BOOK OF THE DAY

From the New York Times bestselling author of When the Sea Came Alive and The Only Plane in the Sky, a sweeping and comprehensive oral history of the atomic bomb’s creation and deployment, marking the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

April 12, 1945. Less than three months into his vice presidency, Harry Truman is catapulted into the Oval Office following the sudden death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. As he recites the oath, he learns a chilling secret known only to a select the United States is on the verge of deploying a weapon of unimaginable power. This weapon could end the war but also herald a new age of global fear and uncertainty.

Drawing from over twenty-five oral history archives across the US, Japan, and Europe, Graff has masterfully blended the memories and perspectives from key figures like Harry Truman and J. Robert Oppenheimer, the crews of the B-29 bombers, Enola Gay and Bock’s Car, and the haunting stories of those at ground zero in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including the experiences of the hibakusha—the “bomb-affected people”—and the rescuers who bravely faced the devastation.

Enriched by memoirs, diaries, letters, official documents, and news reports, this is an immersive and deeply human account of the then-secret Manhattan Project through the end of World War II and the dawning of the Cold War, capturing the scientific breakthroughs, military decisions, and profound ethical dilemmas that emerged from using nuclear weapons.

A testament to human ingenuity and resilience, Destroyer of Worlds explores the complex legacy of the atomic bomb, offering a vivid, multi-dimensional view of events that reshaped the world. It is an essential read for anyone looking to grasp the full impact of this critical moment in history and the enduring questions it raises about wielding such destructive power.

BOOK OF THE DAY

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln, charting how—and why—he confronted secession, threats to democracy, and the tragedy of slavery to expand the possibilities of America.

“Meacham has given us the Lincoln for our time.”—Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Winner of the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize • Longlisted for the Biographers International Plutarch Award • One of the Best Books of the Year: The Christian Science Monitor, Kirkus Reviews

A president who governed a divided country has much to teach us in a twenty-first-century moment of polarization and political crisis. Hated and hailed, excoriated and revered, Abraham Lincoln was at the pinnacle of American power when implacable secessionists gave no quarter in a clash of visions bound up with money, race, identity, and faith. In him we can see the possibilities of the presidency as well as its limitations.

At once familiar and elusive, Lincoln tends to be seen as the greatest of American presidents—a remote icon—or as a politician driven more by calculation than by conviction. This illuminating new portrait gives us a very human Lincoln—an imperfect man whose moral antislavery commitment, essential to the story of justice in America, began as he grew up in an antislavery Baptist community; who insisted that slavery was a moral evil; and who sought, as he put it, to do right as God gave him to see the right.

This book tells the story of Lincoln from his birth on the Kentucky frontier in 1809 to his leadership during the Civil War to his tragic assassination in 1865: his rise, his self-education, his loves, his bouts of depression, his political failures, his deepening faith, and his persistent conviction that slavery must end. In a nation shaped by the courage of the enslaved of the era and by the brave witness of Black Americans, Lincoln’s story illustrates the ways and means of politics in a democracy, the roots and durability of racism, and the capacity of conscience to shape events.

BOOK OF THE DAY

Hannibal is “an exciting biography of one of history’s greatest commanders…a thrilling page-turner” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about the brilliant general who successfully crossed the Alps with his war elephants and brought Rome to its knees, and who is still regarded today as one of the greatest military strategists in history.

Hannibal Barca of Carthage, born 247 BC, was one of the great generals of the ancient world. His father, Hamilcar, imposed Carthaginian rule over much of present-day Spain. After Hamilcar led the Carthaginian forces against Rome in the First Punic War, Hannibal followed in his father’s footsteps.

From the time he was a teenager, Hannibal fought against Rome. He is famed for leading Carthage’s army across North Africa, into Spain, along the Mediterranean coast, and then crossing the Alps with his army and war elephants. Hannibal won victories in northern Italy by outmaneuvering his Roman adversaries and defeated a larger Roman army at the battle of Cannae in 216 BC. Unable to force Rome to capitulate, however, he was eventually forced to leave Italy and return to Carthage when a savvy Roman general named Scipio invaded North Africa. Hannibal and Scipio fought an epic battle at Zama, which Hannibal lost. Many Carthaginians blamed Hannibal, who was exiled until his death.

Hannibal is still regarded as a military genius. Napoleon, George Patton, and Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. are only some of the generals who studied and admired him. His strategy and tactics are still taught in military academies. “With wonderful energy…archeologist and historian Patrick Hunt distills his survey of literature about the Second Punic War into a brightly dramatic story that covers virtually every anecdote connected with Hannibal” (The Christian Science Monitor). “Hunt’s story of the doomed general, whose exploits are more celebrated than those of his vanquishers, will appeal to any reader interested in military history or strategy” (Publishers Weekly).

