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New York Times Best Sellers - Non-Fiction
Description: Bookshare is pleased to offer the top 10 non-fiction books from the New York Times best seller list on a weekly basis. Books are added in as they become available. The month corresponds to the first time they appeared on the list. #adults
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The Undiscovered Country
by Paul Andrew HuttonFrom the author of The Apache Wars, the true story of the American West, revealing how American ambition clashed with the realities of violence and exploitation.
The epic of the American West became a tale of progress, redemption, and glorious conquest that came to shape the identity of a new nation. Over time a darker story emerged—one of ghastly violence and environmental spoliation that stained this identity.
The Undiscovered Country strips away the layers of myth to reveal the true story of this first epoch of American history. From the forests of Pennsylvania and Kentucky to the snow-crested California Sierras, and from the harsh deserts of the Southwest to the buffalo range of the Great Plains, Paul Andrew Hutton masterfully chronicles a story that defined America and its people. From Braddock’s 1755 defeat to the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre, he unfolds a grand narrative steeped in romantic impulses and tragic consequences.
Hutton uses seven main protagonists—Daniel Boone, Red Eagle, Davy Crockett, Mangas Coloradas, Kit Carson, Sitting Bull, and William “Buffalo Bill” Cody—as the biographical threads by which to weave a tapestry across seven generations, revealing a story of heroic conquest and dark tragedy, of sacrifice and greed, and of man-made wonders and environmental ruin. The American frontier movement has proven eternally fascinating around the world—the subject of countless books, paintings, poems, television shows, and films. The Undiscovered Country reveals the truth behind America’s great creation myth.
New York Times Bestseller
Tonight in Jungleland
by Peter Ames CarlinA fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the making of Bruce Springsteen’s ground-breaking album, Born to Run – one of the most iconic records in rock history – Tonight in Jungleland combines lush music writing with unprecedented inside access to Springsteen, his bandmates, and the full story behind every song… and coincides with the album’s 50th anniversary in August 2025.
From the opening piano notes of “Thunder Road,” to the final outro of “Jungleland” – with American anthems like “Born to Run” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” in between – Bruce Springsteen’s seminal album, Born to Run, established Springsteen as a creative force in rock and roll. With his back against the wall, he wrote what has been hailed as a perfect album, a defining moment, and a roadmap for what would become a legendary career.
Peter Ames Carlin, whose bestselling biography, Bruce, gave him rare access to Springsteen’s inner circle, now returns with the full story of the making of this epic album. Released in August, 1975, Born to Run now celebrates its 50th anniversary. Carlin reveals a treasure trove of untold stories, detailing the writing and recording of every song, as well as the intense and at times tortuous process that mimicked the fault lines in Springsteen’s psyche and career, even as it revealed the depth of his vision. A must-read for any music fan, Tonight in Jungleland takes us inside a hallowed creative process and lets us experience history.
New York Times Bestseller
King of Kings
by Scott AndersonNew Year’s Eve, 1977, on a state visit to Iran, President Jimmy Carter toasted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King of Kings, Light of the Aryans, Shadow of God on Earth, praising Iran as “an island of stability “ due to “your leadership and the respect and admiration and love which your people give to you.”
Iran had the world’s fifth largest army and was awash in billions of dollars in oil revenues. Construction cranes dotted the skyline of its booming capital, Tehran. The regime’s feared secret police force SAVAK had crushed communist opposition, and the Shah had bought off the conservative Muslim clergy inside the country. He seemed invulnerable, and invaluable to the United States as an ally in the Cold War.
Fourteen months later the Shah fled Iran into exile, forced from the throne by a volcanic religious revolution led by a fiery cleric named Ayatollah Khomeini. The ensuing hostage crisis forever damaged America’s standing in the world. How could the United States, which had one of the largest CIA stations in the world and thousands of military personnel in Iran, have been so blind?
The spellbinding story Scott Anderson weaves is one of a dictator blind to the disdain of his subjects and a superpower blundering into disaster. Scott Anderson tells this astonishing tale with the narrative brio, mordant wit, and keen analysis that made his bestselling Lawrence of Arabia one of the key texts in understanding the modern Middle East. The Iranian Revolution, Anderson convincingly argues, was as world-shattering an event as the French and Russian revolutions. In the Middle East, in India, in Southeast Asia, in Europe, and now in the United States, the hatred of economically-marginalized, religiously-fervent masses for a wealthy secular elite has led to violence and upheaval – and Iran was the template. King of Kings is a bravura work of history, and a warning.
