Books with category 👤 Memoir
Displaying 3 books

A Promised Land

2020

by Barack Obama

A Promised Land is an intimate and powerful account of history in the making, from the president who inspired us to believe in democracy. Barack Obama narrates his journey from a young man searching for his identity to becoming the leader of the free world, offering personal insights into both his political education and the significant moments of his first presidential term.

From his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory, and the historic election night on November 4, 2008, Obama's memoir is a deeply personal exploration of the reach and limits of presidential power, U.S. partisan politics, and international diplomacy. He takes readers inside the Oval Office, the White House Situation Room, and across the globe, sharing his thoughts on assembling his cabinet, handling the global financial crisis, confronting Vladimir Putin, and authorizing the mission that led to the death of Osama bin Laden.

With candor, Obama discusses the challenges of running for office as a Black American, the impact of the presidency on his family, and never loses faith in the progress possible within the American experiment. A Promised Land is a testament to democracy, founded on empathy and common understanding, built together day by day.

Why Fish Don't Exist

2020

by Lulu Miller

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life is a dark and astonishing tale of love, chaos, scientific obsession, and—possibly—even murder, woven together in a wondrous debut by NPR reporter Lulu Miller.

David Starr Jordan, a taxonomist driven to bring order to the natural world, was on the verge of discovering nearly a fifth of the fish known to humans in his day. However, the universe seemed determined to challenge him, as his specimen collections were destroyed by a series of calamities, culminating in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. His life's work in ruins, Jordan stood amidst the wreckage and, spotting the first fish he recognized, began the arduous task of rebuilding his collection. This time, he introduced an innovation to protect his work from chaos.

Lulu Miller's encounter with Jordan's story led her to question her own understanding of history, morality, and the world beneath her feet. Why Fish Don't Exist is not only a biography and a memoir but also a scientific adventure that reads like a fable, offering an inspiring reflection on how to persevere in a world where chaos always seems to prevail.

We Keep the Dead Close

2020

by Becky Cooper

We Keep the Dead Close is a true crime narrative that delves into the unsolved murder of Jane Britton, a Harvard graduate student, in 1969. This book is not only a meticulous work of investigative journalism but also a reflection on the pervasive violence and misogyny within prestigious institutions. Becky Cooper, once a curious undergrad, unravels a complex tale of gender inequality, institutional power dynamics, and the haunting legacy of a story that refused to be forgotten.

Harvard's history is interwoven with the narrative, as the institution's legacy looms over the events that transpired. The initial rumors of a scandalous affair with a professor and a subsequent murder are debunked, but the truth that emerges is no less compelling. Cooper's decade-long investigation sheds light on the cowboy culture among male elites and the silencing effect of institutions, leading to a broader conversation about our collective narrative of female victims.

We Keep the Dead Close is a memoir that acts as a mirror to society's misogyny and murder, a ghost story that connects past and present, and a love story dedicated to a girl whose life was tragically cut short and lost to history.

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