United Nations

America's national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence: that the nation's most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. In this evocative narrative, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea.

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

How did America become “one nation, indivisible”? What unified a growing number of disparate states into the modern country we recognize today? To answer these questions, Winchester follows in the footsteps of America’s most essential explorers, thinkers, and innovators. Introducing the fascinating people who played a pivotal role in creating today’s United States, he ponders whether the historic work of uniting the States has succeeded, and to what degree.

Americans revere the Constitution even as they argue fiercely over its original toleration of slavery. Some historians have charged that slaveholders actually enshrined human bondage at the nation's founding. The acclaimed political historian Sean Wilentz shares the dismay but sees the Constitution and slavery differently. Although the proslavery side won important concessions, he asserts, antislavery impulses also influenced the framers' work. Far from covering up a crime against humanity, the Constitution restricted slavery's legitimacy under the new national government.

In 1789, James Madison and James Monroe ran against each other for Congress-the only time that two future presidents have contested a congressional seat. But what was at stake, as author Chris DeRose reveals in Founding Rivals: Madison vs. Monroe, the Bill of Rights, and the Election That Saved a Nation, was more than personal ambition. This was a race that determined the future of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the very definition of the United States of America.

Have you ever heard of South Ossetia, Transnistria or Somaliland? And what about Abkhazia or Nagorno-Karabakh? Can you guess what these strange names have in common? These are all countries that, despite being independent, are not recognised by the United Nations. In other words, they are countries with borders, populations, visas, their own currencies, and even their own systems of Government, but that are not among the 193 members of the United Nations. Apart from these, which are completely unknown to most of the world’s population, this list also includes some more familiar names, ...

One idea can change a nation. Four simple words. In a fractured United States, divided into eleven autonomous states, a ruling Presidential dynasty, protected by the Freedom Protection Unit (FPU), holds each territory under a tight, relentless grip. Isolationism has reshaped society, ensuring a life of obedience and conformity, but beneath the surface, something is stirring. A hidden knowledge. Alex Harper, an ordinary factory worker, stumbles upon a book, a guide to awakening the mind, connecting with energy, and reclaiming inner power. As he begins to unravel its mysteries, he discovers a...

This is the book the CIA does not want you to read. For the last 60 years, the CIA has maintained a formidable reputation in spite of its terrible record, never disclosing its blunders to the American public. It spun its own truth to the nation while reality lay buried in classified archives. Now, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Tim Weiner offers a stunning indictment of the CIA, a deeply flawed organization that has never deserved America's confidence.

Drawing on period letters and chronicles, and on the papers of the Virginia Company - which financed the settlement of Jamestown - David Price tells a tale of cowardice and courage, stupidity and brilliance, tragedy and costly triumph. He takes us into the day-to-day existence of the English men and women whose charge was to find gold and a route to the Orient, and who found, instead, hardship and wretched misery. Death, in fact, became the settlers' most faithful companion, and their infighting was ceaseless.

In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to have dinner at the executive mansion with the First Family. The next morning, news that the president had dined with a Black man-and former slave-sent shock waves through the nation. Although African Americans had helped build the White House and had worked for most of the presidents, not a single one had ever been invited to dine there. Fueled by inflammatory newspaper articles, political cartoons, and even vulgar songs, the scandal escalated.

***Newly Updated in 2025*** In southern Florida, the unique ecosystem of the Everglades is preserved in Everglades National Park. Protecting rare wildlife and irreplaceable habitats, Everglades National Park is like no other place in the world. Join 101 Travel Bits™ in celebrating the wonderful park that is Everglades National Park. 101 Travel Bits are not your typical guidebooks. Each collection of 101 Travel Bits consists of 101 “bits” of information about one of the great places to visit in the world. This could be a “bit” of history, a “bit” of information on a tourist ...

The first Chief Justice of the United States, John Jay faced many unique challenges. When the stability and success of the new nation were far from certain, a body of federalized American law had to be created from scratch.

Barack Obama delivers a tender, beautiful letter to his daughters in this powerful audiobook that's made to be treasured! In this poignant letter to his daughters, Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to 13 groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation. From the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the patriotism of George Washington, Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America’s children.

Whether in political debates or discussions about immigration around the kitchen table, many Americans, regardless of party affiliation, will say proudly that we are a nation of immigrants. In this bold new book, historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz asserts this ideology is harmful and dishonest because it serves to mask and diminish the US’s history of settler colonialism, genocide, white supremacy, slavery, and structural inequality, all of which we still grapple with today.

***Newly Updated in 2025*** In 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park became the tenth national park in the United States. Today, Rocky Mountain is one of the most visited parks in America’s national park system, thanks to its scenic mountains and marvelous hiking. But it is not just nature that makes Rocky Mountain a special place. The park has a fascinating history from ancient times until the modern day. Let this edition of 101 Travel Bits™ be your guide to the world of Rocky Mountain National Park. 101 Travel Bits are not your typical guidebooks. Each collection of 101 Travel Bits ...

***Newly Updated in 2025*** Home to some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the United States, Glacier National Park has long been a destination for those seeking beauty and solitude. Even those who never venture beyond the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road that crosses the park are treated to vistas and wildlife that are rare almost everywhere else in the country. Join 101 Travel Bits™ in celebrating the wonderful place that is Glacier National Park. 101 Travel Bits are not your typical guidebooks. Each collection of 101 Travel Bits consists of 101 “bits” of information about one of...

🌲 68 United States National Parks You Must See! A Bucket List Travel Guide for Nature Lovers, RVers & Adventure Seekers Have you ever dreamed of standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon? Wandering through the ancient forests of the Olympic? Or watching the sunrise over a steaming geyser in Yellowstone? The United States is home to over 85 million acres of protected, awe-inspiring natural beauty—and this ultimate guide will help you explore the best of it. Whether planning your first trip or checking off your national park bucket list one adventure at a time, this book was written for ...

Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull: Their names are iconic, their significance in American history undeniable. Together, these two Lakota chiefs, one a fabled warrior and the other a revered holy man, crushed George Armstrong Custer’s vaunted Seventh Cavalry. Yet their legendary victory at the Little Big Horn has overshadowed the rest of their rich and complex lives. Now, based on years of research and drawing on a wealth of previously ignored primary sources, award-winning author Mark Lee Gardner delivers the definitive chronicle, thrillingly told, of these extraordinary Indigenous leaders.

A landmark collaboration between a thirty-year veteran of the CIA and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, The Main Enemy is the inside story of the CIA-KGB spy wars, told through the actions of the men who fought them. Based on hundreds of interviews with operatives from both sides, The Main Enemy puts us inside the heads of CIA officers as they dodge surveillance and walk into violent ambushes in Moscow. This is the story of the generation of spies who came of age in the shadow of the Cuban missile crisis and rose to run the CIA and KGB in the last days of the Cold War.

***Newly Updated in 2025*** Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. With its soaring granite peaks, waterfalls, and wildlife, it is no wonder it has become an iconic vacation destination for millions of people every year. Let this edition of 101 Travel Bits™ be your insider’s guide to Yosemite National Park. 101 Travel Bits are not your typical guidebooks. Each collection of 101 Travel Bits consists of 101 “bits” of information about one of the great places to visit in the world. This could be a “bit” of history, a “bit” of ...