BOOK OF THE DAY

In the world of pandemonium, war, destruction and with nations waging battles against each other, it has one thing still left amongst humans. That thing is love. A God In Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie is a narrative about camaraderie, inequality, adoration and unfaithfulness.An adolescent English woman is sprinting up an antique mountainside that is decorated with figs and cypress trees. This woman, Vivian Rose Spencer, does not know that ultimately she will discern the Temple of Zeus and find her calling for love and adventure. In another part of the world, thousands of miles away, is a young twenty-year-old lad called Pathan Quayyum Gul who is enlisted himself for the British army. He unearths the strong values of brotherhood and amity.A year later Gul loses his eye in the battle and is returning on the same train as Vivian. They meet as strangers but they don't know that fate will again bring them together after fifteen years. Vivian is searching for her love and is on the hunt. Maybe the mystifying woman who has a quirky green eye will bond them again. The waging world with its fights for freedom could bring these two like minded humans together again. The prehistoric artifact could also tie them. The ancient city of Peshawar where once delicate fruit orchards and ornate houses existed is now under the cruel domains of the British. The people who died in the war, in the end, are honored with bright red rose petals. A God In Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie is a story of war, loyalty, courage and realizing what to truly fight for. This book was published by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2014 and in hardcover.

BOOK OF THE DAY

The award-wining author of Second Acts and The Last Republicans draws on interviews and conversations with seven presidents to identify the essence of character, leadership and legacy that has defined each of them and the modern American presidency.

Throughout his career as an author, journalist, television commentator, and head of a presidential library and foundation, Mark Updegrove has had the privilege of getting to know seven U.S. Presidents, from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama. In Make Your Mark, he offers incisive, compelling sketches of these modern presidents and the character trait that made each suited to his moment in the Oval Office and underlies his most significant accomplishments.

• Gerald Ford’s instinct to do the right thing in the wake of Watergate;
• Jimmy Carter’s mission to do good in the areas of peace and human rights during his presidency and throughout his post-presidency;
• Ronald Reagan’s optimism, restoring the nation’s confidence and pride after a sustained period of demoralizing national setbacks;
• George H.W. Bush’s humility, helping to ensure a peaceful end to the Cold War that had seethed between the superpowers for over forty years;
• Bill Clinton’s resilience and determination to keep working for the good of the American people in the face of political and personal obstacles;
• George W. Bush’s charge to give back as the deadly AIDS epidemic spread unchecked throughout much of the developing world;
• and Barack Obama’s grace as the first African American to hold the country’s highest office.

Make Your Mark reveals that there is no one-size-fits-all model for leadership. We all have our own set of strengths and weaknesses. But drawing on these presidential examples, we can ask ourselves how our character reflects our leadership, and be inspired to find the very best in who we are to make own unique marks as leaders.

BOOK OF THE DAY

“A thorough account of Harriman’s rise which also manages to be a brisk, twisty read … riveting and revelatory.” —The New Yorker

“Rigorous but rollicking.” —The New York Times

Named a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by The New Yorker, Apple Books, The Economist, Politico, Town & Country, The Guardian, Financial Times, The Spectator, The Telegraph, The Oldie, Irish Examiner, Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, London Standard, and The Times Literary Supplement and a Must-Read Book of Fall 2024 by People Magazine

From the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, an electrifying re-examination of one of the 20th century’s greatest unsung power players

When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing – and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes – on both sides of the Atlantic - remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.

At age 20 Churchill’s beloved daughter-in-law became a “secret weapon” during World War II, strategically wining, dining, and seducing diplomats and generals to help win over American sentiment (and secrets) to the British cause against Hitler. After the war, she helped to transform Fiat heir Gianni Agnelli into Italy’s ‘uncrowned king’ on the international stage and after moving to the US brought a struggling Democratic party back to life, hand-picking Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulting him to the presidency.

Picked as Ambassador to France, she deployed her legendary subtle powers to charm world leaders and help efforts to bring peace to Bosnia, playing her part in what was arguably the high-water mark of American global supremacy.

There are few at any time who have operated as close to the center of power over five decades and two continents, and there is practically no one in 20th Century politics, culture, and fashion whose lives she did not touch, including the Kennedys, Truman Capote, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem, Ed Murrow, and Frank Sinatra. Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigor that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, politics, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, KINGMAKER re-asserts Harriman’s rightful place at the heart of history.

BOOK OF THE DAY

From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new book – which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title.

At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings – who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Is a River Alive? takes the reader on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept.

The book flows first to northern Ecuador, where a miraculous cloud-forest and its rivers are threatened by goldmining.

Then, to the wounded rivers, creeks and lagoons of southern India, where a desperate battle to save the lives of these waterbodies is under way.

