FRC: Nonfiction History
This is a very large category! We have a few aisles of history books, and history takes up four of the twenty six letters in the Library of Congress cataloging system. Where to start?
Resources:
- If there is a particular era that you enjoy, search our online catalog and sort the results with newest first to find new acquisitions (For example, here’s the results for United States — History — Revolution, sorted with newest first).
- Sign up for the monthly NextReads newsletter on History
- Browse. We often get new History books, so our New Nonfiction display is a great place to browse. You can also browse our new nonfiction online. On the second floor, our history collection is in sections C-F.
- Check out recent award winners. History books often win nonfiction awards. The list of winners of the Pulitzer Prize for History is here. The National Book Award longlist for nonfiction will be announced on September 14.
- Ask us! Email Marty at mgagnon@auburnpubliclibrary.org for suggestions.
My Selection:
Although I had an unfinished history of the French Revolution (Citizens) on my shelf, I found the 600+ pages left to read daunting. Browsing on the new book display, I came away with two choices:
- Lafayette in the somewhat United States (Sarah Vowell)
- Valiant ambition : George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution (Nathaniel Philbrick)
What I read:
Sadly, I am falling ever further behind. I did listen to the audiobook of Ta-Nahisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. I wouldn’t count it as history but it did make me cry. So, I will have that category done when I get to it! To anyone who has not read this book, I highly recommend the audiobook, read by the author.
Next up: Read a book recommended by a librarian.