12 American History Books That'll Blow Your Mind
Want to look beyond the most common myths about American history and get to the truth about our country's past? To help you out, we've created a well-rounded reading list that offers a wide-ranging history of the United States, as told from different perspectives. This list has something to fill every knowledge gap — and even if you're not a history buff, we promise you'll find something to enjoy.
Amazon
If you can't get enough of George Stephanopoulos on your small screen as a political commentator, you can get a little more of him by way of his book about how former U.S. presidents have handled crises. Step inside the most high-pressure room in the White House — the Situation Room — to understand what went on when former elected officials made some of the toughest decisions of their careers. The book includes minute-by-minute transcripts from the Sit Room after both Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were shot, the shocking moment when Henry Kissinger raised the military alert level to DEFCON III while President Nixon was drunk in the White House residence, a vivid retelling of the 9/11 attacks, a first-ever account of January 6th from the staff inside the Sit Room, and more.
$13+ on Amazon
You know that women, along with many other groups, didn't always have the right to vote in America. But do you know the history of how that changed? And why it was such a fight for them to gain that right? It's not something often explored in elementary school history classes, so if you're interested, you might have to look into it yourself. This book by one of the suffragists is a good place to start. Doris Stevens, who worked with Alice Paul, published a firsthand account of the National Woman's Party, which organized and fought a fierce battle for passage of the 19th Amendment. The book details the hunger strikes, forced feedings, and jail terms suffragists endured to secure their right to vote, and inspired a Broadway musical, Suffs.
$12 on amazon
The NYT Book Review writes, 'This is not an account of relentless progress. It's much subtler and darker than that.' In These Truths, Jill Lepore analyzes whether America has delivered on its original promises of political equality, natural rights, and the sovereignty of the people.
$9+ on Amazon
We interviewed James W. Loewen in 2020 about his groundbreaking work, which debunks common U.S. history myths. This book is an essential fact-check of your own understanding of America's past.
$10+ on amazon
Author Ijeoma Oluo takes readers on a journey through 150 years of American history, from the post-reconstruction South to present-day controversy over NFL protests, all while pointing out the influence and costs of white male supremacy.
$12+ on amazon
It's important to recognize the United States's influence outside just the 50 states. That's the focus of Immerwahr's book, which takes readers to the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and more to bring forgotten episodes in history back to our consciousness.
$13+ on amazon
Although the U.S. is known for being a melting pot, it also has a history of xenophobia directed toward immigrants. From Germans to Irish Catholics to Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican immigrants (and countless others), Erika Lee takes a look at American history through the lens of the groups who have been on the receiving end of this discrimination.
$13+ on amazon
In this sweeping book, Howard Zinn tells the story of the U.S. through the eyes of the working class, painting a vivid picture of movements for equality that have often met fierce resistance.
$10+ on amazon
This read offers a fascinating lesson about Black women's contributions to our history, a multilayered look at the feminist movement, and an investigation into the frequent disregard for working women and women of color through the decades.
$5+ on amazon
Read this book for a deeply-researched look at how racist ideas have impacted American history, using the life stories of five big intellectuals: Puritan minister Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and legendary activist Angela Davis.
$11+ on amazon
Unlike many of the other books on this list, 1776 focuses on a single period of history by telling the story of those who marched with George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
$10+ on amazon
This book is so important: It tells the stories of the true natives of the land we call America. They lived here before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492, unleashing a bloody genocide. And using science, history, and archeology, Charles Mann explains they had much more advanced societies than what many think.
$9+ on amazon
The post 12 American History Books That'll Blow Your Mind appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
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Los Angeles Times
10 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Orange declines to take a stance on unmasking federal immigration agents
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'In the end, it's a piece of paper that doesn't matter. Santa Ana even backed away from passing a resolution like this.' The proposed resolution did not mark the first time Orange City Council tried to weigh in on immigration in a non-binding way. In 2010, Dumitru himself introduced a pair of immigration-related resolutions, including one that effectively declared Orange a 'Rule of Law' city and claimed that undocumented immigrants burdened services and resources at the time. A handful of pro-immigrant activists derided the council's approval of that resolution by presenting a satirical 'ruled by clowns' resolution of their own to the city. This time around, critics of roving patrols by masked federal immigration agents packed council chambers after a short march from the Orange Circle. 'I've lived in Orange for 33 years and I'm a proud supporter of our fine law enforcement,' Paul Hudson said during the council meeting. 'I can't imagine any one of them ever wearing a mask and pulling me over. That's unfathomable.' John Reina, the sole resident to speak against the resolution, argued that it missed its unmasking mark. 'The real danger to us is the rioters who shoot firearms, throw rocks, toss fireworks and hurl concrete blocks and other items at our law enforcement, all the while wearing masks,' he said. 'Where is the outrage and resolution banning face coverings from people protesting in our streets?' Barrios argued that masked federal immigration agents set back efforts to build community trust in local law enforcement while opening the door for imposters to act nefariously. To drive home her point, Barrios held up a black vest and cap with 'security' embroidered on it that she bought from Amazon. 'I guarantee you, it's happening,' she said. 