New York Times Bestseller<./b>
Coming Up Short
by Robert B. ReichFrom political economist, cabinet member, beloved professor, media presence, and bestselling author of Saving Capitalism and The Common Good, a deeply felt, compelling memoir of growing up in a baby-boom America that made progress in certain areas, fell short in so many important ways, and still has lots of work to do.
"Important and galvanizing.” —Senator Bernie Sanders
"Essential reading for understanding this moment in American history.” —Molly Jong-Fast, New York Times bestselling author of How to Lose Your Mother
A thought-provoking, principled, clear-eyed chronicle of the culture, politics, and economic choices that have landed us where we are today—with irresponsible economic bullies and corporations with immense wealth and lobbying power on top, demagogues on the rise, and increasing inequality fueling anger and hatred across the country.
Nine months after World War II, Robert Reich was born into a united America with a bright future—which went unrealized for so many as big money took over our democracy. His encounter with school bullies on account of his height—4'11" as an adult—set him on a determined path to spend his life fighting American bullies of every sort. He recounts the death of a friend in the civil rights movement; his political coming of age witnessing the Berkeley free speech movement; working for Bobby Kennedy and Senator Eugene McCarthy; experiencing a country torn apart by the Vietnam War; meeting Hillary Rodham in college, Bill Clinton at Oxford, and Clarence Thomas at Yale Law. p> He details his friendship with John Kenneth Galbraith during his time teaching at Harvard, and subsequent friendships with Bernie Sanders and Ted Kennedy; and his efforts as labor secretary for Clinton and economic advisor to Barack Obama. Ultimately, Reich asks: What did his generation accomplish? Did they make America better, more inclusive, more tolerant? Did they strengthen democracy? Or did they come up short?
Reich hardly abandons us to despair over a doomed democracy. With characteristic spirit and humor, he lays out how we can reclaim a sense of community and a democratic capitalism based on the American ideals we still have the power to salvage.
New York Times Bestseller
Loud and Clear
by Brian AndersonTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe first book to tell the full story of the Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound,” an unprecedented and since unparalleled speaker system.Loud and Clear is the first book to tell the full story of the Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound,” an unprecedented and since unparalleled speaker system that was as tall as a school bus is long and more than a hundred feet wide. The band’s quest for roaring yet crystal clear sound began after their formation in 1965, colliding with the ‘60s progressive social climate.Over the next few years, the Dead’s growing crew of sound-obsessed techies and eccentric roadies took their speaker system to new technological heights. But as the Dead’s relentless, drug-fueled touring schedule met this increasingly burdensome yet sonically perfect machine, in 1974, the Wall brought the band to its knees. The two years of “Wall shows” are legend among Deadheads, and this character-driven tale about human ambition, achievement, and the limits of both on a larger-than-life scale has the potential to reach a wide range of music fans and readers of cultural history.Author Brian Anderson interviewed hundreds of people associated with the band and the construction of the Wall itself, including band members, roadies, tech wizards, fans and many more. This fascinating inside story of one of the most legendary rock bands of all time will appeal to Deadheads, music fans, audiophiles and many more.
We Might Just Make It After All
by Elyce AronsNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A moving portrait of friendship by Elyce Arons as she reflects on her long relationship with Kate Spade, whom she met in college and with whom she cofounded the multi-billion-dollar fashion company as they came of age in 1990s New York.When Elyce Arons first met Katy Brosnahan in a University of Kansas dorm room, she had no idea that this polo shirt–wearing Missouri girl would not only become her best friend but also change the course of her life. Back then, Katy and Elyce were preoccupied with frat parties and The Mary Tyler Moore Show; within a decade, they&’d be scraping by in New York City, working day jobs to spend nights building a new line of handbags that would one day revolutionize the accessories industry. We Might Just Make It After All brings us on the rollercoaster of adventures (and misadventures) that the best friends embarked on, from transferring colleges on a whim, to falling in and out of love with suitors, cramming into roach-infested Hell&’s Kitchen apartments, and eventually designing the chic, simple bag that would launch the pair to global fame. Through it all, Katy and Elyce&’s friendship remained unshakeable. This powerful friendship lasted nearly forty years, until Katy&’s tragic suicide in 2018. We Might Just Make It After All celebrates her legacy as a cultural icon and loyal friend. Set against the glitzy and gritty backdrop of downtown New York at the turn of the century, We Might Just Make It After All lovingly and candidly explores the power of a friendship as close as sisterhood, the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in the 1990s, and the timeless elegance of a generation-defining brand.
The Fort Bragg Cartel
by Seth Harp“Propulsive.” —The Washington Post
The Fort Bragg Cartel opens like a nonfiction thriller and never lets up. A page-turning investigation into the dark side of our forever wars.”—Steve Coll, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars and Directorate S
A groundbreaking investigation into a string of unsolved murders at America’s premier special operations base, and what the crimes reveal about drug trafficking and impunity among elite soldiers in today’s military.