And finally, to north-eastern Quebec, where a spectacular wild river – the Mutehekau or Magpie – is being defended from death by damming in a river-rights campaign.

At once Macfarlane’s most personal and most political book to date, Is a River Alive? will open hearts, spark debates and lead us to the revelation that our fate flows with that of rivers – and always has.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION WRITING 2025

BOOK OF THE DAY

Life

Pope Francis

In this unprecedented memoir, the late Pope Francis shares the story of his remarkable life. Reflecting on eight decades of tumultuous and transformative global events, he offers his frank assessments, personal insights, and vital guidance for approaching our world today. A New York Times bestseller.

Publisher Description

POPE FRANCIS’ DEBUT MEMOIR · A moving, deeply human account of the life and legacy of one of the bravest and most visionary leaders in modern history—A must read for all generations in a world yearning for hope and change

For the first time, Pope Francis tells the story of his life as he looks back on the momentous world events that have changed history—from his earliest years during the outbreak of World War II in 1939 to the turmoil of today. An extraordinary personal and historical journey, Life is the story of a man and a world in dramatic change. A champion for the oppressed and marginalized—and the future of our planet—Pope Francis has inspired all of us to take action to alter the course of history toward a more loving and humane trajectory.

With eloquence, passion, and humility, Pope Francis recalls his life through memories and observations of the most significant occurrences of the past eight decades. The book opens with three-year-old Jorge in the kitchen with his mother in Argentina as World War II breaks out, and he goes on to witness several historic events:

The fall of the Berlin Wall

Videla’s coup in Argentina

The moon landing in 1969

And even the 1986 World Cup in which Maradona scored the unforgettable “hand of God” goal.

Here are the frank assessments and intimate insights of a pastor reflecting on the Nazi extermination of the Jews, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the 2001 terrorist attack on America and the collapse of the Twin Towers, the great economic recession of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, and the subsequent conclave that elected him Pontiff.

The “pope callejero” recounts these world-changing moments with the candor and compassion that distinguishes him and offers important messages on major crises confronting us now, including social inequalities, climate change, international war, atomic weapons, racial discrimination, political unease, and the battles over social and cultural issues. An innovative change agent and a profoundly empathetic leader, the late Pope’s words and vision live on in this unforgettable account of a religious and humanitarian legend.

“We must learn from our elders what our planet has experienced, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”—Pope Francis

BOOK OF THE DAY

"Delightful." --People, Pick of the Week

*Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by Katie Couric Media, the CBC, the Globe and Mail, BookBub, POPSUGAR, SheReads, Women.com and more!*

Natalie Jenner, the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world in Bloomsbury Girls.

Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare book store that has persisted and resisted change for a hundred years, run by men and guided by the general manager's unbreakable fifty-one rules. But in 1950, the world is changing, especially the world of books and publishing, and at Bloomsbury Books, the girls in the shop have plans:

Vivien Lowry: Single since her aristocratic fiance was killed in action during World War II, the brilliant and stylish Vivien has a long list of grievances--most of them well justified and the biggest of which is Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction.

Grace Perkins: Married with two sons, she's been working to support the family following her husband's breakdown in the aftermath of the war. Torn between duty to her family and dreams of her own.

Evie Stone: In the first class of female students from Cambridge permitted to earn a degree, Evie was denied an academic position in favor of her less accomplished male rival. Now she's working at Bloomsbury Books while she plans to remake her own future.

As they interact with various literary figures of the time--Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, Peggy Guggenheim, and others--these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.

BOOK OF THE DAY

THE 'MASTERPIECE' COMPLETE ORAL HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC BOMB - BY A PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST

'Magisterial...A stunning account that brings to the fore the nuclear saga's surreal combination of ingenuity, fate, and terror.' -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

'If you are an intelligent person, or at the very least think you are, you have to read The Devil Reached Toward the Sky...This period in history has never been more relevant and frightening than it is today.' -James Patterson

'Comprehensive and engrossing...Excellent oral history.' -Kirkus Reviews

From the New York Times bestselling author of When the Sea Came Alive and The Only Plane in the Sky, a sweeping and comprehensive oral history of the atomic bomb's creation and deployment, marking the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

April 12, 1945. Less than three months into his vice presidency, Harry Truman is catapulted into the Oval Office following the sudden death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. As he recites the oath, he learns a chilling secret known only to a select few: the United States is on the verge of deploying a weapon of unimaginable power. This weapon could end the war but also herald a new age of global fear and uncertainty.

Drawing from over twenty-five oral history archives across the US, Japan, and Europe, Graff has masterfully blended the memories and perspectives from key figures like Harry Truman and J. Robert Oppenheimer, the crews of the B-29 bombers, Enola Gay and Bock's Car, the rescuers who bravely faced the destruction, and the haunting stories of those at ground zero in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including the experiences of the hibakusha - the 'bomb-affected people'.

