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The best microhistories
The world’s history as told through details of very specific developments.
Published on May 12, 2023
Butts: A Backstory
Heather RadkeButt. Backside. Bottom. Gluteus maximus. Whatever you call it, the human hindquarters (particularly women’s) are perhaps the most storied of all body parts. In “Butts: A Backstory,” RadioLab’s Radke covers the evolutionary and cultural history of the female butt — and why we obsess over it.
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Siddhartha MukherjeeEven as scientists continue to learn more about cancer and how to cure it, more and more people are diagnosed due to longer lifespans and environmental risks. This is the Pulitzer Prize-winning history of humanity’s most formidable adversary and all the progress and setbacks we’ve endured in our battle with this disease.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses
Tom StandageGo back to the Stone Age with a glass of (probably not-so-cold) beer. Reflect on the past century of American dominance with a thirst-quenching Coca-Cola (no Pepsi allowed). This book will take you on a thorough tour of Western history by concentrating on each era’s most popular drink. Cozy up with a cup of coffee for a refreshing read.
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Simon WinchesterCrazy. Obsessive. Killer. Just a few words that describe the surprisingly thrilling history of how the Oxford English Dictionary came to be in 1884. Who knew the history of the dictionary was so fraught with drama and intrigue? Winchester vividly brings to life the story of the criminally insane genius behind our most important literary tool.
Neither Snow Nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service
Devin LeonardCritics say the United States Postal Service is outdated and needs to be privatized. Proponents argue that it’s an essential institution that offers the most efficient mail service in the world and plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives. Read this storied history and decide for yourself. This is the type of book that will leave you asking others at a cocktail party, “Did you know … ?” For example, did you know that the Postal Service delivers over 140 billion pieces of mail every year? Chock full of fascinating stories and figures, you’ll quickly learn how the USPS has become an integral part of American history.
The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power
Deirdre MaskWhat’s in an address? It’s more than just a series of numbers and words or a marker that helps DoorDash and Amazon delivery drivers find you. It’s a designation between haves and have-nots and a potential marker of race, religion, and social status. Mask’s book on an everyday, oft-overlooked topic is sociology at its finest.
A Short History of Drunkenness: How, Why, Where, and When Humankind Has Gotten Merry from the Stone Age to the Present
A Short History of Drunkenness: How, Why, Where, and When Humankind Has Gotten Merry from the Stone Age to the Present
Mark ForsythGrab a cold one and immerse yourself into the study of drinking through the ages. Forsyth (“The Elements of Eloquence,” “The Horologicon”) guides readers on a romp around the world as he shares the history of alcohol consumption. He covers everything from the rum economy of early Australia to the Neolithic Shamans who drank to communicate with the dead.
The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History
Kassia St. ClairSt. Clair , a color expert, cultural historian, and author of “The Secret Lives of Color,” presents an enthralling compilation of 13 stories that illustrate the innumerable ways clothing has changed the course of history. From the ancient tombs of Egyptian pharaohs to the peaks of Mount Everest, fabrics and textiles have long been entangled with human accomplishments and advancements.
Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy
Hallie LiebermanThere has been a long-standing war on female pleasure in the U.S. — at one point, selling dildos and vibrators could have resulted in jail time and fines. Up until 2008, it was illegal to sell sex toys in Texas. Lieberman is a former sex toy saleswoman and the first person to ever receive a Ph.D. in the history of sex toys. There’s no person better suited to share the history of these titillating toys, their rejection and subsequent acceptance according to shifting cultural and societal norms, and their evolution into symbols of feminist emancipation.
The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game
Mary PilonLove it or hate it, Monopoly has a time-honored place in board game cabinets around the world. Who knew that its history was so fraught with scandal and deception? Learn more about the fascinating origins of America’s favorite board game and who the true creator was. (Hint: It wasn’t Charles Darrow or the Parker Brothers.)
Heart: A History
Sandeep JauharIt’s time to have a heart-to-heart with one of your body’s most vital and romanticized organs. Keep your finger on the pulse with this microhistory from Jauhar, celebrated cardiologist and bestselling author.
