With recent news about the cancellation of government sponsored diversity programs, I want to call attention to how we can all bring diversity into our own lives - reading books by diverse voices. I set this week's prompt to "books by African American Authors" in 2024 before I knew any of this was coming - … Continue reading This Week: February 16th
When Britain invaded The United States in 1814 for the second time, our fledgling government had become established in Washington, D.C. Official government buildings, including the White House, became immediate targets of the Redcoats. Anthony S. Pitch delivers a comprehensive account of the War of 1812 in The Burning of Washington. From invasion through to … Continue reading The Burning of Washington
I first heard Cassandra Good’s name earlier last year as she released First Family: George Washington’s Heirs and the Making of America, exploring the first American president’s family. That was just the latest of Good’s accomplishments in the field of American History though – she’s taught at several renown universities (currently Marymount University), released articles … Continue reading America’s Founding Women
For over 200 years, rumors of swirled around Thomas Jefferson’s name about torrid love affairs first with a married artist in Paris, and later with his slave Sally Hemings. Sally, who happened to be his wife’s half-sister, has been the center of much controversy, especially after her descendants began to publicize their potential connection to … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings: An American controversy
When I hear the name T.E. Lawrence, my mind goes to the 1962 movie “Lawrence of Arabia” starring Peter O’Toole. I’m not sure I ever paid attention to the full story behind the legend of this man. Lawrence’s reputation was inflated in part by his own autobiography Seven Pillars of Wisdom that tracked his participation … Continue reading Lawrence in Arabia
John and Abigail Adams may not seem like the stars of a romance novel. The images and knowledge most Americans have of the couple are their official portraits from their time as first couple. We know John helped form the early country through his writing and leadership. Maybe you know of John’s conflicts with Hamilton. … Continue reading First Family
The Osage tribe has had more than their fair share of difficulties in the past 200 years. In 1810, the Osage were moved from their ancestral land to a reservation in Oklahoma. However, they relocated again when settlers began to encroach on their lands, this time buying their new land in allotments. This move made … Continue reading Killers of the Flower Moon
For much of our country’s history, Benedict Arnold has been a name synonymous with the word traitor. It’s easy to think of him as this criminal who chose the wrong side of the American Revolution, but there’s so much more to this man. A remarried widower with several children, he was driven by a need … Continue reading Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution
When most people consider Lent, they think of giving up things - soda, meat, candy, etc. Lent is really a commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert as he was confronted with temptation by satan. Giving up something fits with the act of fasting, but Lent is really more about preparing … Continue reading Books for the Lenten Season
Happy Presidents' Day weekend! If you've got Monday off, I hope you'll have some time to dive into a good book! While this holiday has become very commercialized with mattress sales and Amazon warehouse discounts, it actually started as a celebration of George Washington, America's first president. Washington's was born on February 22, 1732, and … Continue reading Presidents’ Day Book Recommendations
