State & Local

The number one New York Times best-selling story about American Olympic triumph in Nazi Germany, the inspiration for the PBS documentary The Boys of '36, broadcast to coincide with the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 80th anniversary of the boys' gold medal race....

The true tale of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the cunning serial killer who used the magic and majesty of the fair to lure his victims to their death....

This exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads....

Genteel society ladies who compare notes on their husbands' suicides. A hilariously foul-mouthed black drag queen....

In a tour de force of historical reportage, Timothy Egan’s National Book Award-winning story rescues an iconic chapter of American history from the shadows....

It is the most famous military installation in the world. And it doesn't exist. Located a mere s75 miles outside of Las Vegas in Nevada's desert, the base has never been acknowledged by the US government - but Area 51 has captivated imaginations for decades....

Killing the Witches revisits one of the most frightening and inexplicable episodes in American history: the events of 1692 and 1693 in Salem Village, Massachusetts....

As a string of high-profile jewel thefts went unsolved during the Swinging Sixties, the press dubbed the elusive thief the King of Diamonds. Like Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief, the King was so bold that he tip-toed into the homes of millionaires while they were home....

Even among iconic frontiersmen like John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, and Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger stands out. A mountain man of the American West, straddling the fur trade era and the age of exploration, he lived the life legends are made of....

From the author of Ghost Soldiers comes a magnificent history of the American conquest of the West....

In a landmark work of history, Russell Shorto presents astonishing information on the founding of our nation and reveals in detail the crucial role of the Dutch in making America what it is today....

The definitive account of the O. J. Simpson trial, The Run of His Life is a prodigious feat of reporting....

From the creator of the "Legends of the Old West" podcast comes an audiobook exploring the overlapping narratives of the biggest legends in frontier mythology....

New York Times best-selling author Laurence Leamer reveals the complex web of relationships and scandalous true stories behind Truman Capote's never-published final novel, Answered Prayers....

The stranger-than-fiction story of the now-notorious low country clan, in all its Southern Gothic intensity—by an author with unparalleled access to and knowledge of the players, the history, and the place.

On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual false alarm....

Hailed by critics as an American masterpiece, David McCullough's sweeping biography of Harry S. Truman captured the heart of the nation....

The number one New York Times best seller by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough rediscovers an important chapter in the American story that's "as resonant today as ever" (The Wall Street Journal) - the settling of the Northwest Territory....

A humorous and rousing set of literal and figurative sojourns as well as a mission statement about comprehending, protecting, and truly experiencing the outdoors, fueled by three journeys undertaken by actor, humorist, and New York Times best-selling author Nick Offerman....

The very strange but nevertheless true story of the dark underbelly of a 1960s hippie utopia. Laurel Canyon in the 1960s and early 1970s was a magical place....

The first comprehensive oral history of September 11, 2001 - a panoramic narrative woven from the voices of Americans on the front lines of an unprecedented national trauma....

Secret operations, corruption, crime, and a city teeming with spies: Covert City examines why Miami was as crucial to winning the Cold War as Washington DC or Moscow....

Since 1929, Hollywood’s brightest stars have flocked to the Chateau Marmont as if it were a second home. An apartment building-turned-hotel, the Chateau has been the backdrop for generations of gossip and folklore....

The fascinating true story behind the magnificent Gilded Age mansion Biltmore - the largest, grandest residence ever built in the United States....

From award-winning author Paulina Bren comes the remarkable history of New York’s most famous residential hotel and the women who stayed there, including Grace Kelly, Sylvia Plath, and Joan Didion....

Who captured members of the Wild Bunch? Solved a nationally known 1893 train robbery? WHo helped to capture H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer? Not a Western sheriff nor a Pinkerton agent. Chief William Desmond commanded the largest detective force west of the Mississippi River. The St. Louis Chief of Detectives from 1890 to 1907 personally solved hundreds of crimes and protected fair goers to St. Louis' 1904 World's Fair. Learn the true story of one of America's greatest detectives.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the most dramatic and dangerous period of the Cold War. What's less well known is that the city of Miami, mere miles away, was a pivotal, though less well known, part of Cold War history. With its population of Communist exiles from Cuba, its strategic value for military operations, and its lax business laws, Miami was an ideal environment for espionage. Covert City tells the history of how the entire city of Miami was constructed in the image of the US-Cuba rivalry.

Contrary to competing popular beliefs, police violence against African Americans has neither remained unchanged since the era of slavery nor is it a recent phenomenon disconnected from the past. In Bluecoated Terror, Jeffrey S. Adler draws on rich archival accounts to show how racialized police brutality is part of a larger system of state oppression with roots in the early twentieth-century South, particularly New Orleans.

Welcome to the journey of a lifetime through the Discovering the Southern Riches eBook! Explore the vibrant and storied history of America's beloved South, from the origins of Southern cuisine to the colorful world of Southern festivals and traditions. This truly comprehensive guide offers a unique perspective on the rich and diverse culture of the Southern United States. With 32 captivating chapters, Discovering the Southern Riches provides a deep dive into the history, traditions, and culture of this unique region. Take a step back in time to Antebellum society and the birth of Southern ...

