Celebrate freedom with the library
By Frank Dehler
Circulation & Public Services Coordinator
With July 4 right around the corner, it's an appropriate time to sample some of our newest acquisitions on patriotism and American history. While you're waiting for those hamburgers to grill perfectly, or for the ocean to warm up a smidgeon before taking a dip, try wading into one of these topical books.
"Eyewitness to the Civil War," by Neil Kagan and Stephen Hyslop, is a profusely illustrated and informative chronicle of the War Between the States that draws heavily on the letters, journals and eyewitness accounts of soldiers and their families. Published by National Geographic, and supplemented by engaging sidebars that address all aspects of the conflict, the book is a feast for the eyes and mind of anyone interested in this pivotal moment of the nation's history.
If you're a born contrarian like I am, Ralph Young's wonderful anthology "Dissent in America: The Voices that Shaped a Nation" is a treasure trove of selections from authors famous and obscure who have contributed to the rich diversity of American experience. The book's well-chosen excerpts from voices of courage and resistance provides an unusual perspective on what being an American has been all about over the past several centuries. The selections range from well-known figures like Anne Hutchinson, Thomas Paine, Ralph Waldo Emerson and H.L. Mencken, to counter-culture icons like Timothy Leary, Malcolm X and Abbie Hoffman, to testimonials and statements from Chief Joseph, the American Indian Movement, Amnesty International and even the Unabomber. Remarkable reading!
"From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America," by Christopher Finn, recounts a nearly century-long battle between heresy hunters and civil libertarians in our ongoing debate over free speech. Clearly arguing for freedom of speech as the central bulwark of the American democratic system, Finn provides an accessible, colorful narrative of this often dramatic and contentious conflict.
For fans of biographies who would rather listen than read, two books on CD may be to your taste: "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" by Boyd Gaines, and Frederick Douglass's "The Life of an American Slave." Douglass's autobiography is one of the great documents in American history, but don't let that deter you - it's a deeply moving account of one man's struggle to be recognized as human, and an unparalleled attack on slavery. Isaacson's life of Franklin is one of the best in recent years, and written for the general reader.
Finally, "The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008," by Mark Halperin and John Harris, is a sure bet for armchair political junkies counting down the days till the next presidential election. An incisive analysis of how the Bushes and Clintons have held the White House for nearly a generation, this book is filled with eye-opening revelations into the unforgiving environment of modern presidential campaigns.
Celebrate the "joy of learning" along with Independence Day this year, and ask library staff if you'd like more suggestions for books on American history and politics!
