In the past few centuries, the map of Eastern Europe has changed far more than its western counterpart, as the rise and fall of empires—from the Holy Roman Empire to the Iron Curtain of Soviet rule—and groupings of people by... Read More

That Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is an important chronicler of Soviet era Russia is hardly in dispute; his novels are among the most memorable depictions of that era. That’s certainly true of The Red Wheel, his massive, multi-volume account... Read More

Camilla Townsend’s excellent historical text covers the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs with important additional context. Anecdotes from translated works and introductions to crucial Indigenous characters result in a gripping,... Read More

The Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 is a case study in the way that private industries twist government programs to their advantage. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor’s "Race for Profit" is clear and methodical as it details how a... Read More

Sofia Panina’s life was full of interesting intersections. A countess born into wealth, she became a popular political figure, only to run afoul of the Bolshevik government. Adele Lindenmeyr’s biography of Sofia Panina, "Citizen... Read More

For many small towns around the world, World War I was a seismic event, and the Canadian town of Merritt in British Columbia’s Nicola Valley is a prime example. A town that even today only has a few thousand residents lost forty-four... Read More

Animal behavior counselor Anneleen Bru explains her approach to raising felines in "I Love Happy Cats". With focus on the habits and behaviors of the domestic cat’s wild ancestor, the African wild cat, it includes suggestions for... Read More

Two things have become unambiguous about Russia’s role in the 2016 US presidential election: it carried out a significant attack against the United States; and not enough is being done to prevent a repeat performance. Jake Braun... Read More