Scranton Library: “Chris Picks” focuses on US history in July

MADISON, CT — (Here are this month’s great recommendations from our contributor Christopher Jennings Penders. Click on a title to reserve it. Previous titles can be found Chris Picks via the “What to Read” link at the bottom of this page or type “Chris Picks” into the search bar on our homepage.)

To celebrate Independence Day in the United States, I’d like to share with you three of my favorite historical authors who are still writing today. You can’t go wrong with a book by any of these authors:

David McCulloughStephen AmbroseNathaniel PhilbrickDel Quinton Wilber My favorites from McCullough Are: Path between the seas This book is about the construction of the Panama Canal.

The Great Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is another of humanity’s achievements. What I love about McCullough’s style is the research he puts into each of his books. He writes for the layman without neglecting his knowledge. You can pick up any of his books and you won’t be disappointed.

My favorites from Ambrose Are: There is no such thing in the world It’s about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Given the three books I’ve mentioned so far, you might think I have a construction fetish. I don’t know. Maybe I do. Ambrose is another author like McCullough who writes for the layperson.

Undaunted courage This is my favorite book by Ambrose. It describes Lewis & Clark’s journey across the country and the development of the American West. A similar story is told in McCullough’s Brave companions tells the story from McCullough’s point of view. It might be interesting to read them back to back. Honestly, it’s been so long since I read these books that I don’t remember the similarities and differences. However, I can say that they were both well written and well researched.

My favorite of Philbrick Is: In the heart of the sea This book made Philbrick famous and still touches me deeply even after several years. The incident dealt with in the book laid the foundation for Melville’s exemplary novel Moby-DickI strongly recommend you check out Philbrick’s other books, including Mayflower And The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of Little Bighorn. Although it is as well written and researched as In the heart of the seathe last two books did not impress me as much as In the heart… I think it is because In the heart… is the first book I’ve read by Philbrick and it really impressed me because I’m a huge Moby Dick fan. This is not to take away from Philbrick’s other books because he’s a great author and you can’t go wrong reading any of his books.

My favorite of By Quentin Wilber: Rawhide Down Del Quentin Wilber has written an amazing book about the near assassination of President Reagan. I have read Rawhide Down a few years ago and picked it up again recently, and the book still touches me. I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, and that’s one of the reasons these stories still touch me: I lived through the same time.