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Mayor Dan Slater feared the resolution in any form would mislead the public into thinking Orange had any kind of authority over federal agencies. 'Regardless of we feel about this issue, I honestly don't think the federal government is going to listen to what the Orange City Council has to say,' he said. 'Santa Ana and L.A. are finding out the hard way that their efforts in this regard are being completely dismissed. In fact, they have been made targets. This issue belongs squarely at the feet of Congress and the courts.' Dumitru moved to table the resolution. Councilmembers Denis Bilodeau, Kathy Tavoularis and Slater voted alongside him in doing so. After the vote, Barrios vented her frustration, especially after a prior effort to put a 'Know Your Rights' page on the city's website did not win support. Two days after the council meeting, masked federal immigration agents appeared in Orange near North Highland Street. Residents sent Barrios photos and videos in alerting her to their presence, which amplified her frustrations. 'This was a Latino neighborhood filled with dense, low-income apartments,' Barrios told TimesOC. 'It underscores exactly what we were talking about at our council meeting.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump's AI plan calls for massive data centers. Here's how it may affect energy in the US
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Fast Company
18 hours ago
- Fast Company
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This marks a policy U-turn since President Donald Trump's return to office that project developers, manufacturers and analysts say will slash installations of renewable energy over the coming decade, kill investment and jobs in the clean energy manufacturing sector supporting them, and worsen a looming U.S. power supply crunch as energy-hungry AI infrastructure expands. Solar and wind installations could be 17% and 20% lower than previously forecast over the next decade because of the moves, according to research firm Wood Mackenzie, which warned that a dearth of new supplies could slow the expansion of data centers needed to support AI technology. Energy researcher Rhodium, meanwhile, said the law puts at risk $263 billion of wind, solar, and storage facilities and $110 billion of announced manufacturing investment supporting them. It will also increase industrial energy costs by up to $11 billion in 2035, it said. 'One of the administration's stated goals was to bring costs down, and as we demonstrated, this bill doesn't do that,' said Ben King, a director in Rhodium's energy and climate practice. He added the policy 'is not a recipe for continued dominance of the U.S. AI industry.' The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration has defended its moves to end support for clean energy by arguing the rapid adoption of solar and wind power has created instability in the grid and raised consumer prices – assertions that are contested by the industry and which do not bear out in renewables-heavy power grids, like Texas' ERCOT. Power industry representatives, however, have said all new generation projects need to be encouraged to meet rising U.S. demand, including both those driven by renewables and fossil fuels. Consulting firm ICF projects that U.S. electricity demand will grow by 25% by 2030, driven by increased AI and cloud computing – a major challenge for the power industry after decades of stagnation. The REPEAT Project, a collaboration between Princeton University and Evolved Energy Research, projects a 2% annual increase in electricity demand. With a restricted pipeline of renewables, tighter electricity supplies stemming from the policy shift could increase household electricity costs by $280 a year in 2035, according to the REPEAT Project. The key provision in the new law is the accelerated phase-out of 30% tax credits for wind and solar projects: it requires projects to begin construction within a year or enter service by the end of 2027 to qualify for the credits. Previously the credits were available through 2032. Now some project developers are scrambling to get projects done while the U.S. incentives are still accessible. But even that strategy has become risky, developers said. Days after signing the law, Trump directed the Treasury Department to review the definition of 'beginning of construction.' A revision to those rules could overturn a long-standing practice giving developers four years to claim tax credits after spending just 5% of project costs. Treasury was given 45 days to draft new rules. 'With so many moving parts, financing of projects, financing of manufacturing is difficult, if not impossible,' said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. 'You are looking to see what is the next baseball bat that's going to hit you on the head.' About face Heliene's planned cell factory, which could cost as much as $350 million, depending on the capacity, and employ more than 600 workers, is also in limbo, Pochtaruk said in an interview earlier this month. The company needs more clarity on both what the new law will mean for U.S. demand, and how Trump's trade policy will impact the solar industry. 'We have a building that is anxiously waiting for us to make a decision,' Pochtaruk said. Similarly, Mick McDaniel, general manager of Bila Solar, said 'a troubling level of uncertainty' has put on hold its $20 million expansion at an Indianapolis factory it opened this year that would create an additional 75 jobs. 'NorSun is still digesting the new legislation and recent executive order to determine the impact to the overall domestic solar manufacturing landscape,' said Todd Templeton, director of the company's U.S. division that is reviewing plans for its $620 million solar wafer facility in Tulsa. Five solar manufacturing companies – T1 Energy, Imperial Star Solar, SEG Solar, Solx and ES Foundry – said they are also concerned about the new law's impact on future demand, but that they have not changed their investment plans. The policy changes have also injected fresh doubt about the fate of the nation's pipeline of offshore wind projects, which depend heavily on tax credits to bring down costs. According to Wood Mackenzie, projects that have yet to start construction or make final investment decisions are unlikely to proceed. Two such projects, which are fully permitted, include a 300-megawatt project by developer US Wind off the coast of Maryland and Iberdrola's 791 MW New England Wind off the coast of Massachusetts. Neither company responded to requests for comment. 'They are effectively ready to begin construction and are now trapped in a timeline that will make it that much harder to be able to take advantage of the remaining days of the tax credits,' said Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward.