In 1943, Nazi Germany attempted one of the most ambitious assassination plots in history. Hoping to take out Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin in one fell swoop during a conference in Iran, a group of German assassins planned to storm Churchill’s birthday dinner. Their plan failed (obviously), but the thrilling story of how […]
The Secret Keeper
John F. Kennedy liked to swim naked at lunchtime. Franklin D. Roosevelt made staffers hide his wheelchair at dinner parties. Lyndon B. Johnson complained about the water pressure. J.B. West, who served as head usher at the White House for 28 years, absorbed a lot of interesting tidbits during his decades on the job—and he […]
Hanging Out with Kim Jong-Un
“You’re fired.” Mike Pompeo, who served as director of the CIA and US Secretary of State under Donald Trump, was the only member of Trump’s core team who didn’t hear those words or quit of his own accord. Over four years of delicate negotiations with volatile leaders in North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, Pompeo worked […]
The Dark Past of German Moguls
Porsche cars, Dr. Oetker products, and billionaire dynasties such as the Quandts are very famous names and brands. But few people know about their horrifying pasts. Investigative journalist David de Jong aims to change that with Nazi Billionaires, an explosive story that uncovers the truth about modern-day German conglomerates that have swept their Nazi pasts under […]
A True Story From The Wild West
Kit Carson was a legend of the American West — a trapper, guide, and soldier. He was unusual among his contemporaries in that he also deeply understood (and tried to honor) the native peoples there. Set against the backdrop of the decades-long battle between the Navajos and the Americans who threatened their land and their […]
Wounds, Woods, and Warriors
Don’t look away. The conflict was brutal, and so is the story. Arnold Boleman’s novel retells a centuries-old tale of violence and politics that would eventually shape modern-day India. A deft blend of real history and fictional characters, Yalgaar looks at the life of India’s great warrior king, Shivaji, through the eyes of ordinary people. Terror and Upheaval Hiroji is […]
Heir vs. Spare
Poor Prince Harry. It’s not easy being fifth in line to the throne. He and Meghan Markle made headlines when they defected to North America. Now in California, Harry recently released his tell-all memoir Spare to great fanfare. So what’s in it? The Royal Rumble Harry’s memoir is packed with petty grievances. (Apparently, Will and Kate were […]
Train Your Brain for the Future
Jane McGonigal is a forecaster who runs simulations that help people imagine what the future will be like. When you picture a potential threat in your mind’s eye, you can learn how to deal with it better when and if it arises. Today’s Instaread, Imaginable, will help you become more agile and resilient—and could even save your […]
The Dark Side of Startup Culture
Americans have been slow to recognize the threat of Big Tech, leaving us to hope that it’s not too late. In The Coming of Neo-Feudalism, urban futurist Joel Kotkin warns the global 99 percent of looming dangers ahead. Led by affluent tech giants, the new hierarchs of society are exerting a growing control over our lives […]
The Book No One Wants to Review
It seems safe to say that Alex Jones hasn’t had the best year. He’s been ordered to pay over $1.4 billion in damages for spreading falsehoods about the Sandy Hook shooting. One of his attorneys was suspended a few days ago for improperly sharing private medical records. And he has one of the banned accounts […]
