September’s Best History Books

Killing the Rising Sun, by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Stretching the concept of the popular Killing series to include entire nations instead of just individuals, O’Reilly and his historian partner Dugard tackle the Empire of Japan in the last years of World War II. Staggered by the economic and human losses of its aggressive campaigns, Japan was on the brink of disaster, with General MacArthur planning an all-out assault and invasion—and yet the military, following its code of bushido, would not surrender. Meanwhile, the Americans were developing the first atomic bomb, and the newly installed President Truman had to decide whether to use it to try and cow the Japanese into a rapid surrender, or risk the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives in an invasion. O’Reilly excels at making complex history accessible and famous names into real people.

Hero of the Empire, by Candice Millard
In modern times, Winston Churchill is often reduced to the jowly, growling, portly man who made epic speeches during the Blitz (or, sometimes, a recurring character on Doctor Who). Churchill was one of the most important people in the world long before World War II, however—a man who had risen to the epitome of power in England, only to stumble and fall before finding greatness again. Millard makes an argument that Churchill was more than just a brilliant politician, examining a specific moment in Churchill’s youth—his capture and escape from a POW camp during the Boer War—and sees within him a James Bond type, a man of daring action and peerless talent. Her laser focus on Churchill alone makes this a fascinating character study that will force you to reconsider your opinion of the man who remains quite possibly the most famous prime minister of all time.

A Truck Full of Money, by Tracy Kidder
Paul English should be more famous than he is. Outshone by flashier personalities and more dramatic stories, the billionaire founder of Kayak.com is a fascinating study in many ways: as a sufferer of bipolar disorder who has had to struggle against his own brain his entire life; as a hacker of the purest sort, a man who viewed the internet as an extension of his own mind; and as the epitome of Startup Culture, a man who built an empire based almost solely on ideas and his ability to sell them to people with money. More than a biography, Kidder’s book studies several distinct subcultures while tracing English’s unusual path to wealth, and it is just as interesting when English isn’t the focus.

The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters, by Laura Thompson
The logline on the Mitford Sisters is that they were the Kardashians of their time—six attractive upper-class sisters who each made a mark on popular culture in their own way. A novelist, a duchess, a communist, a Nazi, and a fascist—these are just a few of the roles the Mitford sisters played during their lives. It’s no wonder writers continue to return to these remarkable women. From Unity Mitford, who almost committed suicide when Britain declared war on her beloved Germany, to Nancy Mitford, celebrated novelist and full-time celebrity, the Mitfords lived one of the most interesting stories in recent history. Anyone who wants to understand modern celebrity should read this book for hint at the cause of our modern obsession with fame.

Dagger 22, by Michael Golembesky
A gripping, detailed recounting the role of Marine Special Operations Team 8222, callsign Dagger 22, in fighting a series of tense, difficult winter operations in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan. Designed to cut an entrenched Taliban force off from supplies and resources and prepare the way for an offensive designed to break their hold on the valley and prevent them from launching an expected—and deadly—spring offensive, this book offers a look at real tactics and the slow grind of modern warfare. Golembsky—who was a member of Dagger 22 at the time—brings home how soldiers survive terrible conditions and, more importantly, intense boredom as they wait for information and orders. With its “you are there” intensity, Dagger 22 is essential reading for both war buffs and history nerds.

American Revolutions, by Alan Taylor
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Taylor delivers a striking work of history that goes against the popular misconceptions that the American Revolution was a unified, organized, and efficiently-run movement. Instead, he demonstrates that Americans were divided, hostile to one another, and in constant competition. Everything from the causes of the revolution (it wasn’t just taxes and representation), to the way the country was slowly forged into the republic we know today was the result of intense jockeying and sometimes violent clashes. In short, the American Revolution was chaotic, violent, and unpredictable, and the people who came together to fight it almost assuredly had different—sometimes opposing—goals. Like all great history, American Revolutions dives into the details of a complex subject, the end result offering an expanded understanding of how this country came to be.

Blood at the Root, by Patrick Phillips
Phillips brings attention to one of the most unbelievable events in American history—the “racial cleansing” of Forsyth County, Georgia, in 1912. When that year dawned, there were nearly 1,100 black residents living in the county. Many were poor sharecroppers, but some were landowners and professionals. When three black laborers were accused of raping a white woman, they were lynched—sparking an insanity of attacks on every single black person living in the area, with organized “night riders” heading out to burn homes and churches, attack people, and drive them away. By the end of the year, not a single black person was left—and white residents quietly took over the “abandoned” farms and other property. Black Forsyth was forgotten, and the pattern of violence to keep the county white continued well into the 1990s. This is a book every American should read.