American Power
Molly Crabapple
A deep dive into the intricate and often overlooked world of America's electrical grid. From its historical roots and technological complexities to its cultural impact and the challenges it faces in the age of renewable energy, this book explores how the grid shapes our lives and what it will take to power our future.
An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
David Hume
David Hume's 'An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding' is a seminal work in philosophy, challenging traditional metaphysics and advocating for an empirically based, naturalistic worldview. This edition presents Hume's mature theoretical philosophy, including his skepticism about induction and causation, compatibilist account of free will, and rejection of religious miracles.
An Emancipation of the Mind
Matthew Stewart
This book offers a groundbreaking intellectual history of the American struggle over slavery, revealing how radical European philosophy, particularly German thought, profoundly influenced key figures like Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Parker. It challenges conventional narratives by exposing the deep complicity of American Christianity in perpetuating slavery and highlighting the 'infidelity' of abolitionists. Through an examination of the 'worldwide commerce in ideas' and the politico-theological crisis of the era, the book argues that the Civil War was not merely a conflict over states' rights but a culmination of a global intellectual movement to refound America on principles of universal freedom and reason.
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book I -- Innate Notions
John Locke
In Book I of 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,' John Locke challenges the doctrine of innate ideas, arguing that our minds are blank slates at birth. He meticulously dismantles the notion that certain principles are universally accepted and therefore inherent, proposing instead that knowledge is derived from experience and observation. Locke invites readers to question assumptions and embrace a journey of intellectual discovery.
An Invisible Thread
Laura Schroff
In 1986, a busy sales executive named Laura Schroff encountered an eleven-year-old panhandler named Maurice on the streets of New York City. This is the story of their unlikely friendship and the profound impact they had on each other's lives, proving that even the smallest acts of kindness can create an invisible thread that connects people in unexpected and meaningful ways.
And All the People Said Amen
Harris Faulkner
A collection of stories about the power of prayer and God's intervention in people's lives. From miraculous rescues to overcoming personal struggles, this book reminds us that God is always present and that faith can move mountains.
And the Band Played On
Randy Shilts
A gripping account of the early years of the AIDS epidemic in America, exposing the political indifference, scientific rivalries, and social prejudices that allowed the disease to spread unchecked. A story of courage and cowardice, compassion and bigotry, that changed the course of history.
Animal Farm
George Orwell
A compelling satire set on a farm where animals revolt against their human owner, only to establish a new, more oppressive tyranny amongst themselves. A chilling allegory of power, corruption, and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals.