1776 by David McCullough focuses on the momentous year in American history. In previous books, McCullough has examined great figures in the history of the US, but this time the Pulitzer prize winning author takes an in depth look at the fight for independence. As the outclassed Americans took advantage of the cover of night, the element of surprise, and some good old fashioned luck, the greatest empire in the world was taken off guard. The detailed accounts of battles and battle conditions never gets tedious, as McCullough’s bestseller status is proven once again. This history is moving, inspiring, and a gripping read.

Striking Back: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel's Deadly Response by Aaron J. Klein is based on testimony by key players in the top secret thirty year antiterrorism campaign to track down the killers of the 1972 attack. The account tells the full story of the Munich Olympics, where Palestinian members of Black September murdered eleven Israeli athletes as millions watched the crisis unfold on television. The Israeli response, to immediately gather an elite team to track down the murderers, spans several decades. And until the publication of this book, no one but they knew the entire story. Klein is an award winning journalist and he brings to riveting account this tragic chapter in world history. If you are a fan of thrillers, this is a must read.

The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr is the true story of the search for a lost masterpiece.
Caravaggio (1573-1610), the Italian painter, was famous for his works depicting divine subjects in ordinary situations. However, the painter was also somewhat of a street thug and remains a mystery to many art historians. One of his paintings, The Taking of Christ, disappeared more than two centuries ago. Harr tells the story of the eventual discovery of the painting, jumping from one viewpoint to the next. The changing views and the detailed descriptions keep this book interesting around a very simple subject. Along the way, you get a fascinating look at the artist’s daring life as well as his magnificent work.

A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson is the detailed and riveting account of the Peloponnesian War by a skilled military historian and classicist. The weapons of ancient Greece may seem primitive and the troop strength may seem small in comparison to modern warfare, but the twenty seven year war was massive and devastating by Greek standards. Hanson relates the real life implications of battles and hand to hand combat. He explains complex tactical theories and maneuvers with a deft hand that allows even the most novice reader to understand and follow the timeline of the war.
Hanson also brings to light some interesting figures in the war, making it a tragic and yet fascinating book.

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan is startling account of the drought that took American plainsmen and women by the throat. The “black blizzards,” as the dust storms were called, were stirred by unrelenting plains winds. The continual farming of the grassy land had resulted in a top soil that could not withstand the constant turning. The story centers around the true lives of Americans and immigrants who settled the plains and were often duped by promoters selling quality land that did not exist in the way people needed to survive. First hand accounts from survivors make this book incredibly powerful and detailed.

740 Park: The Story of the World's Richest Apartment Building by Michael Gross is the tale of the super rich, super mythical East Side Manhattan apartment building. The legendary building was designed by Rosario Candela and developed by Jackie O’s grandfather to house the elite of the corporate world. Since the opening in 1930, it has been home to the Bouviers, John D. Rockefeller Jr., and Marshall Field III. Gross has put in countless hours of research into the past and present occupants of the building to give readers a voyeuristic look into the lives of Manhattan royalty. For lovers of New York or any social history, this book will give you the keys to the Manhattan kingdom.