Achebe, Chinua.Things Fall Apart.New York, NY: Anchor Books, 1994. (823)
Book depicts the rise and fall of Okonkwo, a Nigerian whose sense of manliness is more akin to that of his warrior ancestors than to that of his fellow clansmen who have converted to Christianity and are appeasing the British administrators who infiltrate their village. The tough, proud, hardworking Okonkwo is at once a quintessential old-order Nigerian and a universal character in whom sons of all races have identified the figure of their father. Achebe creates a many-sided picture of village life and a sympathetic hero.
Allende, Isabel. The House of the Spirits. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1993. (863)
Three generations of women living in Chili struggle with the patriarch of their family and with the political and social upheavals surrounding them. Clara is a psychic who marries Esteban Trueba, a staunch conservative; her daughter and granddaughter are caught up, through love and family, in the conflicts. They are three strong women with a will to have their own way and a loyalty to those they love that will defy almost anything.
Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 1994. (813)
A tale of courage and sisterhood set in the Dominican Republic during the rise of the Trujillo dictatorship. A skillful blend of fact and fiction, In the Time of the Butterflies is inspired by the true story of the three Mirabal sisters who, in 1960, were murdered for their part in an underground plot to overthrow the government. Alvarez breathes life into these historical figures--known as "las mariposas," or "the butterflies," in the underground--as she imagines their teenage years, their gradual involvement with the revolution, and their terror as their dissentience is uncovered.
Atwood, Margaret.The Handmaid's Tale. New York, NY: Anchor Books, 1998. (813)
The Handmaid's Tale takes place after a religious coup overthrows the U.S. government and wages nuclear war. Offered considers how she went from a happily married, successful woman to a handmaid. Her name literally means "Of Fred" — the property of a state official with whom she is duty-bound to conceive a child. The founders of Margaret Atwood's dystopian society hoped to improve humanity, but people were doomed to fall short of the new society's rules.
Azuela, Mariano. The Underdogs: a Novel of the Mexican Revolution.New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2008. (863)
First published in 1915, Azuela's groundbreaking novel about a Mexican peasant (Demetrio Macias) who becomes a revolutionary leader is now being issued in a revised translation with a set of illuminating footnotes.
The Bay of Pigs. SanDiego, CA: Greenhaven Press/Gale Thompson, 2004. (972.9106)
The anthology provides an in-depth look at the controversial issues surrounding the reasons for the invasion, why the invasion failed, and the invasion's impact on current and world events.
Baycroft, Timothy. Nationalism in Europe,
1789-1945 --CambridgeUniversityPress, UK 1998. (320.54)
The text analyses nationalism in Europe from the French Revolution to the Second World War. The author explains what characterizes modern nations and presents the importance of nationalism in the development of modern European history.
Beller, Susan. The Aftermath of the Mexican Revolution.Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2009. (972.08)
Begins with Porfirio Diaz's failed land reform programs and the assassinations of numerous Mexican presidents to the creation of the 1917 constitution, whose goals are yet to be fully attained.
Bergad, Laird W. The Comparative Histories of Slavery in Brazil, Cuba, and the United States. Cambridge, UK: CambridgeUniversity Press, 2007. (306.3)An introductory history of racial slavery in the Americas that systemically surveys slavery in the three nations from comparative perspectives and chapters focus on slave narratives, demography, economy, culture, resistance and rebellions, and the causes of abolition.
Bryson, Bill.A Short History of Nearly Everything. Portland, Or: Broadway Books, 2004 (500)
As the title suggests, author Bryson sets out to put his irrepressible stamp on all things under the sun. As he states at the outset, this is a book about life, the universe and everything, from the Big Bang to the ascendancy of Homo sapiens. "In particular how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something, and then how a little of that something turned into us, and also what happened in between and since." What follows is a brick of a volume summarizing moments both great and curious in the history of science, covering already well-trod territory in the fields of cosmology, astronomy, paleontology, geology, chemistry, physics and so on.
Castro, Fidel and Ignacio Ramonet. Fidel Castro: My life: A Spoken Autobiography. New York, NY: Scribner, 2007(972.91)
Interviews between Ignacio Ramonet, a distinguished journalist and the Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Since Castro is not only a highly controversial political figure but a rigidly demanding person, the interview format probably held out the only real possibility of creating a complete picture of his forceful long life and career.
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness.New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1999. (823)
Exploring the workings of consciousness as well as the grim realities of imperialism, Heart of Darkness tells of Marlow, a seaman and wanderer, who journeys into the heart of the African continent to discover how the enigmatic Kurtz has gained power over the local people.
Dobbs, Michael. One Minute to Midnight : Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War -- Knopf, New York, NY, 2008. (972.9106)
A comprehensive history of the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that presents a detailed description of the tension between Soviet Union’s Nikita Khrushchev and President John F. Kennedy over the nuclear build up in Cuba aimed at destroying the United States.
