Top Book Summary in History & Society

A provocative exploration of America's history of magical thinking, from the Puritans to present-day conspiracy theories and political polarization.

A genre-bending memoir exploring queer family-making, gender fluidity, and the complexities of love through personal experience and critical theory.

A radical rethinking of corporate purpose, challenging profit maximization and proposing a new model for economic and social wellbeing.

Discover five pivotal moments that shaped human civilization, from the Agricultural Revolution to the printing press, and how modern historians connect these global events to help us understand our place in the grand human story.

A sweeping narrative of human history

A poignant tale of two Afghan women's resilience and friendship amid war, oppression, and cultural upheaval in Kabul.

A chilling exploration of religious extremism, violence, and the dark side of faith in Mormon fundamentalism.

A thought-provoking exploration of pop culture's obsession with nostalgia and its impact on musical innovation and creativity.

From political margins to power: conservatism's untold intellectual journey.

A poignant graphic memoir exploring sexuality, family dynamics, and self-discovery through the lens of a lesbian daughter and her closeted father.

Historical account of the Texas oil industry and its influential figures.

Rethinking economics for a sustainable, equitable 21st century

Explore how humanity's shift to agriculture 12,000 years ago paradoxically worsened health outcomes while creating the food surpluses that made civilization—and wealth inequality—possible.

Explore Civil War weaponry from pistols to sabers, and discover Kentucky's complex role as a border state where families split between Union and Confederate loyalties shaped the conflict's unique regional dynamics.

A pianist's journey through China's Cultural Revolution, saved by music.

Exploring the groundbreaking 1611 work 'Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum' - the first published feminist literary work in English that challenged centuries of religious doctrine about women's roles through brilliant biblical reinterpretation and innovative female patronage networks.

Radical obedience in a world of compromise.

Victorian supernatural romance where being soulless becomes deliciously scandalous.