In December 2020, a deer hunter discovered two dead bodies that had been riddled with bullets and dumped in a forested corner of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. One of the dead men, Master Sergeant William “Billy” Lavigne, was a member of Delta Force, the most secretive black ops” unit in the military. A deeply traumatized veteran of America’s classified assassination program, Lavigne had done more than a dozen deployments in his lengthy career, was addicted to crack cocaine, dealt drugs on base, and had committed a series of violent crimes before he was mysteriously killed.
The other victim, Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Dumas, was a quartermaster attached to the Special Forces who used his proximity to clandestine missions to steal guns and traffic drugs into the United States from abroad, and had written a blackmail letter threatening to expose criminality in the special operations task force in Afghanistan.
As soon as Seth Harp, an Iraq war veteran and investigative reporter, begins looking into the double murder, he learns that there have been many more unexplained deaths at Fort Bragg recently, other murders connected to drug trafficking in elite units, and dozens of fatal overdoses. Drawing on declassified documents, trial transcripts, police records, and hundreds of interviews, Harp tells a scathing story of narco-trafficking in the Special Forces, drug conspiracies abetted by corrupt police, blatant military cover-ups, American complicity in the Afghan heroin trade, and the pernicious consequences of continuous war.
New York Times Bestseller
Cudi
by Scott Kid MescudiA raw, fearless memoir from the Grammy Award–winning artist, actor, and designer Kid Cudi about a kid from Cleveland who found purpose in the darkness and became a guiding light for a generation.
Cudi: The Memoir is Scott Mescudi’s most personal work yet. Across a trailblazing career, he’s turned pain into poetry with anthems like “Day ’N’ Nite,” “Pursuit of Happiness,” and “Mr. Rager.” His music gave voice to the unheard and hope to the unseen.
But while he was ascending to cultural dominance, he was quietly unraveling. Written during a time of deep self-discovery, Cudi is a story of survival—through depression, addiction, isolation, and doubt. In his own words, Scott charts the journey back to himself, offering hard-earned lessons on vulnerability, reinvention, and the courage to keep going.
New York Times Bestseller
Heartbreaker
by Mike CampbellINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERUSA TODAY BESTSELLER"An exhilarating account. . . . an exemplary music memoir."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) A fast-paced, tender-hearted rock &’n&’ roll memoir for the ages, Mike Campbell&’s Heartbreaker is part rags-to-riches story and part raucous, seat-of-the-pants adventure, recounting Campbell&’s life and times as lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Mike Campbell was the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from the band&’s inception in 1976 to Petty&’s tragic death in 2017. His iconic, melodic playing helped form the foundation of the band&’s sound, as heard on definitive classics like &“American Girl,&” &“Breakdown,&” &“Don&’t Come Around Here No More,&” &“Mary Jane&’s Last Dance,&” &“Learning to Fly&” and &“Into the Great Wide Open.&” Together, Petty and Campbell wrote countless songs, including some of the band&’s biggest hits: &“Refugee,&” &“Here Comes My Girl,&” &“You Got Lucky&” and &“Runnin&’ Down a Dream&” among them. From their early days in Florida to their dizzying rise to superstardom to Petty&’s acclaimed, platinum-selling solo albums Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers, Petty never made a record without him. Their work together is timeless, as are the career-defining hits Campbell co-wrote with Don Henley (&“The Boys of Summer&”) and with Petty for Stevie Nicks (&“Stop Draggin&’ My Heart Around&”). But few know of the less-than-glamorous background from which Campbell emerged—a hardscrabble childhood on the north side of Jacksonville, often just days ahead of homelessness, raised by a single mother struggling on minimum wage. After months of saving, his mother bought him a $15 pawnshop acoustic guitar for his sixteenth birthday. With a chord book and a transistor radio, Campbell painstakingly taught himself to play. When a chance encounter with a guidance counselor inspired him to enroll in the University of Florida, Campbell—broke, with nowhere else to go and the Vietnam draft looming—moved into a rundown farmhouse in Gainesville, where he met a 20-year-old Tom Petty. They were soon inseparable. Together they chased their shared dream all the way to Los Angeles, where Campbell would meet his destiny, and the love of his life, Marcie. It was an at-times grueling dream come true that took Campbell from the very bottom to the absolute top, where Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would remain for decades, creating an astonishing body of work. Brilliant, soft-spoken and intensely private, Campbell opens up within these pages for the first time, revealing himself to be an astute observer of triumphs, tragedies and absurdities alike, with a songwriter&’s eye for the telling detail and a voice as direct and unpretentious as his music. An instant classic, Heartbreaker is Mike Campbell&’s heartfelt portrait of one throwaway kid&’s lifesaving love of music and the creative heights he achieved through luck, collaboration, humility and extraordinary talent.
