look at American Judaism, then dives into the new left, its anti-Zionism and in some cases, its anti-Semitism. Here’s a keen analysis of this transformation and the influences motivating it. A fine account as well of today’s political landscape.
History
‘Vanguard: The True Stories of the Reconnaissance and Intelligence Missions Behind D-Day’
By David AbrutatThe Normandy invasion was the most fraught event of World War II. If the landings in Northern France failed, the war in Europe might have gone on an additional year. Success depended upon good intelligence and deception. This book examines Allied preparations for D-Day. It thoroughly explores virtually every aspect of invasion preparation. It offers an unprecedented and densely packed look at the different activities that went into launching D-Day, one rarely discussed in most histories.
Psychology
‘The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion’
By Jonathan HaidtWho are the immoral among us? This renowned psychologist and bestselling author dissects this powerful and dividing question. The dissection is sliced along the lines of politics and religion—the two topics not to be discussed in mixed company, but that no one can stop talking about. Haidt discusses how liberals and conservatives pursue moral clarity, and how both are often in agreement. The main issue is that neither will concede to such a conclusion. A very thought-provoking book.
Historical Fiction
‘1941: Thirty Days in May’
By JD WoodIn 1941, pro-Nazi Golden Square Iraqi Army generals overthrew the pro-British monarch of a nominally-independent Iraq, inviting the Germans and Italians in and resulting in the 30-day Anglo-Iraqi War. Set in WWII, this fast-paced novel follows that war through the eyes of three participants: Maddie Miller, an American working as an operative for British intelligence; Colin Wood, going through flight training at RAF Habbaniya; and James McGovern, a British intelligence officer in Cairo.
Classics
‘Give Me Liberty’
By Rose Wilder LaneKnown best for her novels and her work with her mother on the “Little House” books, in this short book, Lane stoutly defended individual liberty. Though a communist after WWI, a visit to Russia opened her eyes to collectivism’s oppression of the human spirit. She publicly opposed the New Deal and helped inspire the libertarian movement. Here’s a resounding account of her conversion to individualism and her advocacy for liberty. A worthwhile read in our present age of big government.
For Kids
‘American Tall Tales’
By Mary Pope Osborne and Michael McCurdyThis foundational collection of American folklore features characters like Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Davy Crockett, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, and Johnny Appleseed. Larger-than-life stories, brought to life by McCurdy’s striking woodcut illustrations, celebrate the imagination, perseverance, and pioneering spirit of 19th-century America.