A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America's Hurricanes
Eric Jay DolinKatrina. Harvey. Sandy. Andrew. These are the names of just a few of the devastating hurricanes that have altered the landscape and history of the U.S. in recent years. In “A Furious Sky,” Dolin takes readers even further back to the 1500s to explain how America’s entire trajectory has been shaped by these deadly storms. It’s both a fascinating look at American history through a lens you would never find in textbooks, and a warning about America’s future as hurricanes continue to worsen in severity and frequency due to climate change.
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Dava SobelSobel’s “Longitude” is a quick read, but by the end you will be convinced that modern civilization would have gotten nowhere without the discovery of how to accurately measure longitude (latitude was easy in comparison). All the wacky “solutions” to the problem are funny and entertaining to read (wait until you read about the “wounded dog theory”), while the real breakthrough discovery inspires awe and admiration.
Rats: Observations on the History & Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants
Robert SullivanWho could forget the beloved Pizza Rat from 2015, the rodent caught on camera carrying a full slice of pizza down the stairs into the subway in New York City? Keep that image in mind while you learn about a city infested with rats, and how rats have been (and always will be) some of the most prominent citizens in cities around the world. Sullivan spent a good deal of time in a “filth-slicked little alley” in NYC to observe the rodents in their natural habitat. He also talked to everyone from exterminators to politicians about the plague of rats. Did you know that rats really like macaroni and cheese? Learn more about what makes Pizza Rat tick.
The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America
David HajduFrom the black-and-white 19th century comic strips to the eye-catching and colorful graphics of the 1950s, comics enjoyed a long period of cultural relevance in American media. However, what most people don’t realize is that the fall of comic books wasn’t due to replacement by new and emerging forms of media. Rather, a wave of religious zeal, McCarthyism, and fear of the unknown resulted in public comic book burnings, heavy censorship, and city-wide bans. This is the story of the culture war waged against comic books, the casualties of which included writers, artists, publishers, and illustrators.
Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat
Bee WilsonYou will also be considering spoons and knives and other cooking utensils in this book from award-winning food writer Bee Wilson. Wilson reveals how available cooking tools affected the diets of various cultures throughout the centuries, and how societal shifts led to labor-saving improvements in kitchen appliances. If you love cooking, this one is a must-read. You will appreciate all your kitchen gadgets so much more, and your meals will taste that much better.
Rust: The Longest War
Jonathan WaldmanThe story of rust isn’t just fascinatingly frightening tidbits about how corrosion wants to slowly gnaw away at our boats, bridges, and buildings. (Did you know a can full of Coke would corrode in three days if it weren’t for a thin epoxy lining?) At heart, “Rust” captures the spirit of human ingenuity in the face of seemingly impossible odds in a duel with Mother Nature. Waldman’s work is a testament to how rust can’t corrode human genius and perseverance.
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger - Second Edition with a new chapter by the author
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger - Second Edition with a new chapter by the author
Marc LevinsonNext time you get mad that UPS didn’t deliver your package on time, take a moment to marvel at how quickly goods can travel the world, mostly thanks to the invention of the shipping container in the 1950s. Learn how a bunch of boxes made to very particular specifications created a robust global economy. Levinson repackages the story of the shipping container’s creation into one of the most engrossing histories you’ll ever read.
Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate
Mark KurlanskyIf you’re a fan of “Cod,” check out Kurlansky’s follow-up chronicling the history, cultural significance, and economic importance of salmon. Overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and urban development have all contributed to the dwindling salmon population, despite hatcheries’ best efforts to pump more salmon into the ocean. A fascinating fish history complete with recipes and a call to action to save a species that is vital to many cultures’ diets and traditions.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Mary RoachWhere Kurlansky is king of this subgenre, Roach is queen. She often takes a humorous approach to prickly subjects, including how human bodies continue to function in space, how stomachs digest food, how human cadavers have saved countless lives through medical trials, and much more. “Stiff” is peak Roach, and despite its morbid subject matter, we promise it will make you laugh. (It was declared one of the top 100 funniest books of all time by NPR in 2019.)