My Effin' Life
by Geddy LeeThe long-awaited memoir, generously illustrated with never-before-seen photos, from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and New York Times bestselling author of Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass.Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust.As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart—deeply mourning Peart’s recent passing—and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.
Breaking the Law
by Alex MarlowAlex Marlow, editor-in-chief of Breitbart News and two-time New York Times bestselling author of the “must-read” (Peter Schweizer, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Breaking the News and Breaking Biden, returns with his third book: an intensely-researched examination into the legal cases against President Trump that threaten not only the conservative movement, but the concept of “law and order” itself.
Just as the political left uses the corporate media, academia, and the culture to advance their political agendas, they have found a new core American institution that they now exploit to expand their power: the legal system. Featuring Alex Marlow’s “prescient” (Tucker Carlson) insight, Breaking the Law effortlessly demonstrates how the American legal system has been weaponized against President Donald Trump on purely political grounds. Marlow delves into the history and origins of “lawfare&” debunks the notion that the “rule of law” was ever sacred to the American political left, and describes the superstructure—the donors, activists, and entities—that have made the legal system one of the left’s most potent political weapons. Finally, he makes bold predictions on where lawfare is heading (yes, they really are coming for you) and offers ways to fight its expanse…before it’s too late.
New York Times Bestseller
The Bookshop
by Evan FrissA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Goodreads Choice Award Winner in History & Biography One of Time&’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 "A spirited defense of this important, odd and odds-defying American retail category." —The New York Times"It is a delight to wander through the bookstores of American history in this warm, generous book." —Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author and owner of Books Are MagicAn affectionate and engaging history of the American bookstore and its central place in American cultural life, from department stores to indies, from highbrow dealers trading in first editions to sidewalk vendors, and from chains to special-interest community destinationsBookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see the stakes: what has been, and what might be lost.Evan Friss&’s history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by so many. The story begins with Benjamin Franklin&’s first bookstore in Philadelphia and takes us to a range of booksellers including the Strand, Chicago&’s Marshall Field & Company, the Gotham Book Mart, specialty stores like Oscar Wilde and Drum and Spear, sidewalk sellers of used books, Barnes & Noble, Amazon Books, and Parnassus. The Bookshop is also a history of the leading figures in American bookselling, often impassioned eccentrics, and a history of how books have been marketed and sold over the course of more than two centuries—including, for example, a 3,000-pound elephant who signed books at Marshall Field&’s in 1944.The Bookshop is a love letter to bookstores, a charming chronicle for anyone who cherishes these sanctuaries of literature, and essential reading to understand how these vital institutions have shaped American life—and why we still need them.
Apple in China
by Patrick McGee&“Phenomenal…a jaw-dropping book.&” —Jon Stewart, The Daily Show Named by both The New York Times and The Economist as one of the best books of the year so far, this &“scrupulously reported&” (The New Yorker) and &“astonishing&” (The Daily Telegraph, London) book rivets with its portrayal of how Apple allowed itself to become dependent on China for a huge percentage of its manufacturing, making it vulnerable and unwittingly laying the groundwork for the Asian superpower to rival the US in technological expertise.After struggling to build its products on three continents, Apple was lured by China&’s seemingly inexhaustible supply of cheap labor. Soon it was sending thousands of engineers across the Pacific, training millions of workers, and spending hundreds of billions of dollars to create the world&’s most sophisticated supply chain. These capabilities enabled Apple to build the 21st century&’s most iconic products—in staggering volume and for enormous profit. Without explicitly intending to, Apple built an advanced electronics industry within China, only to discover that its massive investments in technology upgrades had inadvertently given Beijing a power that could be weaponized. In Apple in China, journalist Patrick McGee draws on more than two hundred interviews with former executives and engineers, supplementing their stories with unreported meetings held by Steve Jobs, emails between top executives, and internal memos regarding threats from Chinese competition. The book highlights the unknown characters who were instrumental in Apple&’s ascent and who tried to forge a different path, including the Mormon missionary who established the Apple Store in China; the &“Gang of Eight&” executives tasked with placating Beijing; and an idealistic veteran whose hopes of improving the lives of factory workers were crushed by both Cupertino&’s operational demands and Xi Jinping&’s war on civil society. Apple in China is the sometimes disturbing and always revelatory story of how an outspoken, proud company that once praised &“rebels&” and &“troublemakers&”—the company that encouraged us all to &“Think Different&”—devolved into passively cooperating with a belligerent regime that increasingly controls its fate.
