Alan Cooper

Americans call the Second World War “The Good War.” But before it even began, America’s wartime ally Josef Stalin had killed millions of his own citizens—and kept killing them during and after the war. Before Hitler was finally defeated, he had murdered six million Jews and nearly as many other Europeans. At war’s end, both the German and the Soviet killing sites fell behind the iron curtain, leaving the history of mass killing in darkness. Bloodlands is a new kind of European history, presenting the mass murders committed by the Nazi and Stalinist regimes as two aspects of a single history, in the time and place where they occurred: between Germany and Russia, when Hitler and Stalin both held power. Assiduously researched, deeply humane, and utterly definitive, Bloodlands will be required reading for anyone seeking to understand the central tragedy of modern history. From Booklist If there is an explanation for the political killing perpetrated in eastern Europe in the 1930s and 1940s, historian Snyder roots it in agriculture. Stalin wanted to collectivize farmers; Hitler wanted to eliminate them so Germans could colonize the land. The dictators wielded frightening power to advance such fantasies toward reality, and the despots toted up about 14 million corpses between them, so stupefying a figure that Snyder sets himself three goals here: to break down the number into the various actions of murder that comprise it, from liquidation of the kulaks to the final solution; to restore humanity to the victims via surviving testimony to their fates; and to deny Hitler and Stalin any historical justification for their policies, which at the time had legions of supporters and have some even today. Such scope may render Snyder’s project too imposing to casual readers, but it would engage those exposed to the period’s chronology and major interpretive issues, such as the extent to which the Nazi and Soviet systems may be compared. Solid and judicious scholarship for large WWII collections.

"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.

Эти двое ни при каких обстоятельствах не стали бы друзьями. Они встречаются, когда обоих ожидает расстрел. В тюрьме. В блокадном Ленинграде. В 1942 году. Один – задумчивый, не очень храбрый, немного угрюмый подросток Лев, сын репрессированного поэта. И второй – беспечный покоритель женских сердец Николай. И вдруг им выпадает неожиданный шанс выжить… Динамичный, хлесткий, кинематографичный роман о блокадном Ленинграде, который написал голливудский сценарист Дэвид Бениофф. Это новый взгляд современного молодого человека на прошлое своей семьи, на войну – и, несмотря на ирреальность происходящего, очень искренняя история о настоящей дружбе и настоящей любви.

Масштабное и революционное исследование истории товарно-денежных отношений с древнейших времен до наших дней, предпринятое американским антропологом, профессором Лондонской школы экономики и одним из «антилидеров» движения Occupy Wall street, придумавшим слоган «Мы – 99 %». Гребер, опираясь на антропологические методы, выдвигает тезис, что в основе того, что мы традиционно называем экономикой, лежит категория долга, которая на разных этапах развития общества может принимать формы денег, бартера, залогов, кредитов, акций и так далее. Один из императивов книги - вырвать экономику из лап «профессиональных экономистов», доказавших свою несостоятельность во время последнего мирового кризиса, и поместить ее в более широкий контекст истории культуры, политологии, социологии и прочих гуманитарных дисциплин. Для широкого круга читателей.

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.