May Reads - Tim

Border: The U.S.-Mexico Line by Leon Claire Metz
(480 pages)
a deep dive look at the US/Mexico border. Its history, the battles fought on or near it, and the future of how these two nations will deal with the issues of immigration, drugs, etc.

The Men Who United the States: America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible by Simon Winchester
(496 pages)
the prospectors, inventors, and explorers who filled in the blank spaces on the map of the US. Everything from mining, to railroads, to the laying of telegraph and telephone lines this book shows the people who’s names might not be well known but we wouldn’t have the lives we do today without their efforts.

Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon by Edward Dolnick
(400 pages)
John Wesley Powell and his crew of boatmen head off from Wyoming hoping to be the first (white) people to travel down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. A series of misadventures and white water rapids try to defeat the party.

Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure by Julia Flynn Siler
(449 pages)
looking at the end of the Hawaiian monarchy and the takeover of the islands by the United States. Focusing on both the Hawaiian Royal Family and the insurrection leaders this book shows almost down to the minute the end of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough
(640 pages)
a huge book that shows the history of the FBI from it’s creation to the end of the reign of J. Edgar Hoover. Focusing on agents and criminals alike, this book showcases the events that brought this agency to life and the cases that brought it into the public eye.

Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling by Michael Cannell
(304 pages)
trying to capture “The Mad Bomber,” of NYC in the 1950’s this book shows how the NYPD captured this criminal. Pipebombs are placed throughout NYC in public places leads to hundreds of injuries and untold amounts of damage to the city. The creation of the Bomb Squad leads to race against time to arrest this bomber before even more destruction is levelled.

Tim Reads March

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester (416 pages)

A fascinating look at the earth shaking explosion of a volcano on the island of Krakatoa. This indepth look at the history of the island and the impact it’s (and more importantly its main volcano) had on the world. It shows the problems caused by the explosion, its impact on the weather, global trade, etc.

Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis (380 pages)

A look into the life of George Babbit, he lives a boring life, has a boring family, and tries and fails to add enjoyment, excitement, and class to differentiate him from his boring neighbors and coworkers. A fun book that toes the line of enjoying the characters and hoping they all fail.

The Royal Art of Poison: Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicines and Murder Most Foul  by Eleanor Herman (320 pages)

Historical figures are murdered in a variety of ways, mainly poisons, and this book features a few notable examples. Looking at what was used to kill them and the impact their deaths had on their kingdoms, countries, and the entire world this book does a great job showing how just a drop can change everything.

Madam Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist by Jennifer Wright (352 pages)

A biography of a woman who went from an immigrant to a self taught surgeon who became one of New York’s most well know (or reviled depending on your views of her profession). She became the target for newspaper tabloids, lawsuit happy foes, and Matthew Comstock (who as always sucks the worst)

The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium  by Barry S. Strauss (376 pages)   

Marc Anthony & Cleopatra vs. Octavian, winner not only inherits the mantle of the recently murdered Julius Caesar but gets to decide the future of Rome. Octavian (later Caesar Augustus) wins (spoiler) and this book takes us through the gory (and snake bitey?!?) ends of Anthony and Cleopatra. 

February Reads - Tim Emmel

Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester (464 pages)

Good book about the history of land ownership. The author goes from telling the history of the plot of land he just bought (from the breakup of Pangea no less) to the troubles that occur when one civilization comes upon a country that already has inhabitants.

 

Polio: An American Story by David M. Oshinsky (352 pages)

Book about the struggle to find a vaccine to polio. I heard this book discussed on a podcast that was talking about COVID-19 and the rollout of its vaccine and the similarities are very striking. A good book about the people who not only invented/perfected/made the vaccine but also those who suffered from the disease.

Read by Tim Emmel