The Last Line of Defense
by Eric SchmittOne of the Senate's leading conservatives reveals the key approaches needed for the Right to triumph over liberal lawyers and out-of-control judges.When Joe Biden took office, Eric Schmitt had been attorney general for just over two years and had been focused on tackling violent crime. As soon as he began to see the outrageous excesses of the Biden Administration, he and his team snapped into action, waging war on the Biden regimes' stunning attempts at government overreach, winning some of the most important fights in modern American history, helping set the stage for a return to commonsense in government.Now, in The Last Line of Defense, Senator Schmitt takes readers behind the scenes of those battles for the first time, talks about the lessons learned, and how conservatives can keep winning in court and beyond. He takes you inside some of his biggest wins against:· Mask mandates and vaccine mandates· Student debt forgiveness· Restrictions on Second Amendment rights· Soros-backed prosecutors· Woke ideology in our schools· Open borders· Attacks on free speech· The weaponization of government agencies With President Trump back in office and the Left fighting him at every turn, it's more important than ever to remember just how close we came to losing it all — and why we need to keep playing to win.
All the President's Money
by James ComerAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERJoe Biden made less than $200,000 a year for most of his life, but as soon as he left office, he bought his second multimillion-dollar mansion.In All the President’s Money, Congressman James Comer takes readers on a captivating journey through the murky world of the Biden family’s business dealings. This explosive exposé delves deep into allegations of corruption, influence peddling, and money laundering. If no one else goes to prison, it will only be because of abuse of power.This book is the result of monthslong investigation that the media and deep state tried to cover up. But Comer details every penny the Bidens took in, and exposes:· The law firm that managed several Biden family members’ money· How Joe Biden shared a bookkeeper with Hunter· How Hunter, who hasn’t had a real job in decades, raked in tens of millions of dollars· When Joe met many of the foreigners writing the family’s checks· How Joe never paid any taxes on income from influence peddling· How the White House convinced the media that there was nothing to be concerned aboutNone of this makes sense if you only have the network news to go on. If the Bidens had been involved in money laundering schemes, wouldn’t the banks have noticed? They noticed unusual activity, and they filed scores of “Suspicious Activity Reports.” Wouldn’t law enforcement have done something about it? Several of Hunter Biden’s domestic and foreign business associates are currently in prison. Hasn’t the Burisma thing blown over? That was only one of many seven-figure deals they cooked up. Surely poor recovering addict Hunter Biden hasn’t admitted to most of this? But he has.Through meticulous research and insider access, All the President’s Money uncovers the truth about the Biden family’s shady finances, from China to Ukraine, Russia to Hollywood, following the money trail every Democrat insists doesn’t exist.
On Our Best Behavior
by Elise LoehnenNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking exploration of the ancient rules women unwittingly follow in order to be considered &“good,&” revealing how the Seven Deadly Sins still control and distort our lives and illuminating a path toward a more balanced, spiritually complete way to liveWhy do women equate self-denial with being good? We congratulate ourselves when we resist the donut in the office breakroom. We celebrate our restraint when we hold back from sending an email in anger. We feel virtuous when we wake up at dawn to get a jump on the day. We put others&’ needs ahead of our own and believe this makes us exemplary. In On Our Best Behavior, journalist Elise Loehnen explains that these impulses—often lauded as unselfish, distinctly feminine instincts—are actually ingrained in us by a culture that reaps the benefits, via an extraordinarily effective collection of mores known as the Seven Deadly Sins. Since being codified by the Christian church in the fourth century, the Seven Deadly Sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—have exerted insidious power. Even today, in our largely secular, patriarchal society, they continue to circumscribe women&’s behavior. For example, seeing sloth as sinful leads women to deny themselves rest; a fear of gluttony drives them to ignore their appetites; and an aversion to greed prevents them from negotiating for themselves and contributes to the 55 percent gender wealth gap. In On Our Best Behavior, Loehnen reveals how we&’ve been programmed to obey the rules represented by these sins and how doing so qualifies us as &“good.&” This probing analysis of contemporary culture and thoroughly researched history explains how women have internalized the patriarchy, and how they unwittingly reinforce it. By sharing her own story and the spiritual wisdom of other traditions, Loehnen shows how we can break free and discover the integrity and wholeness we seek.
