A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid

John Romer (Get this book)
The first volume of a necessarily lengthy history of ancient Egypt from a well-known archaeologist. Romer's explanation of the earliest years of Egyptian civilization is impressive in the amount of information gleaned from a minimum of evidence. Fascinating reading with abundant illustrations. Romer's long experience and practical, fresh outlook bring this civilization to life.--Kirkus

Ecstatic Nation: Confidence, Crisis, and Compromise, 1848-1877

Brenda Wineapple (Get this book)
A sweeping look at the Civil War in the context of its social, cultural and intellectual climate. Wineapple begins with a bang: the death of John Quincy Adams on the House floor, after decades of fighting to end slavery. From there, she takes up the narrative of some 50 years of turbulent American history, full of grand schemes, bitter conflicts, brilliant characters and unforgettable stories. The author effectively draws in all the currents of the time, from popular culture and polemical journalism to the grand literary monuments. Best of all, she brings it together in a compelling narrative that will enlighten readers new to the material and thoroughly entertain those familiar with it. History on the grand scale, orchestrated by a virtuoso.--Kirkus

Alexandria: The Last Nights of Cleopatra

Peter Stothard (Get this book)
A thoroughly enjoyable combination of history, autobiography, travel and general musings about Alexandria. Cleopatra was the last of her line; her oft-told story of intrigue, lust and no small amount of genius now has deeper background. There is no way to trace the steps of Caesar or Marc Antony as they wooed her. The great library burned down, and the lighthouse is at the bottom of the sea, as are most of the buildings of old Alexandria. Stothard's journey through prep school, public school, Oxford and Fleet Street is the curious history of his attempts at fully grasping Cleopatra's story. It is a joy to watch the classically trained mind assemble the story. Don't try to categorize this book; just read it and let it flow over you.--Kirkus

JFK's Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President

Thurston Clarke (Get this book)
Do President Kennedy's final 100 days offer hints about what sort of leader (and man) he might have become? Author-historian Clarke thinks they do. Clarke vividly portrays the welter of issues a U.S. president juggles. In foreign policy, the test-ban treaty, Vietnam, and Cuba were central, but Kennedy also aimed to reframe long-term relationships with the USSR, China, Europe, and Latin America. On the home front, civil rights was clearly dominant, but, during these days, Kennedy was pressing Congress to pass the stimulus tax cut and immigration reform as well as the civil rights bill and working with advisors and cabinet members on what would become Medicare and the War on Poverty. A fascinating analysis of what was . . . and what might have been.--Booklist