There are scary places everywhere, but most people don’t want to know about them. They avoid them. They pretend they don’t exist. They act brave. But we know they’re there. This book is for those brave souls who not only that scary places surround us, but venture further by seeking them out. If you’d like to know more about South Carolina’s scary places, plan on visiting them, or want to make a road trip you might not return from, then this book is for you. About the editor- Dr. David Powers is an adventurer, philosopher, and pioneer and lives a life of constant experimentation. ...

This edition collects the first 8 published issues. If you're a fan of Mark Twain's dry wit, oft-hidden humor, and tales of a bygone era on the Mississippi, then you'll love The Desert Rat Scrapbook. Imagine Mark Twain stuck in the desert with no riverboat and a bunch of crusty cowboys instead of river rats. The Desert Rat Scrapbook was first published in 1946 by Harry Oliver, a lifelong desert rat, Oscar nominated artist, and humorist. It's a collection of humor fact, and tall tales collected from the lives of him and others in the southwestern United States. Oliver eventually handed the ...

Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of modern life? Do you find yourself longing for a simpler way of living? Look no further than Homesteading in Kansas, the ultimate guide to creating your own self-sufficient oasis in the heart of America. Discover the roots of homesteading in Kansas with Chapter 1, where you'll learn about the pioneers who first settled the land and paved the way for modern homesteading practices. Chapter 2 delves into the history of the Kansas Homestead Act of 1862, which still influences homesteading today. But homesteading in Kansas isn't for the faint of heart. ...

If you're a fan of Mark Twain's dry wit, oft-hidden humor, and tales of a bygone era on the Mississippi, then you'll love The Desert Rat Scrapbook. Imagine Mark Twain stuck in the desert with no riverboat and a bunch of crusty cowboys instead of river rats. The Desert Rat Scrapbook was first published in 1946 by Harry Oliver, a lifelong desert rat, Oscar nominated artist, and humorist. It's a collection of humor fact, and tall tales collected from the lives of him and others in the southwestern United States. Oliver eventually handed the reigns over to Bill Powers, who published the final ...

In my youthful wanderlust I embarked on a journey across North America. It was a three month journey, living out of my car, that spanned from South Carolina to Alaska. I broke down in weird secluded places, slept in a tee-pee, avoided public toilets, and experienced a level of adventure and wonderment I wonder if I will ever match. Follow me on my journey to becoming a turtle. I hope you enjoy the book, but, most of all, I hope it inspires you to take one of your own. This fourth installment covers the next leg of the trip through the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.

Dive into the wild and captivating heart of "Untamed Frontiers", a comprehensive study brimming with intrigue, history, and ecological detail surrounding Alaska's rugged landscapes. From the geological formations that have sculpted Alaska's unique terrain to the distinct weather patterns that have shaped its ecological features, this eBook takes you on an immersive journey of discovery. "Untamed Frontiers" delves deep into the historical significance of Alaska, transporting you back to the time of its early inhabitants and guiding you through Western settlements and key moments that have ...

If you're a fan of Mark Twain's dry wit, oft-hidden humor, and tales of a bygone era on the Mississippi, then you'll love The Desert Rat Scrapbook. Imagine Mark Twain stuck in the desert with no riverboat and a bunch of crusty cowboys instead of river rats. The Desert Rat Scrapbook was first published in 1946 by Harry Oliver, a lifelong desert rat, Oscar nominated artist, and humorist. It's a collection of humor fact, and tall tales collected from the lives of him and others in the southwestern United States. Oliver eventually handed the reigns over to Bill Powers, who published the final ...

"History is the propaganda of the victorious," observed Voltaire, and the history of America's so-called "Civil War" is no exception…It is under that prevailing narrative that Isaac. C. Bishop, a native of New England and the author of Defending Dixie's Land, came to find his interest in the South. Steeped in that narrative, he accepted it without question…With further research, the Truth began to reveal itself to the author, culminating in this fine book. The Truth cannot be killed. It may be buried alive, but it will not die. Like an archaeologist, Bishop has discovered the tomb of ...

Few cities are so dramatically identified with their environment as San Francisco—the landscape of hills, the expansive bay, the engulfing fog, and even the deadly fault line shifting below. Yet most residents think of the city itself as separate from the natural environment on which it depends. In Our Better Nature, Philip J. Dreyfus recounts the history of San Francisco from Indian village to world-class metropolis, focusing on the interactions between the city and the land and on the generations of people who have transformed them both.

Humor writer Mark R. Hunter often speaks of his life ballooning out of control, and there’s no better example than this work, a look at the first century of service for his home town’s volunteer fire department. Hunter, who’s also a thirty-three year veteran firefighter, turned an idea for a pamphlet for the Albion fire Department’s 100th anniversary into a 25 year marathon that produced a book … just in time for the 125th anniversary. Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights chronicles the hazardous early days of Albion, Indiana, which like many small towns of the time tended to burn down...

Dive into the vibrant tapestry of Chicago's storied past with "Chicago History: Part 1" by Seraphina Everhart. This meticulously researched and engaging exploration unfolds the captivating narrative of a city that has stood as a testament to resilience and progress. From the fiery aftermath of The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to the grandeur of The World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, this book navigates through pivotal moments that have shaped the city's identity. Seraphina Everhart's narrative prowess unveils the intricate history behind The Chicago 'L,' the iconic elevated train system ...