Confronting the Presidents
by Bill O'Reilly and Martin DugardInstant #1 New York Times and USA Today nonfiction bestseller!Every American president, from Washington to Biden: Their lives, policies, foibles, and legacies, assessed with clear-eyed authority and wit.Authors of the acclaimed Killing books, the #1 bestselling narrative history series in the world, Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard begin a new direction with Confronting the Presidents.From Washington to Jefferson, Lincoln to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Kennedy to Nixon, Reagan to Obama and Biden, the 45 United States presidents have left lasting impacts on our nation. Some of their legacies continue today, some are justly forgotten, and some have changed as America has changed. Whether famous, infamous, or obscure, all the presidents shaped our nation in unexpected ways.The authors' extensive research has uncovered never before seen historical facts based on private correspondence and newly discovered documentation, such as George Washington's troubled relationship with his mother.In Confronting the Presidents, O’Reilly and Dugard present 45 wonderfully entertaining and insightful portraits of each president, with no-spin commentary on their achievements—or lack thereof. Who best served America, and who undermined the founding ideals? Who were the first ladies, and what were their surprising roles in making history? Which presidents were the best, which the worst, and which didn’t have much impact? How do decisions made in one era, under the pressure of particular circumstances, still resonate today? And what do presidents like to eat, drink, and do when they aren’t working—or even sometimes when they are?These and many more questions are answered in each fascinating chapter of Confronting the Presidents. Written with O’Reilly and Dugard’s signature style, authority, and eye for telling detail, Confronting the Presidents will delight all readers of history, politics, and current affairs, especially during the 2024 election season.
Framed
by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • &“The master of the legal thriller&” (Associated Press) teams up with &“the godfather of the innocence movement&” (Texas Monthly) to share ten harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions.&“Each of these stories is told with astonishing power.&”—David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon&“Gripping . . . compelling . . . What makes [Framed] important reading isn&’t the shock value advertised in the title. It&’s the exposure of the infuriating, recurrent factors involved in so many unrighteous convictions.&”—The Washington PostJohn Grisham is known worldwide for his bestselling novels, but it&’s his real-life passion for justice that led to his work with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries, the first organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted. Together they offer an inside look at the many injustices in our criminal justice system.A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty, there is very little room to prove doubt. These ten true stories shed light on Americans who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and corruption in the court system that can make them so hard to reverse.Impeccably researched and told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of winning freedom when the battle already seems lost and the deck is stacked against you.Look for John Grisham&’s forthcoming legal thriller, The Widow. This time, the verdict isn&’t the end of the story.
A Different Kind of Power
by Jacinda ArdernNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world&’s youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in office, comes a deeply personal memoir chronicling her extraordinary rise and offering inspiration to a new generation of leaders.&“A clear and compelling case for compassion . . . an implicit repudiation of the strongman style of leadership that has taken hold around the world.&”—The Washington PostWhat if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first? Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she commanded global respect for her empathetic leadership that put people first. This is the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made political history and changed our assumptions of what a global leader can be. When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister at age thirty-seven, the world took notice. But it was her compassionate yet powerful response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, resulting in swift and sweeping gun control laws, that demonstrated her remarkable leadership. She guided her country through unprecedented challenges—a volcanic eruption, a major biosecurity breach, and a global pandemic—while advancing visionary new policies to address climate change, reduce child poverty, and secure historic international trade deals. She did all this while juggling first-time motherhood in the public eye. Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership—proving that leaders can be caring, empathetic, and effective. She has become a global icon, and now she is ready to share her story, from the struggles to the surprises, including for the first time the full details of her decision to step down during her sixth year as Prime Minister. Through her personal experiences and reflections, Jacinda is a model for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or has aspired to lead with compassion, conviction, and courage. A Different Kind of Power is more than a political memoir; it&’s an insight into how it feels to lead, ultimately asking: What if you, too, are capable of more than you ever imagined?
Breakneck
by Dan WangLonglisted for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award
An August 2025 Next Big Idea Club Must-Read Book
A riveting, firsthand investigation of China’s seismic progress, its human costs, and what it means for America.
For close to a decade, technology analyst Dan Wang—"a gifted observer of contemporary China" (Ross Douthat)—has been living through the country’s astonishing, messy progress. China’s towering bridges, gleaming railways, and sprawling factories have improved economic outcomes in record time. But rapid change has also sent ripples of pain throughout the society. This reality—political repression and astonishing growth—is not a paradox, but rather a feature of China’s engineering mindset.
In Breakneck, Wang blends political, economic, and philosophical analysis with reportage to reveal a provocative new framework for understanding China—one that helps us see America more clearly, too. While China is an engineering state, relentlessly pursuing megaprojects, the United States has stalled. America has transformed into a lawyerly society, reflexively blocking everything, good and bad Blending razor-sharp analysis with immersive storytelling, Wang offers a gripping portrait of a nation in flux. Breakneck traverses metropolises like Shanghai, Chongqing, and Shenzhen, where the engineering state has created not only dazzling infrastructure but also a sense of optimism. The book also exposes the downsides of social engineering, including the surveillance of ethnic minorities, political suppression, and the traumas of the one-child policy and zero-Covid.
