Fiction
The heroine in this time-traveling romp through history is known as Margaret or Maggie or Meg. It all depends on which time period you’re in: 1861, 1941, or 2001. Blessed or burdened, she inherits the gift of time-crossing allowing her to live three separate lives. As the Civil War breaks out, she is the daughter of a senator. A navy nurse in 1941, she elects to join a hospital ship heading to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she’s a brilliant medical student. Ultimately, she must choose one path.
History
This one-volume look at World War II offers conclusions that may seem obvious, but are they? Germany and Japan started wars they couldn’t finish. The Allied powers could strike into the Axis heartland and occupy enemy homelands. The Allies outproduced the Axis 2 to 1. In fact, the U.S. gross domestic product alone was larger than all the Axis nations’ combined. This is an excellent starting point for those who know nothing about World War II, as well as a fresh look for those knowledgeable about it.
Exploration
Thor Heyerdahl had a theory: The islanders of the South Seas had come by boat from the east. In 1947, he and five other men tested this theory by sailing on a hand-built, balsa log raft they named Kon-Tiki from South America to the Tuamotu Islands in Polynesia. His account of this three-month expedition of 4,300 miles details the many hardships and obstacles they faced, including storms and sharks. It’s a triumph of the human spirit and a now-classic adventure story for young and old alike.
Classics
By Will Durant
In this compendium, we find the barebones thoughts of one of the most prolific historians of the 20th century. Durant was noted for his belief in the importance of individuals in history, his gentle wit, and his broad knowledge of the past. In this short collection, John Little does readers a great service by bringing them the essentials of Durant, lists of history’s greatest thinkers and poets, the best 100 books, vital dates, and more. This is an excellent introduction to the past and to Durant.
Economics
Adam Smith, the Scottish economist, heavily influenced the economists who followed, specifically free-market economists. But who influenced Adam Smith? Johnson, who was an economist and a professor of economic history at Johns Hopkins University, takes the reader through the many influences on Smith, some well-known, some not, and some from the field of economics and some not. Originally published in 1937, this is a great read for those interested in the formation of our modern economic systems.
For Kids
This visually stunning book takes the reader on beautiful explorations of natural habitats, using close-up photography. The reader is invited to guess what a partial image of a photo might be, and then its full identity is revealed on the next page with facts about the object. Educational and engaging, this a great read to coincide with beach season.
