Our review of : The Gulag Archipelago, Volume 1

Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands is a disturbing and brilliantly executed study of the area between Hitler and Stalin that accounted for upwards of 14 million deaths. Snyder examines the policies and politics behind this staggering figure, as well as the personal experiences of those who lived through it. The result is both comprehensive and harrowing, painting [...]

Money is a non-fiction book by Jacob Goldstein that tells the story of money and its history. The book includes several interviews with experts on the topic, as well as Goldstein’s own thoughts on money. It covers everything from ancient coins to modern day financial systems, and provides an in-depth look at how money has [...]

The Woman Who Smashed Codes tells the extraordinary story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a codebreaking genius whose work helped win World War II. Friedman was born in Chicago in 1892 and came from a family of accomplished women. She originally wanted to be an actress, but she eventually pursued cryptography instead, learning how to break [...]

A Short History of Nearly Everything is a 2003 popular science book by Bill Bryson. The book describes various scientific concepts in an easily understandable way. It was originally published as a United Kingdom edition, but has since been reprinted in the United States and other countries. For who is this book for ? A [...]

Catherine Belton’s “Putin’s People” is an insightful look at the resurgence of the Russian KGB under Vladimir Putin and their subsequent efforts to rebuild Russia’s relationship with the West. Drawing on interviews with key insiders, Belton provides a unique perspective on how Putin has successfully brought back much of the KGB mentality into modern-day Russia [...]

The Boys in the Boat tells the story of nine American rowers and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Led by team captain George Pocock and head coach Al Ulbrickson, these young men overcame incredible obstacles to achieve one of the most improbable victories in Olympic history. Their stirring tale provides [...]

In this sweeping, century-spanning history of American race relations, Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson argues that the social caste system in America is not based on skin color but on African Americans’ origin—a “caste” derived from slavery. Wilkerson chronicles two centuries of race relations in America, from the arrival of the first. For who is [...]

In The Bomber Mafia, Malcolm Gladwell tells the story of a group of Canadian airmen who became obsessed with bombing Germany during World War II. These men were determined to take down as many enemy targets as possible, and they were willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. The bomber mafia was [...]

This is a book about the Vanderbilt dynasty – one of America’s most famous and powerful families. It tells the story of their rise to power, as well as their eventual fall from grace. The book is written by Anderson Cooper, an acclaimed journalist and TV personality who happens to be related to the Vanderbilts [...]

In her new book, Not One Inch: America, Russia and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate (Harvard University Press), Professor M.E. Sarotte argues that successive administrations in Washington and Moscow have allowed a legacy of distrust to prevent them from making progress on critical global issues. Drawing on archival research and interviews with policymakers Past [...]

Mythos is a book written by Stephen Fry that tells the history of mythology. The book goes through various different myths from around the world, and explores their origins and meanings. For who is this book for ? Mythos would be a great book for someone who is interested in mythology, and wants to learn [...]

The Man Without a Face is a riveting and alarming account of the rise to power of Vladimir Putin, one of the most enigmatic and powerful leaders in recent history. Journalist Masha Gessen traces Putin’s trajectory from rural obscurity to president of Russia, uncovering along the way his dark secrets and mysterious past. This richly [...]