In an era of animosity and mistrust, Wang unmasks the shocking similarities between the United States and China. Breakneck reveals how each country points toward a better path for the other: Chinese citizens would be better off if their government could learn to value individual liberties, while Americans would be better off if their government could learn to embrace engineering—and to produce better outcomes for the many, not just the few.
New York Times Bestseller
The Wide Wide Sea
by Hampton SidesNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A &“thrilling and superbly crafted&” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, which culminated in Captain James Cook&’s death in Hawaii, and left a complex and controversial legacy still debated to this day.One of The New York Times Book Review&’s 10 Best Books of the YearA BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: THE NEW YORK TIMES, TIME, THE ECONOMIST, NPR, THE NEW YORKER, THE SMITHSONIAN, AND KIRKUS REVIEWS&“In this masterly history, Sides tracks the 18th-century English naval officer James Cook&’s third and final voyage across the globe, painting a vivid and propulsive portrait."—The New York Times Book ReviewOn July 12th, 1776, Captain James Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in his ship the HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach on the island of Hawaii, Cook was killed in a conflict with native Hawaiians. How did Cook, who was unique among captains for his respect for Indigenous peoples and cultures, come to that fatal moment?Hampton Sides&’ bravura account of Cook&’s last journey both wrestles with Cook&’s legacy and provides a thrilling narrative of the titanic efforts and continual danger that characterized exploration in the 1700s. Cook was renowned for his peerless seamanship, his humane leadership, and his dedication to science. On previous expeditions, Cook mapped huge swaths of the Pacific, including the east coast of Australia, and initiated first European contact with numerous peoples. He treated his crew well and endeavored to learn about the societies he encountered with curiosity and without judgment.Yet something was different on this last voyage. Cook became mercurial, resorting to the lash to enforce discipline, and led his two vessels into danger time and again. Uncharacteristically, he ordered violent retaliation for perceived theft on the part of native peoples. This may have had something to do with his secret orders, which were to chart and claim lands before Britain&’s imperial rivals could, and to discover the fabled Northwest Passage. Whatever Cook&’s intentions, his scientific efforts were the sharp edge of the colonial sword, and the ultimate effects of first contact were catastrophic for Indigenous people around the world. The tensions between Cook&’s overt and covert missions came to a head on the shores of Hawaii. His first landing there was harmonious, but when Cook returned after mapping the coast of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, his exploitative treatment of the Hawaiians led to the fatal encounter.At once a ferociously-paced story of adventure on the high seas and a searching examination of the complexities and consequences of the Age of Exploration, THE WIDE WIDE SEA is a major work from one of our finest narrative nonfiction writers.
The Idaho Four
by James Patterson and Vicky WardInstant #1 New York Times bestseller! &“A vivid portrait...a sensitive tribute…a paean to youth, community, and the tenacity of local law enforcement.&” —New York Times &“A mesmerizing read and a great detective story, yet sadly all true…With their book The Idaho Four, James Patterson and Vicky Ward have written perhaps the definitive account of the murders—a disturbing, necessary portrait of a killer and his victims.&” —Guardian&“New revelations…James Patterson and Vicky Ward reveal new details and attempt to lift the veil of secrecy that has shrouded the Idaho college murders case for more than two years.&” —Good Morning America&“This is much more than a true crime book. It&’s a vivid exploration of the range of human response when faceless terror strikes. It&’s a portrait of America in this polarized moment.&” —Town & Country&“A lot of brand-new reporting. Clears up a number of mysteries.&” —Morning Joe The murders of four innocent college students attending the University of Idaho left us all with so many questions. Now, after more than 300 interviews, James Patterson and prize-winning journalist Vicky Ward finally have the answers. We know what it was like to live in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022, the day of the cold-blooded killings. We know what the local police and FBI did right. And what they did wrong. We&’ve learned so much about the four heartbroken families—the Mogens, Goncalveses, Kernodles, and Chapins. And we have the backstory for Bryan Kohberger, brilliant grad student, loner, apparent incel. Now you are the jury. The evidence is in.You&’ve watched the Prime documentary, One Night in Idaho, now read the &“clearest profile yet of the twisted quadruple killer and his motives&” (New York Post).
