A Second Reckoning | Race, Injustice, and the Last Hanging in Annapolis by Scott D. Seligman looks into the wrongful hanging of a Black man, and argues for more reexamination into the racial uses of the justice systems. The author argues that the repeal of racist laws and policies must be augmented by reckoning with America’s judicial past, especially in cases in which prejudice may have tainted procedures or perverted verdicts.
The Hidden Habits of Genius | Beyond Talent, IQ, and Grit—Unlocking the Secrets of Greatness by Craig Wright studies geniuses throughout history and presents a new framework on how intellect should be measured. In The Hidden Habits of Genius, he reveals what we can learn from the lives of those we have dubbed “geniuses,” past and present.
The Power of Trust | How Companies Build It, Lose It, Regain It by Sandra Sucher and Shalene Gupta examine how companies create trust and harness it to be successful. The book dives into the economic impact of trust and the science behind it, and conclusively prove that trust is built from the inside out.
My Time Will Come | A Memoir of Crime, Punishment, Hope and Redemption by Ian Manuel is a harrowing recount of the author’s incarceration after being sentenced as a young teenager. It is the story of how he endured the savagery of the United States prison system, and how his victim, an extraordinary woman, forgave him and bravely advocated for his freedom, which was achieved by an Equal Justice Initiative push to address the barbarism of our judicial system and bring about “just mercy.”
What’s Luck Got to Do With It? | How Smarter Government Can Rescue The American Dream by Edward Kleinbard examines the impact of brute luck in life. Like it or not, our lives and opportunities are determined largely by luck. Kleinbard shows that while we can’t undo every instance of misfortune, we can offer a path to not just a fairer America, but greater economic growth, more broadly shared.
George Washington’s Final Battle | The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and Nation by Robert P. Watson looks into Washington’s impact on creating his new country’s capital city. Washington had a direct role in planning many aspects of the city that would house the young republic, creating a landmark that gave the fledgling democracy credibility, united a fractious country, and created a sense of American identity.
The World Turned Upside Down | A History of the Chinese Cultural Revolution by Yang Jisheng gives an unparalleled account of the Cultural Revolution in China. The book puts every political incident of those ten years under extraordinary scrutiny, and arrives at a moment when Chinese governance is leaning once more toward a highly centralized power structure and Mao-style cult of personality.
The Great Kosher Meat War of 1902 | Immigrant Housewives and the Riots That Shook New York City by Scott D. Seligman explores the collective action Jewish housewives took to end the price gouging of kosher meat. Convinced by the latest jump in the price of kosher meat, they assembled with intent on shutting down every kosher butcher shop in New York’s Jewish quarter.
The Bitch by Pilar Quintana is a powerful and beautiful novel that examines the painful chaos of life. It is written in a prose as terse as the villagers, with storms―both meteorological and emotional―lurking around each corner.
The War of Return | How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf looks further into how the permanent “refugee” problem is hindering peace between Israel and Palestine. They argue that this Palestinian demand for a “right of return” has no legal or moral basis and make an impassioned plea for the world to recognize this fact, for the good of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
