This Month’s Top Picks in History

March, Book Two, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (illustrator)
This history-as-graphic-novel account of the Civil Rights Movement, the second installment in a trilogy, brings the past to life with an artful immediacy. It’s the first-person account of Congressman John Lewis, who participated in the titular marches. In visceral, emotional fashion, the authors take us through the Freedom Rides and the 1963 March on Washington. Nate Powell’s powerful illustrations only enhance an already riveting document of living history.

The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society, by Julian E. Zelizer
From the marches to the place they marched to: Lyndon Johnson was one of the most powerful and influential leaders in U.S. history, and the story of the passage of his “Great Society” programs is as dramatic and compelling as it gets. Instead of concentrating solely on Johnson, Zelizer also highlights others who were instrumental in passing some of the most transformative legislation of the modern era, providing a narrative account of the stakes and the difficulties encountered along the way.

Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee—The War They Fought, the Peace They Forged, by William C. Davis
From the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to the Civil War of the 1860s, this dual biography of dueling generals Grant and Lee provides an intimate view of their personalities and relationships, and of events that shaped their lives. Davis does an incredible job of turning two of the most famous men in American history into flesh-and-blood people, taking the unique approach of exploring their destinies and personal relationship (they met in person four times) in an intertwining historical account that reveals more in its exploration of connections than two separate works ever could.

Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad, by Eric Foner
The seeds of the Civil War and everything that came after go back to the Revolution and the institution of slavery, which was both more entrenched and more pervasive in society than most realize today. The so-called “underground railroad” is known to schoolchildren everywhere, but in this book, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Eric Forner uses firsthand accounts and newly uncovered evidence to explain just how deeply ingrained slavery was in the United States (it was practiced legally for generations even in the North, where it was supposedly abolished), and what hardships were faced by those who risked everything to flee from it and find freedom.

Danubia: A Personal History of Habsburg Europe, by Simon Winder
In a breezy, accessible style, Winder tells the story of the Habsburgs, a family that for centuries ruled huge swaths of territory in Europe like medieval Kardashians, trading crowns and possessions and making huge political waves. They had unchecked power over a large patch of the world, and the damage they did over three hundred years is eye-popping. Winder’s relatable voice makes it very easy to lose yourself in this torrid family saga.

Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America, by Jill Leovy
The politics of justice have made headlines of late, and it’s more important than ever to understand that the issues that have sparked protests and widespread political discontent are deeper, older, and more wide-ranging than we might think. Leovy takes an all-too common event—a black man murdered in South Los Angeles by another black man (a so-called “ghettoside” of the type often ignored by the police and the media)—and tells the story of Detective John Skaggs and the unusual group of detectives who refused to let the death become just one more statistic. The result is a riveting story that feels like it’s happening right now, as we watch.

Black Diamonds: The Downfall of an Aristocratic Dynasty and the Fifty Years That Changed England, by Catherine Bailey
If you love Downton Abbey and have a serious case of estate envy, you’ll enjoy Bailey’s novelistic approach to the story of the Fitzwilliam family. When the sixth Earl Fitzwilliam died in 1902, he was worth about $3 billion in today’s money. His Wentworth estate—the largest private home in England—makes Downton look scrawny in comparison. With that much money and social influence, you might assume his family’s legacy would be a happy one, but instead it’s a story of bitter internal feuds, political setbacks, and scandal, all told in a lively, detailed style that keeps the pages turning.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand
Unbroken is the story of Louis Zamperini, and if you didn’t know it was 100 percent true, you probably wouldn’t believe it. A troubled youth, an Olympic athlete who met Adolf Hitler, and a decorated bombardier, Zamperini had already had an eventful and accomplished life prior to 1943, when, during his final mission as a pilot in WWII, his plane crashed into the Pacific ocean. After surviving a remarkable 47 days at sea with nothing but a fishing line and some empty containers for rainwater collection, Zamperini was captured by the Japanese and treated brutally by an unhinged guard at one of Japan’s infamous POW camps. If you’ve already seen the acclaimed film, reading the complete story will give you a deeper understanding of Zamperini’s heroic struggle, the power of the human spirit, and the drive to survive under the worst possible conditions.

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, and Jim DeFelice
Warfare is really just history happening. Chris Kyle’s memoir, which reads like a pulse-pounding spy novel, tells of his career as the most successful sniper in the history of the Navy SEALs, known by his peers as “The Legend.” During four tours of duty in Iraq, Kyle protected his fellow Marines from the rooftops so well, the enemy put a price on his head. Kyle’s memoir is a powerful document of modern warfare. The Academy Award-nominated film version starring Bradley Cooper and directed by Clint Eastwood is thrilling, but there’s so much to unpack from Kyle’s amazing story, the book shouldn’t be missed—especially since Kyle, who was murdered a short time after the book’s release by a fellow marine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, will never get to expand on it.

The Reaper: Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers, by Nicholas Irving, Gary Brozek
If American Sniper whetted your appetite for stories about the most mysterious chess piece of modern warfare—the sniper—then Nicholas Irving’s memoir is the ideal follow-up. The summary reads like a Hollywood film. Irving is called “The Reaper” after he sets kill records while deployed in Afghanistan, and eventually matches wits with an enemy sniper known as “The Chechnian.” Irving offers a fascinating and incredibly detailed glimpse into a modern battlefield that most of us, thankfully, will never encounter. Filled with thrilling details, the first-person account puts you in Irving’s head as he experiences the brotherhood, danger, and difficult morality of being one of the world’s deadliest snipers.
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