One Nation Always Under God
by Tim ScottA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERSenator Tim Scott explains that in every state, in every decade, America has been built on faith.From our Founding Fathers to today’s heroes of faith, Christianity has been the bedrock of our nation's greatness. In One Nation Always Under God, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott shows how Christian values forged our legal system, educational institutions, healthcare, social services, and more.One Nation Always Under God is filled with inspiring stories of American Christians whose heroic advocacy has moved the nation forward, includingAbolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, who faced an angry mob trying to destroy his newspaperApollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell, whose faith sustained him 200,000 miles from EarthDorothea Dix, who revolutionized how America dealt with mental healthEddie Rickenbacker, an aging WWI ace who stepped up to command soldiers stranded in the Pacific in 1942Norman Borlaug, a scientist whose discoveries saved a billion people from starvation...and more. These stories exemplify both the American spirit of adventure and the Christian love of serving others.Far from being confined to the Constitutional Convention or church pews, faith has been the driving force behind America's innovation, prosperity, and moral leadership, Scott asserts. While the forces of secularism and moral relativism try to ban God from the public square, they cannot truly remove Him from our national DNA.Senator Scott reminds us that we stand on the shoulders of giants—courageous Christians who faced seemingly insurmountable odds yet persevered through faith. Their stories will stir the heart and awaken the hero within you. One Nation Always Under God is more than a history lesson. It's a rallying cry for all who believe that America's promise is rooted in timeless biblical principles.
JFK: Public, Private, Secret
by J. Randy TaraborrelliTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERNAMED ONE OF AMAZON EDITORS' BEST BOOKS OF JULYFrom the New York Times bestselling Kennedy historian and author of Jackie: Public, Private, Secret comes the other side of the story—her husband’s: JFK: Public, Private, Secret. In this definitive portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy—one of America’s most consequential and enigmatic presidents—J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a deeply researched and authoritative biography. More than the story of a presidency, this is an intimate study of a man whose public triumphs were shaped—and at times overshadowed—by the complex realities of his private life, from his legendary family to his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy. Drawing from hundreds of interviews conducted over twenty-five years—as well as candid, first-hand oral histories from the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library, rare internal reports from the Secret Service, detailed files from the National Archives, and intelligence documents from both the CIA and FBI. This is JFK as never before captured by history: brilliant yet fallible, revered yet human—a figure whose legacy continues to shape America and the world. Groundbreaking Revelations Include:• A marriage defined by both devotion and distance—and Jackie’s quiet but firm rules regarding her husband’s infidelities. • The romance that posed a potential national security risk—JFK’s deep connection with Inga Arvad, a woman he considered his great love, brought to an abrupt end due to FBI concerns over her ties to Nazi intelligence. • The long-awaited truth about Marilyn Monroe—uncovered at last through the firsthand account of one of her closest confidantes, shattering decades of speculation and exposing the reality of her deeply complicated connection to JFK. • The woman who might have changed history—Joan Lundberg, the mistress JFK turned to during the darkest time in his marriage, whose clandestine relationship with him threatened to derail his entire political career. • The Mafia’s role in his rise to power—a definitive account that separates fact from fiction and lays bare the extent of organized crime’s involvement in JFK’s election. • A presidency tested by betrayal and crisis—why JFK felt undermined by his own cabinet during the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and how he ultimately seized control of his administration during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The JFK presented in Taraborrelli’s definitive biography is a complex and endlessly fascinating historical figure—despite, and perhaps even because of, his many flaws.
Shameless
by Brian Tyler Cohen#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom the first content creator to interview President Biden, leading progressive voice Brian Tyler Cohen takes a step back from the day-to-day news cycle to explain how American politics has turned into such a dumpster fire—and what Democrats need to do to get us out of it.In Shameless, Brian Tyler Cohen lays bare the long con of the modern Republican Party. While the radical right continues hiding behind gaslighting maneuvers, artificial slogans, and hollow catchphrases, Cohen’s unflinching narrative illuminates the realities and dangers of the ever-widening gulf between the vaunted Republican brand and their actual behavior.With a foreword by Congressman Jamie Raskin, drawing on interviews and insights from Pete Buttigieg, Mehdi Hasan, Jen Psaki, and other luminaries of the Left, Cohen reveals:How Republicans have leaned on their historical branding to give themselves a permission structure to behave antithetically to everything they say;Why the mainstream media has proved itself a willing participant in this ongoing farce— particularly since the rise of toxic, sensationalist MAGA mania; andWhat lessons Democrats can glean from a clear-eyed view of the landscape we’re operating in—and the steps we must take to rebalance our political landscape.During this all-hands-on-deck moment in our history, Shameless is essential reading for those seeking to understand our dire situation, and a rallying cry for those fighting to preserve democracy.