Dive into the best non-fiction history books published since 2020. A journey through time awaits!
Since 2020, a wave of exceptional history books has emerged. These aren't your dusty old textbooks; they're vibrant, relevant, and deeply researched narratives. Get ready to have your understanding of the past reshaped.
Patrick Radden Keefe's "Empire of Pain" (2021) meticulously chronicles the Sackler family's role in the opioid crisis. It's a masterclass in investigative journalism and a chilling account of corporate greed, supported by extensive documentation and interviews. This family's legacy will forever be changed.
David Graeber and David Wengrow's "The Dawn of Everything" (2021) challenges conventional narratives of human history. They posit that early societies were far more diverse and egalitarian than previously imagined, drawing on extensive archaeological and anthropological evidence. Prepare to question *everything* you thought you knew.
Candice Millard's "River of the Gods" (2022) recounts the perilous search for the source of the Nile. This is not just a tale of exploration but of human endurance and obsession. Millard's vivid prose brings the 19th-century African landscape to life.
Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe's "Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty" (2021) offers a personal and insightful look at the Vanderbilt family. This story details one of the wealthiest families and their contributions. The inside stories are incredible!
"The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story" (2021), expanded from the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times series, reframes American history around slavery. Led by Nikole Hannah-Jones, it sparks crucial conversations, albeit with some scholarly debate about certain interpretations. The impact, however, is undeniable.
Tiya Miles's "All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake" (2021) traces a simple cotton sack through generations. It reveals the brutal realities of slavery and the enduring power of Black women's resilience, using meticulous research and powerful storytelling. This is history at its most intimate.
Elizabeth Kolbert's "Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future" (2021), while not strictly history, examines humanity's attempts to control nature. It's a crucial historical context for our current environmental predicament, presented with Kolbert's signature clarity and insight. The future rests on how we handle it.
Nadia Owusu’s "Aftershocks"(2021) is a memoir acting as historical documentation of Owusu's childhood. She details how the larger political instabilities in the nations her family moved to affected her life. She provides historical context to the events, making her memoir a history lesson.
These books represent only a fraction of the incredible historical works published since 2020. They are just a begining. Each offers a unique lens through which to view the past, reminding us that history is not static but constantly being reinterpreted and rewritten.