History

Bestselling author the Countess of Carnarvon tells the thrilling behind-the-scenes story of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun on its centennial, and explores the unparalleled life of family ancestor George Herbert—the famed Egyptologist,...

For three weeks in July 1945 all eyes were fixed on a humid Paris, where France’s disgraced former head of state was on trial, accused of masterminding a plot to overthrow democracy. Would Philippe Pétain, hero of Verdun, be condemned as the...

A daring and magnificent historical narrative nonfiction account of Iceland's most famous female sea captain who constantly fought for women's rights and equality—and who also solved one of the country's most notorious robberies. Every day was a...

Named one of the ten best books of the year by the Chicago TribuneA Publishers Weekly best book of 2019 | A 2019 NPR Staff PickA pathbreaking history of the United States’ overseas possessions and the true meaning of its empireWe are...

A vibrant cultural history investigating pandemics and vaccines, by bestselling author and historian Simon Schama   Cities and countries engulfed by panic and death, desperate for vaccines but fearful of what inoculation may bring. This is what the...

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE IN HISTORYAn "important, deeply affecting—and regrettably relevant" (New York Times) chronicle of a sinister idea of freedom: white Americans’ freedom to oppress others and their fight against the...

A bold telling of history, deftly executed, Pathogenesis covers the entire scope of life on this planet from the lens of the germs that shaped it. Written in accessible and engaging prose, this is a masterful rendition of history that is...

A riveting, immersive account of the agonizing decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan—a crucial turning point in World War II and geopolitical history—with you-are-there immediacy by the New York Times bestselling author...

A very important book about six women too often overshadowed in the male-centric space travel industry. This is their story, about how they persevered to become the first six NASA astronauts, and what the future holds for anyone following in their...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An “outstanding new intellectual biography of John Maynard Keynes [that moves] swiftly along currents of lucidity and wit” (The New York Times), illuminating the world of the influential economist and his...

New York Times BestsellerAn accessible, compelling introduction to today’s major policy issues from the New York Times columnist, best-selling author, and Nobel prize–winning economist Paul Krugman, now with a new preface...

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and social psychology research, an acclaimed author demonstrates how so much of our thinking is informed by false assumptions—making us dangerously mistrustful as a society and needlessly unhappy as individuals...

Science journalist Sally Adee breaks open the field of bioelectricity—the electric currents that run through our bodies and every living thing—its misunderstood history, and why new discoveries will lead to new ways around antibiotic...

The devastating story of war through the eyes of a child soldier. Beah tells how, at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and...

*Updated with a new introduction*Journalist Rebecca Traister’s New York Times bestselling exploration of the transformative power of female anger and its ability to transcend into a political movement is “a hopeful, maddening...

The bird book for birders and nonbirders alike that will excite and inspire by providing a new and deeper understanding of what common, mostly backyard, birds are doing—and why: "Can birds smell?"; "Is this the same cardinal that was at my...

Harvard’s acclaimed geologist “charts Earth’s history in accessible style” (AP)   “A sublime chronicle of our planet." –Booklist, STARRED review How well do you know the ground beneath your...

Discover the folklore and history of our most toxic plants through this beautifully produced, gorgeously illustrated compendium—a captivating coffee table book for enthusiasts of witchcraft books and botanical knowledge alike.   "If you drink...

A scientist’s exploration of the "ocean engine"—the physics behind the ocean’s systems—and why it matters. All of Earth’s oceans, from the equator to the poles, are a single engine powered by sunlight, driving huge flows of...

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • The raw, candid, unvarnished memoir of an American icon. The greatest movie star of the past 75 years covers everything: his traumatic childhood, his career, his drinking, his thoughts on Marlon Brando, James...