Good Reads & Views

Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe’s America by Andrew Ferguson
Nonfiction

A self-proclaimed Lincoln buff, Andrew Ferguson takes us with him on his exuberant travels through America in search of Abraham Lincoln sites and events. In this wryly funny mash-up of travel, history, and sociology, the author explores Lincoln’s influence on modern-day America, with his long-suffering family in tow. Beyond visiting the prominent historical sites, Ferguson also drops in on a conference of Lincoln reenactors (“the Abes” do not like to be called “impersonators”), where his commentary blends humor and admiring incredulity. If you enjoy American history, armchair travel, and unabashed enthusiasm, give this book a try.

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Lost in Shangri-La by Michael Zuckoff           
Nonfiction      

A fast-paced story of a transport plane, carrying 24 officers and enlisted men and women, that crashed in the South Pacific during World War II.  Three survived, only to face a harrowing journey of survival in the jungle until they could be rescued.  Award-winning reporter Mitchell Zuckoff tells the story of the extraordinary World War II rescue mission in the lush and undiscovered land of what was then Dutch New Guinea near the end of the war.  The author brings to life a terrifying and sometimes comic tale of surviving severe injuries, disease, native tribes and the wet jungle climate by using such items as a journal kept by one of the survivors during the harrowing weeks on the island, photographs, army documents, scrapbooks and letters.

The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Andersen Brower
Nonfiction

Have you ever been nosy and wanted to know what really happens behind the walls of the Executive Mansion? This book, written by Journalist Brower, who covered the White House for the Bloomberg News for several years, tells the accounts of the President and First Families told by the White House domestic staff.  The maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, engineers, and others will have you laughing out loud to crying after the assassination of JFK. From the Kennedys to the Obamas, every first family has a unique story to tell. The residence staff disclosed their prospective takes on the work involved in maintaining the six-floor mansion's 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases.  First accounts of Jackie Kennedy’s historic restoration of the White House to plumber “Reds” trying his best to control the water pressure and temperature for Lyndon Johnson. You will be amazed about the level of dedication and pride the domestic staff display from daily fresh flower arrangements in each room to specialty dinners. This book is full of surprises!

The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff
Nonfiction

This in-depth history of the Salem witch trials, written by an award-winning nonfiction author, brings to life the bewildering, terrifying era in which adolescent girls accused others of being witches—and were believed. Even weirder… innocent people confessed! Masterfully researched, this book tells the story in all its nuance and strangeness. In her delightful writing style, Schiff vividly evokes the people of Salem and places us in their grim, troubled world. 

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
Nonfiction

This inspiring, fast-paced, true story is the best book I read all year. Bursting with details about the sport of rowing and life during the Great Depression, this narrative places us right there in the (very narrow) boat with the nine men who overcame enormous odds to win the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. But first, these young, working-class men from the University of Washington had to out-row the elite East Coast American teams. A magnificent feel-good story that focuses on its larger-than-life characters: the hulking oarsmen; the tiny coxswain who commanded the boat; the quiet, brilliant philosopher who perfected boatbuilding; and the coaches who assembled and inspired one of the world’s most perfect teams.

 

River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard          
Nonfiction  

The true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s incredible journey down one of most dangerous rivers on earth.  After losing his third bid for the presidency in 1912 he is asked to take a trip to South America that will challenge him physically.  With his son Kermit, the famous explorer Brazilian Candido Rondon, American naturalist George Cherrie and a party of men, Roosevelt and his team face starvation, rushing rapids, natives with poison arrows, disease carrying insects and even murder.  It is an unbelievable tale of exploration and incredible hardship as he and his men discover an unmapped tributary of the Amazon River.  It is known as the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Scientific Exploration of 1913-1914.  It’s a fascinating and dramatic biography filled with adventure.

Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship by Robert Kurson
Nonfiction

In this rip-roaring tale of pirates, deep-sea divers, and treasure, you might not believe it if it weren’t all true. This exuberant, suspenseful adventure story is filled with details of a modern-day mission to discover an extremely rare 17th-century pirate ship, as well as fascinating historical pirate lore (what they said, what they didn’t, and how they used democracy aboard their ships). It’s hard to decide which character is more fascinating: the reliable English captain who—against all odds—turned pirate and battled the British navy, or the two divers (one of whom nearly became a Mafioso earlier in his life) obsessed with finding the pirate ship. An enticing blend of adventure, history, research, risk-taking, and discovery.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
Nonfiction

With his trademark flair for storytelling, the author of The Devil in the White City takes us aboard the ill-fated Lusitania on her final voyage. Erik Larson infuses the story with suspense by alternating between the action on the Lusitania and the U-boat that sunk her. His detailed look at various passengers’ stories brings an intimacy to the narrative, which further deepens the sense of tragedy. In addition to showing life at sea, the book delivers views of Woodrow Wilson as he navigates the political situation regarding World War I (and woos his second wife). A big, multi-faceted, remarkable true story, well told.

Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience compiled by Shaun Usher
Nonfiction

Dip into this beautifully presented collection of letters and memos to and from the famous, the infamous and the obscure, but be prepared to spend some time with it: this is addictive reading. These missives include John F. Kennedy’s desperate note carved into a coconut shell while stranded on a Pacific island after his PT-109 boat was destroyed; a letter from a 12 year old boy to Frank Lloyd Wright asking him to design a dog house; and a heartbreaking letter from physicist Richard Feynman to his wife Arline Feynman, written 16 months after her death. There’s also a form letter written in the 9th century China, to be used to apologize for drunken behavior; an appeal “for the sake of humanity” from Gandhi to Hitler to prevent  the upcoming war; and a 1917 letter that includes the first documented use of the acronym “OMG.” Many letters are reproduced, whether handwritten, typewritten or even carved. Others are accompanied by photographs of the writer or the recipient. Inspiring, amusing, terrifying, sweet and tragic, wandering through this collection will uncover treasures that will appeal to everyone.

End of Days: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson
Nonfiction

From the author of Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, this book chronicles the days leading up to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The author provides just the right amount of detail—so you feel like you’re getting the inside scoop, without getting bogged down. While we all know the story, there are facts here that are surprising, even 50 years after the event. If you’re a conspiracy theorist, this is not the book for you: it focuses on Lee Harvey Oswald as the assassin.