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This month in history
The historical events and cultural phenoms that make May memorable.
Published on May 3, 2024
The Making of Asian America: A History
Erika LeeLee provides a sweeping view of Asian American history with this book — the perfect read in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. It clearly and methodically plots how Asians have long been a critical group to America’s growth, despite being discriminated against in immigration policies. Lee also starkly maps out the contrast between Asian Americans as victims of ongoing hate crimes and as model minorities placed on the highest of pedestals.
Strangers on a Bridge: he Case of Colonel Abel and Francis Gary Powers
James DonovanCIA agent Francis Gary Powers was shot down in his U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, which led to the breakdown of talks between the U.S. and the Soviets during the Cold War. “Stranger on a Bridge” focuses on the effort to retrieve Powers in a spy-for-spy exchange that took place nearly two years later. Author Donovan worked for the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the CIA, and therefore offers an insider’s account of behind-closed-doors political machinations.
The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior
Robert O'NeillOn May 2, 2011, Navy SEAL O’Neill shot and killed Osama bin Laden — the world’s most wanted terrorist. In this memoir, O’Neill takes you through every step of that mission, among other high-profile missions in his decorated career, and he shares his reflections on military and family life.
Not for Turning: The Life of Margaret Thatcher
Robin Harris“You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning,” Margaret Thatcher famously said when urged to change her political stance. Appointed the first female British Prime Minister on May 4, 1979, Thatcher was a steadfast if not controversial figure, and this biography gives essential background on her upbringing before diving into her career. It’s a surprisingly balanced account considering author Harris was Thatcher’s adviser and speechwriter.
The Comedown: A Novel
Rafael FrumkinOn May 4, 1970 the National Guard opened fire at a peaceful campus protest of U.S. military involvement in Asia, killing four students. The Kent State shootings serve as a jumping-off point for this novel. It’s a series of character studies across generations and over several decades of flashpoint events throughout America, each with their own cultural significance. “The Comedown” explores race, rights, and the choices that shape our lives.
Capone: The Man and the Era
Laurence BergreenAl Capone was among the most infamous gangsters in Prohibition-era Chicago before his conviction on May 4, 1932. “Capone” offers broader context for the racketeer’s rise through organized crime, including the history of Prohibition and the culture of policing at the time. Throughout, Bergreen successfully humanizes a complex American whose life is now the stuff of legends.
El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition
David Hayes-BautistaWhen Mexico declared victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, the first truly Mexican American holiday, Cinco de Mayo, was born. Hayes-Bautista reaches through history in this text to examine the cultural significance of a cherished and celebrated tradition.
Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Apollo Moon Landings
Alan ShepardThe United States watched in awe on May 5, 1961 as former Navy pilot Shepard boarded the Freedom 7 spacecraft and became the first American to enter space. This achievement led to the U.S.’s successful lunar mission at the end of the decade. “Moon Shot” is an absorbing account of the Space Race penned by the men who experienced it first-hand: Shepard, Neil Armstrong, and other notable astronauts.
The Hindenburg Murders
Max Allan CollinsIdeal for historical fiction and mystery lovers, the “Disaster” series is an extensively researched series of detective novels based on real-life disasters. This one centers around the Hindenburg disaster, when a German airship exploded upon attempting to dock in New Jersey on May 6, 1937, killing 35 of the 97 people on board.
Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy
Diana PrestonA century after the RMS Lusitania sank during WWI due to a German submarine attack on May 7, 1915, Preston published a thorough account of the vast repercussions this had on the politics of the time — and on the rules of modern warfare. The author also reveals some suspicions and secrets, making this a captivating read.
Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years
Nelson MandelaJust four years after being released from his 27-year imprisonment, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first Black president on May 10, 1994. A memoir of his time in office (completed by author Langa after Mandela’s passing in 2013), “Dare Not Linger” offers glimpses of the revolutionary mind whose work to dismantle apartheid was second to none, forever changing South Africa and the world at large.
A History of Mother's Day: Learn more about how Mother's Day became a holiday
A History of Mother's Day: Learn more about how Mother's Day became a holiday
Everything Everywhere DailyEach year we gather on the second Sunday in May to celebrate our mothers, but how did this tradition begin? This episode of the “Everything Everywhere Daily” podcast dives into how Mother’s Day became a major holiday in America and beyond. It’s a concise but informative listen with plenty of fun facts to share over lunch on May 14 — this year’s Mother’s Day.
Fight of the Century: Writers Reflect on 100 Years of Landmark ACLU Cases
Michael ChabonSince its founding in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sought to protect the rights of vulnerable Americans. The organization has worked tirelessly on a number of civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education (in which the Supreme Court ruled against racial segregation in schools on May 17, 1954). In “Fight of the Century,” acclaimed authors like Neil Gaiman, Ann Patchett, Salman Rushdie, and others offer lively and illuminating essays on ACLU cases, as well as the cultural context of the time and the ramifications in present day America.
The American Red Cross: From Clara Barton to the New Deal
Marian Moser JonesAfter finding her calling as a nurse during the Civil War, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross on May 21, 1881. Today, the organization is a mainstay in humanitarian work and disaster relief. Jones offers an engaging, meticulous history of the Red Cross from its founding to the 1930s, going beyond what that organization has accomplished and into its politics, challenges, and evolution through the years.
The Plot Against America: A Novel
Philip RothThis alternate history explores a world where Charles Lindbergh is elected president in 1940, allowing antisemitism to become acceptable in America. In a current political climate with neo-Nazism on the rise in the United States, Roth’s speculative fiction is downright chilling. There’s a seamless melding of fact with fiction about one of America’s most famous (and infamous) pilots.
Episode 403: The Yorkshire Ripper Part 1
MorbidThis episode of “Morbid,” one of the most popular true crime podcasts today, covers the horrifying case of Peter Sutcliffe — more commonly known as the Yorkshire Ripper. A prolific serial killer in 1970s England, Sutcliffe murdered over a dozen women before his conviction on May 22, 1981. This episode is the first in a three-part series.
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise
Chris TaylorWhen “Star Wars: A New Hope” premiered in American theaters on May 25, 1977, no one knew George Lucas’ sci-fi space opera would eventually become a multi-billion dollar franchise with global influence. Mashable journalist and “Star Wars” fan Taylor takes readers on an epic journey exploring one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons in history, from its conception to spin-offs and more.
The Miracle of Dunkirk: The True Story of Operation Dynamo
Walter LordWhile technically a defeat for Allied forces, the Battle of Dunkirk, which started May 26, 1940, proved to be a critical turning point in the ultimate victory over the Axis Powers. Read about the miracle evacuation of troops in this masterful account by Lord, who gives readers a moving glimpse of what it was like waiting to be rescued on the beach in France.
Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge
Kevin StarrMay 27, 1937 marked the long-awaited grand opening of the Golden Gate Bridge — the iconic suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. Roughly 200,000 people crossed the bridge on foot to commemorate the occasion. “Golden Gate” is a loving history of the societal, political, and engineering forces behind California’s great architectural icon, told by Starr, former state librarian and acclaimed historian.
Johnstown Flood
David McCulloughOn May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania ruptured, releasing an unstoppable flood that killed over 2,000 people and caused millions of dollars in damages. (Clara Barton and the aforementioned American Red Cross were instrumental in relief efforts.) Read about one of the most devastating inland floods in history in this lesser-known gem from the late master historian McCullough (“Mornings on Horseback,” “1776”).