Enriched by memoirs, diaries, letters, official documents, and news reports, this is an immersive and deeply human account of the Manhattan Project through the end of World War II and the dawning of the Cold War, offering a vivid, multi-dimensional view of events that reshaped the world forever.

*New York Times #7 on the Hardcover Non-Fiction Chart, week of August 25th, 2025.

BOOK OF THE DAY

‘True happiness comes not from comparison, but from accepting who we are.’ The young Princess of the Sea wants to be like her friends―strong like a mountain, sweet like a river, or full of life and colour like a tree. But with each change, she faces new surprises. With the turn of seasons and shifting forms, she learns a gentle lesson: you shine brightest as yourself. A magical, thoughtful tale about nature, change and self-acceptance, this charming chapter book is the ideal introduction to the imaginative world of Sudha Murty.

ODISHA LITERARY FESTIVAL 2025

BOOK OF THE DAY

📖 Book Summary

The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew B. Crawford is a thought-provoking exploration of attention in the modern age. Crawford argues that in a world overflowing with distractions, our ability to focus is under constant assault. The book challenges us to reclaim our attention, engage deeply with the real world, and find meaning by mastering skills and being fully present in our experiences.

✨ Top 5 Lessons from the Book

Attention is a resource – what you focus on shapes your reality.

Distraction is costly – scattered focus weakens creativity and fulfillment.

Mastery requires presence – deep engagement leads to skill and satisfaction.

Freedom isn’t escape—it’s focus – true autonomy comes from directing your attention wisely.

The real world grounds us – meaningful living comes from active participation, not passive consumption.

👉 Get Book Here: https://amzn.to/47l5nDj

#TheWorldBeyondYourHead #FocusAndAttention #DeepWork #MindfulLiving #SkillMastery #MatthewCrawford #PersonalGrowth #LifeWithPurpose

BOOK OF THE DAY

*Blue Highways is an autobiographical travel book, published in 1982, by William Least Heat-Moon*

In 1978, after separating from his wife and losing his job as a teacher, Heat-Moon, 38 at the time, took an extended road trip in a circular route around the United States, sticking to only the "Blue Highways". He had coined the term to refer to small, forgotten, out-of-the-way roads connecting rural America, which were drawn in blue on the Rand McNally road atlases of the time.

He outfitted his van with a bunk, a camping stove, a portable toilet and a copy of *Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass and John Neihardt's Black Elk Speaks*. 

Referring to the Native American resurrection ritual, he named the van *"Ghost Dancing"* and embarked on a three-month soul-searching tour of the United States, wandering from small town to small town, stopping often at towns with interesting names. The book chronicles the 13,000-mile journey and the people he meets along the way, as he steers clear of cities and interstates, avoiding fast food and exploring local American culture.

*Stories that arose from Least Heat-Moon's research as well as historical facts are included about each area visited, as well as conversations with characters* such as a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist hitchhiker, a teenage runaway, a boat builder, a monk, an Appalachian log cabin restorer, a rural Nevada prostitute, fishermen, a Hopi Native American medical student, owners of Western saloons and remote country stores, a maple syrup farmer, and Chesapeake Bay island dwellers.

*Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia* 

*From Amazon:*

*About the book*:

Hailed as a masterpiece of American travel writing, Blue Highways is an unforgettable journey along our nation's backroads.

William Least Heat-Moon set out with little more than the need to put home behind him and a sense of curiosity about "those little towns that get on the map-if they get on at all-only because some cartographer has a blank space to fill: Remote, Oregon; Simplicity, Virginia; New Freedom, Pennsylvania; New Hope, Tennessee; Why, Arizona; Whynot, Mississippi."

His adventures, his discoveries, and his recollections of the extraordinary people he encountered along the way amount to a revelation of the true American experience.

*About the author*:

*WILLIAM LEAST HEAT-MOON, pen name of William Trogdon*, is of English, Irish, and Osage ancestry. 

He lives in Missouri on an old tobacco farm he’s returning to forest. His first book, Blue Highways, tells of a 13,000-mile journey around America on back roads and was *on The New York Times bestseller list for 42 weeks*. 

His second work, PrairyErth, is a narrative exploration into a corner of the great tallgrass prairie in eastern Kansas. River-Horse gives an account of his four-month sea-to-sea voyage across the United States on rivers, lakes, and canals. In Roads to Quoz, Heat-Moon sets out for a half-dozen American destinations that have long intrigued him.

*Here, There, Elsewhere* brings together a collection of his shortform reportage about places around the world. 

His most recent book, *Celestial Mechanics: A Tale for a Mid-Winter Night*, has been described as a Blue Highways of the mind. It is his debut novel.