Dombrowski, Eileen. Theory of Knowledge: Course Companion -- OxfordUniversityPress, UK, 2007. (121)
A resource for students participating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme that provides content and activities which encourage thinking about learning, reflection, discussion, critical thinking and explanations of topics. Developed in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate Organization, Oxford's Course Companions provide extra support for students taking IB Diploma Programme courses.
Eisenhower, John. Intervention! The United States and the Mexican Revolution - 1913-1917.New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2008. (972.08) Outlines the history of the United States’ meddling in Mexican: President Woodrow Wilson regularly misapprehends the situation to his south, prompting two violations of Mexican sovereignty: a naval occupation of Veracruz and an aggressive search by the American military for the bandit Pancho Villa. The Mexican politicians were hardly exemplars of democratic enlightenment, but the American response to their shenanigans sparked an enormous amount of national indignation in Mexico that still hasn't entirely vanished.
Encyclopedia of American Environmental History, 4 vols. (970) New York, NY: Facts On File, Inc., 2009.
Encyclopedia of Slave Resistance and Rebellion. Santa Barbara, Ca: Greenwood Press, 2007 (306.3)
This encyclopedia details the slaves’ struggle against their bondage, highlights key revolts, and delves into important cultural and religious ideas that nurtured slaves' hunger for freedom. Though the primary focus is North America, the work's scope also includes the immensely important slave resistance developments in the Caribbean and South America. Selected studies of slave resistance from classical antiquity will also be considered in this work.
Encyclopedia of World Biography.Farmington , Mi: Gale, 2007 (920)
Covers nearly 7000 notable figures from many cultures and time periods right up to the present day, this update of a standard resource is readable, often very lively, and extremely informative. The set incorporates the first edition and the supplemental volumes that appeared thereafter, all updated and revised, in addition to 500 new articles. The alphabetically arranged entries contain brief summary paragraphs, longer essays about the subjects' lives and work, short lists for further reading, and, in most cases, black-and-white portraits.
Encyclopedia of World War II, 2-Volume Set.New York, NY: Facts of File, 2007. (940.53)
From the rise of fascist Europe to the atomic bombings of Japan, Encyclopedia of World War II presents the complete story of this great conflict in more than 700 entries. International in scope, this two-volume A-to-Z reference covers the military, historical, political, diplomatic, and biographical aspects of the war.
Esquivel, Laura.Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments, with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies.New York, NY: Anchor Books, 1995. (863)
A love story set in Mexico, interspersed with recipes, related in unadorned, uncomplicated language. This is the story of Tita, youngest daughter of the formidable matriarch Mama Elena who forbids Tita to marry her true love Pedro because tradition says that the youngest daughter must care for her mother until her death. When Pedro marries Tita's oldest sister in order to be near Tita, it begins a life-long conflict filled with passion, deception, anger, and pure love. Interwoven throughout the narrative are the recipes which provide an ongoing metaphorical commentary on the characters and their culture.
Farber, Samuel. The Origins of the Cuban Revolution Reconsidered --University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC., c2006. (972.9106)
This source challenges popular views of the Cuban Revolution’s sources, shape and historical information, arguing that Cuban leaders were merely reacting to United States policies and socioeconomic conditions.
Flannery, Tim F. The Weather Makers : How Man is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth -- Grove Press, 2006. (363.738)
Alarmed by global warming, Australian scientist Flannery synthesizes evidence supporting a dire disaster-is-near thesis, intending to mobilize his readers personally and politically. Incorporating information about cyclical changes in the earth's orbit and axial tilt, the thermodynamics of greenhouse gases, and data indicating these gases have increased, Flannery describes how nature is affected by global warming.
Freyre, Frank.Fulgencio Batista: From Revolutionary to Strongman. Piscataway, NJ: RutgersUniversity Press, 2006 (972.91)
Freyre provides a full and balanced portrait of this historically shadowed figure. He describes Batista's rise to power as part of a revolutionary movement and the intrigues and dangers that surrounded him. This volume focuses on Batista's role as a revolutionary leader from 1933 to 1934 and his image as a "strongman" in the years between 1934 and 1939.
Garcia Luis, Julio ed. Cuban Revolution Reader: A Documentary History of Fidel Castro's Revolution. (972.91)AU: Ocean Press, 2008.
Draws on primary sources and provides a sweeping vision of revolutionary Cuba-its challenges, its defeats, its impact on the world through forty-five decisive moments, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the October missile crisis, the demise of the Soviet Union, the visit of Pope John Paul II to Cuba, and the crisis over the child refugee Elin Gonzalez. Julio Garcia Luis is one of Cuba's most prominent writers and historians.
