The decorations are up. The fire is crackling, the cocoa is simmering, and your toes are comfortably cozy in your favorite winter socks. These are all sure signs you’ve successfully set the stage for an idyllic afternoon of wintertime reading. Now, all you need is a festive book to put you in the holiday spirit. [...]
2010 is a decade that's still clearly visible in the rearview mirror. Not enough time has passed to give us a well-defined sense of the significance of this decade. That kind of understanding comes only with space and perspective. What we can say is that the 20-teens did have a character all their own. By [...]
As the decade of the ‘90s began, the world saw Germany reunite and the Soviet Union collapse. Bill Clinton became the first baby boomer president. Iraq invaded Kuwait and the first Gulf War ensued. As the 1990s marched on, the internet rose, OJ Simpson fell, a sheep named Dolly was cloned, a young golfer named Tiger Woods won his first Masters, and the entire globe braced itself for Y2K. While previous decades have a distinct character, it’s a bit hard to pin down the essence of the ‘90s, but two words do fit: techn
It's all about counterculture. The word "counterculture," a term used to describe a group or system with a conflict with mainstream values and norms as its primary and defining purpose, was first coined in the 1960s and for a good reason. Whereas the 1950s marked a boom in all things mainstream, the '60s were most [...]
How to describe the 1950s in one word? Try BOOM. People around the world felt an overwhelming sense of optimism in 1950 following the end of WWII. With eyes looking forward to a future of peace and prosperity, the world experienced a boom. Economies boomed as big things like highways and schools were built at [...]
The 1940s were profoundly shaped by WWII and its aftermath. Despite rationing, censorship, and the war's heavy demands, the demand for books remained steady. Everyone, from the men on the front lines to the folks at home, wanted stories, all kinds of stories. Here are 10 great books written in the 1940s.
Authors in the 1930s took various approaches to the difficult circumstances of the time. Some created books that realistically revealed the times' difficulties, and others wrote stories that provided an escape from reality. Our reading challenge contains some of both. You'll find romance, self-help, and a taste of chick-lit as well as classics and some biting satire. You might be surprised; not every book written in the 30s about the 30s features poverty, the Dust Bowl, or Nazis. Many told lots of other stories during this decade. Here are 10 that tell a great story while capturing the history of the times.