Alan Cooper

Discover the tragic and intertwined history of Nazi and Stalinist mass murders in Bloodlands. This meticulously researched book sheds light on the millions of citizens killed by these regimes before, during, and after World War II. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the central tragedy of modern history.

"The Big Goodbye" is a riveting account of the making of the iconic 1970s film, Chinatown. Sam Wasson delves into the fascinating and often scandalous world of Hollywood's most colorful characters, including Jack Nicholson at the height of his powers, director Roman Polanski, and legendary producer Robert Evans. From the script's creation to the film's twist ending, this book peels back the layers of myth to reveal the true story behind the making of a modern American masterpiece. A must-read for film buffs and anyone interested in the golden age of Hollywood.

This gripping historical account covers Italy's devastating war with the Habsburg Empire in 1915, resulting in nearly 750,000 Italian casualties. General Luigi Cadorna’s brutal punishment of decimation amplified the already hopeless fighting. Author Mark Thompson eloquently depicts the nationalistic fervor, political intrigue, and prominent figures entangled in the conflict. The White War is an epic, heart-wrenching read that inspired Hemingway’s acclaimed A Farewell to Arms.

This epic historical novel takes readers on a journey through the birth and rise of fascism in Italy, seen through the eyes of its infamous founder, Benito Mussolini. Set in 1919, the nation is exhausted from the Great War and disillusioned with democracy. Mussolini, the director of a small opposition newspaper and a political agitator, offers hope and change to the masses. Written by Antonio Scurati, this masterful saga explores the seductive power of nationalism and idolatry, revealing how authoritarianism took hold and a nation bent to the will of one ruthless strongman. M is a chilling reminder that the past holds urgent lessons for us today.

Discover how transportation systems, industry and business, and political decision making shape our cities and why they don't feel like real communities anymore. Alex Marshall explores how these forces have created four very different urban environments and argues that to build better cities, we must intelligently direct the forces that shape them. This highly readable book defines the key issues facing all concerned citizens who are trying to control urban sprawl and build real communities.

A shocking and revelatory history of Stalin's devastating policy of agricultural collectivization, which led to one of the deadliest famines in European history. At least five million people died between 1931 and 1933 in the USSR, with more than three million of those deaths deliberately inflicted on Ukrainians. Anne Applebaum's Red Famine documents the horror of ordinary people struggling to survive extraordinary evil and shows how it may foreshadow a new threat to the political order in the twenty-first century.

Explore the flaws and secrets of America's transportation system with Charles L. Marohn Jr.'s Confessions of a Recovering Engineer. Discover how poor design choices have catastrophic consequences, but also how improvements can revitalize communities and enhance safety. This accessible guide delves into the values and priorities of transportation professions versus those of the public, as well as techniques for spending less and getting higher returns on transportation projects. A must-read for anyone interested in transportation systems and their impact on society.

Set during the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, two cellmates are given an impossible task – to secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel’s daughter’s wedding cake. Lev and Kolya journey through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and enemy lines to find the impossible. An intimate coming-of-age story with an utterly contemporary feel for men, City of Thieves is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure.

Discover the fascinating history of debt and its impact on human society with this eye-opening book. Anthropologist David Graeber shows that credit systems were used for thousands of years before the invention of money, and that arguments about debt have sparked political debates and insurrections throughout history. Graeber's insights shed light on our modern economic struggles and reveal how ancient debates about debt continue to shape our ideas about right and wrong.

This groundbreaking book has had a massive impact on the criminal justice reform movement. Written by Michelle Alexander, it argues that America has simply redesigned racial caste instead of ending it. With citations in judicial decisions, adoption in community-wide reads, and the inspiration for the creation of the Marshall Project and the Art for Justice Fund, this book has won prestigious prizes and spent over 250 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. A new 10th-anniversary edition includes a preface by the author discussing the book's impact and the state of criminal justice reform today.