Gazatas, Aristides. An Introduction to World Cinema.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. Inc., 2008 (791.43) Text provides two things: the history of film as an art form, and an analysis of its impact on society and politics. Chapters are arranged chronologically, covering the major developments in film, like the advent of talkies, or the French New Wave. Each era is examined in the context of several exemplary films, which are available for viewing in film studies courses.
Grosby, Steven Elliott. Nationalism: A Very Short Introduction-- OxfordUniversityPress, UK,2005. (320.54)
This book discusses the concept of nations and nationalism from social, philosophical, geological, theological and anthropological perspectives. It examines the subject through conflicts past and present, including recent conflicts in the Balkans and the Middle East, rather than exclusively focusing on theory.
Hanes, Sharon M. American Home Front in World War II. Primary Sources. (973.91) Farmington Hills, MI: UXL, Thompson/Gale, 2005.
Book examines the effect of those battles on the people living in America. From issues of ethnicity to home front organizations, this three-volume set explores the complexity of this often-overlooked aspect of the war. Includes primary material from a variety of sources, including speeches, documents and more.
Hochschild, Adam.King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Boston, Ma: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. (967.5)
King Leopold of Belgium writes historian Adam Hochschild in this grim history, did not much care for his native land or his subjects, all of which he dismissed as "small country, small people." Even so, he searched the globe to find a colony for Belgium, frantic that the scramble of other European powers for overseas dominions in Africa and Asia would leave nothing for himself or his people. When he eventually found a suitable location in what would become the Belgian Congo, later known as Zaire and now simply as Congo, Leopold set about establishing a rule of terror that would culminate in the deaths of 4 to 8 million indigenous people, "a death toll," Hochschild writes, "of Holocaust dimensions." Those who survived went to work mining ore or harvesting rubber, yielding a fortune for the Belgian king, who salted away billions of dollars in hidden bank accounts throughout the world.
Hoose, Phillip.The Race to Save the Lord God Bird. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004. (598.7)
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird is also recommended an ideal introduction for an adult readership as a very highly recommended survey of the process of extinction and changing attitudes towards understanding and protecting species and habitats. From James J. Audubon's early efforts to the plume wars to early collectors of birds, The Race to Save the Lord God Bird documents the ravaging of the bird world around the turn of the century - and the slow realizations of bird extinction processes which evolved from there.
Hollingworth, Mary. Art in World History. Sharpe Reference, 2004. (709)
Offers an impressive new perspective on the artistic and architectural expressions of cultures across the world and throughout time and examines art and its role in history chronologically and between East and West.
Jones, Howard. The Bay of Pigs. (972.9106) Oxford, UK: OxfordUniversity Press, 2008.
"A readable and concise study of the events leading to the military and political disaster in April 1961..."--St. Petersburg Times
Kennedy, Robert. Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 1994. (327.73)
The unique, gripping account of the perilous showdown between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the thirteen days in October 1962 when the United States confronted the Soviet Union over its installation of missiles in Cuba, few people shared the behind-the-scenes story as it is told here by the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In a clear and simple record, he describes the personalities involved in the crisis, with particular attention to the actions and attitudes of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. He describes the daily, even hourly, exchanges between Russian representatives and American.
May, Ernest, and Philip D. Zelikow.The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During theCuban Missile Crisis. New York, NY: Norton, 2002. (973.922)
For 13 days in October 1962, the United States and the Soviet Union teetered on the brink of a nuclear exchange after the Soviets placed intermediate-range missiles on the island of Cuba. U.S. forces were poised at red alert while the Soviets pledged to launch nuclear weapons if the island was invaded. As the world watched anxiously, President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev negotiated a truce that averted disaster. Throughout this tense period, Kennedy and his closest advisors planned their strategy carefully, while the historic discussions were being taped by hidden microphones placed in the Oval Office.
McLynn, Frank. Villa and Zapata: A History of the Mexican Revolution. Berkeley, Ca: Publishers Group West, 2002. (972.08)
In a rare accomplishment, McLynn, a presents his topic in a logical and understandable manner for almost every level of reader while also incorporating the latest research. While claiming to be writing a dual biography of Mexican rebel-outlaws Francisco (Pancho) Villa and Emiliano Zapata, McLynn has actually produced a judicious analytical account of the Mexican Revolution of 1910-20. He discusses the roles of the U.S. government, Gen. John J. Pershing's troops, German secret agents, and corrupt Mexican officials, drawing on a wide reading of English and Spanish studies and document collections.
Melville, Greg.Greasy Rider: Two Dudes.Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2008. (333.72.)
Is it possible to drive coast-to-coast without stopping at a single gas pump? Journalist Greg Melville is determined to try. This green-thinking guy—who's in love with the idea of free fuel—sets out on an enlightening road trip. The quest: to be the first people to drive cross-country in a french-fry car.