Public History

In today’s chaotic world, where the multiplication of information sources creates competing narratives, credibility is the key to winning the war of ideas. This is the reason why governments and corporations resort to astroturfing - creation of ostensibly grassroots movements set up to advance political agendas and commercial campaigns. The democratization of information and polarization of politics offer a perfect storm.

Trace humanity's dramatic medical history and epic battle against pandemics to uncover how society learned to survive. Perfect for your daily commute, this thought-provoking journey moves from ancient purity rituals to modern global crises. Discover the unsung reformers who fought invisible...

A major new collection from "arguably the most important intellectual alive" ( The New York Times). Noam Chomsky is universally accepted as one of the preeminent public intellectuals of the modern era. Over the past thirty years, broadly diverse audiences have gathered to attend his sold-out lectures. Now, in Understanding Power, Peter Mitchell and John Schoeffel have assembled the best of Chomsky's recent talks on the past, present, and future of the politics of power.

Succinct, accessible, and authoritative, Thomas Piketty’s The Economics of Inequality is the ideal place to start for those who want to understand the fundamental issues at the heart of one the most pressing concerns in contemporary economics and politics. This work now appears in English for the first time.

The grid is an accident of history and of culture, in no way intrinsic to how we produce, deliver and consume electrical power. Yet this is the system the United States ended up with, a jerry-built structure now so rickety and near collapse that a strong wind or a hot day can bring it to a grinding halt. The grid is now under threat from a new source: renewable and variable energy, which puts stress on its logics as much as its components.

Over the past 50 years, rates of autoimmunity and chronic disease have exploded. In this provocative book, Dr. Thomas Cowan argues for a direct causal relationship to a corresponding increase in the number of vaccines American children typically receive. The goal of these vaccines is precisely what we’re now seeing in such abundance among our chronically ill children: the provocation of immune response. Cowan looks at emerging evidence that certain childhood illnesses are actually protective of disease later in life.

Discover the gripping medical history of how audacious science conquered our deadliest global epidemics. Perfect for an engaging daily commute or an immersive learning session, this awe-inspiring narrative transforms the terror of infectious diseases into a thrilling tale of human survival...

From one of the world's leading economists, a sweeping new history of the twentieth century - a century that left us vastly richer, yet still profoundly dissatisfied. Before 1870, most people lived in dire poverty, the benefits of the slow crawl of invention continually offset by a growing...

Tutta n'ata storia è il racconto onesto e leggero di luoghi, fatti e personaggi della storia moderna napoletana. È un manuale per studenti che vogliono solo imparare. È un libro per curiosi che si vogliono acculturare. È una guida per un'insolita visita di Napoli. È, soprattutto, un libro di Storia.

The inspiring story of how we overcame a history of infectious disease, poisonous environments, and early death and unlocked an explosion in human potential—and a vision for the work ahead to optimize human flourishing in the twenty-first century “Michelle Williams understands what too many...

Discover the global health triumphs and invisible epidemiology breakthroughs that rescued billions from deadly pandemics. Perfect for a thought-provoking commute, this deep dive into historical science reveals how clean water and relentless political willpower defeated humanity's greatest...

Before AIDS or coronavirus, there was the Spanish Flu — Catharine Arnold's gripping narrative, Pandemic 1918, marks the 100th anniversary of an epidemic that altered world history. In January 1918, as World War I raged on, a new and terrifying virus began to spread across the globe. In three...

From the prophetic author of the now-classic What’s the Matter with Kansas? and Listen, Liberal, an eye-opening account of populism, the most important—and misunderstood—movement of our time. Rarely does a work of history contain startling implications for the present, but in The People...

Step into a dramatic era of American history and monumental engineering where workers battled the wild Colorado River. Perfect for an immersive commute, this awe-inspiring narrative transports listeners to the brutal depths of Black Canyon during the Great Depression. You will witness the...

Who was the real Diana? What was it like to be so privileged yet so anguished, so beloved yet so self-loathing, so spoiled yet so despairing? The Princess of Wales was all these things--far more complicated, conflicted, and intriguing a person than the wildly disparate saint or lunatic she is...

Uncover the fascinating hidden history of public health and how our daily quest for cleanliness shaped human society. Perfect for your morning commute, this lively historical adventure transforms an ordinary routine into an eye-opening journey. Travel from ancient Mesopotamian wash basins to the...

Uncover the epic history of knowledge preservation and our relentless battle to save human memory from the ashes of time. Whether seeking a contemplative escape during your daily commute or fueling lifelong learning, this sweeping nonfiction narrative transports you across centuries. Stand amid...

This captivating history of sanitary engineering reveals how the humble flush toilet conquered deadly waterborne disease. Perfect for an informative morning commute, this eye-opening narrative travels from ancient drains to modern sewers. You will explore the gritty urban crises of the...

Explore the dramatic history of environmental conservation and the fierce global struggle to protect untamed wilderness. Perfect for an awe-inspiring road trip or a reflective commute, this immersive journey reveals how humanity learned to value nature over relentless industry. Venture beyond...

Uncover the dark history of the executioner, society's ultimate outcast tasked with delivering lethal state justice. Perfect for a focused commute, this thought-provoking historical deep dive explores the psychological toll and social paradox of a brutal role we publicly revile yet secretly...