Social Sciences Resources
Fall 2018
History & Geography
The Field of Blood
by Nicholas Morton
Morton explains the failure of the crusades by focusing on the struggle for control of Aleppo and the crucial Battle of the Field of Blood in 1119, the turning point in the history of the crusades.
The Long Hangover
by Shaun Walker
The author discusses Russia’s resurgence under Putin, providing insight into contemporary Russia and its search for a new identity in the context of its troubled relationship with its Soviet past.
China: A History in Objects
by Jessica Harrison-Hall
The history of China is brought vividly to life through more than 6,000 years of artifacts and treasures that trace China’s progress from ancient civilization to today.
An African American and Latinx History of the United States
by Paul Ortiz
This intersectional history of the shared struggle for African American and Latinx civil rights provides a frame for understanding how past struggles inform inequalities and racism today.
The Source
by Martin Doyle
Doyle reveals the central role rivers have played in American history--and how vital they are to its future in this powerful work of environmental history.
Living in the Anthropocene
by W. John Kress & Jeffrey K. Stine
This collection of essays presents paleontological, historical, and contemporary views of various human effects on environmental and biological systems as well as societal responses to these changes.
Black Tudors
by Miranda Kaufmann
Kaufmann challenges assumptions about ethnic identity and racism in Tudor England by providing insights into how Africans came to be in Tudor England, what they did there, and how they were treated.
Touching the Dragon
by James Hatch
Hatch writes of his military service and his harrowing secret missions including the final one that left him badly injured. He also recounts his struggle to recover physically and emotionally as he adapts to civilian life.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads
by Clemantine Wamariya & Elizabeth Weil
A powerful memoir by a survivor of the Rwandan genocide who wandered in Africa with her sister for years before finally immigrating to the US and constructing a new life.
Brave New Arctic
by Mark C. Serreze
This gripping scientific adventure story shows how the Arctic's extraordinary thawing due to climate change serves as a harbinger of things to come if we fail to meet the challenge posed by a warming Earth.
Natural Wonders of the World
by Smithsonian Institute
Discover Earth's most beautiful and fascinating natural landmarks. From the spectacular granite domes of Yosemite to the reefs of the Bahama Banks, this is an unparalleled survey of the world's natural treasures.
Atlas of a Lost World
by Craig Childs
This book chronicles the last millennia of the Ice Age, the retreat of glaciers, the clues and traces that document the first encounters of early humans, and the animals whose presence governed the humans' chances for survival.
Political Science
The People vs Democracy
by Yascha Mounk
Mounk explains the causes of the rise of populism and the decline of support for democracy. He also proposes remedies to save democracy and preserve both individual rights and popular rule.
The Woman’s Hour
by Elaine Weiss
An inspiring account of a handful of remarkable women activists in the last frenzied campaign for Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th amendment, the culmination of a seven decade legal battle for the right for women to vote.
Fascism: A Warning
by Madeleine Albright
The former U.S. secretary of state presents a timely, considered, and personal look at the history and current resurgence of fascism and the virulent threat it poses to international freedom, prosperity, and peace.
First to the Party
by Christopher Baylor
Baylor’s analysis of major political party change offers new insights into classic issues confronting parties. He argues that organized groups are the prime agents of party transformation through their influence on nominations.
The Lives of the Constitution
by Joseph Tartakovsky
The story of our Constitution is told through the lives of ten extraordinary individuals who played a part in shaping our Constitution over the past two centuries.
The China Questions
by Jennifer M. Rudolph & Michael Szonyi
Harvard University experts answer fundamental questions about this rising power in essays regarding Chinese identity, culture, environment, society, history, and policy.
Inventing the Immigration Problem
by Katherine Benton-Cohen
This book reflects on the history of the 1907 Dillingham Commission, the largest immigration study ever conducted in the U.S., and its enduring impact on our immigration policy today.
The Electoral College and the Popular Vote
by Lisa Idzikowski
This Opposing Viewpoints anthology explores the current debate surrounding the system of electing the president in the United States while presenting arguments for and against its use.
The Oxford Handbook of International Political Theory
by Robert H. Lustig
This comprehensive reference book provides an authoritative survey of the issues, debates, and traditions of the field with extensive citations for further research.
Sociology
Goddess of Anarchy
by Jaqueline Jones
This biography of the radical activist, writer, and orator Lucy Parsons recounts the contradictions, traumas, and tragedies of her life - from slavery through the Great Depression.
The Sociology Book
by Christopher Thorpe, et al
From the Big Ideas Simply Explained series, this comprehensive book explains groundbreaking sociological ideas from the key thinkers in the field using a fresh visual approach.
The Square and the Tower
by Niall Ferguson
From ancient Rome to Facebook, Ferguson tells the story of the rise, fall, and rise of networks. He shows how network theory can transform our understanding of both the past and the present.
It’s Better Than It Looks
by Gregg Easterbrook
Easterbrook claims that we are better off today than ever before (living longer, wealthier, less violent, more democratic) and that there is hope for overcoming the threats that we do face.
Black Fortunes
by Shomari Wills
This book tells the little-known stories of the first six African American millionaires, former slaves who broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success despite being attacked, demonized, and swindled.
So You Want to Talk About Race
by Ijeoma Oluo
Oluo offers a contemporary, accessible take on the racial landscape in America, addressing an uncomfortable racial question in each chapter with straightforward clarity and humor.
Affluence without Abundance
by James Suzman
An anthropologist provides an insightful and intimate picture of the way of life of the Bushmen of southern Africa and how they have handled their collision with the modern world.
The Making of Black Lives Matter
by Christopher J. Lebron
Lebron presents a concise and accessible intellectual history of the ideas behind the #BlackLivesMatter movement with an emphasis on the importance of equal dignity and the role of love.
Etiquette and Taboos around the World
by Ken Taylor & Victoria Williams
This encyclopedia provides detailed, current information on cross-cultural etiquette for more than 100 geographic areas.
Psychology
The Fear Factor
by Abigail Marsh
Marsh’s research shows that the capacity to perceive and identify other’s fear and, consequently, to feel empathy, is the key factor in both psychopathic and altruistic behavior.
The Upside of Stress
by Kelly McGonigal
McGonigal encourages cultivating a mindset that embraces stress and provides a toolkit for getting better at understanding, accepting, and leveraging stress to your advantage.
Positive Psychology for Overcoming Depression
by John A. Bargh
This book is aimed at people suffering from mild to moderate depression who would like to use Positive Psychology strategies to overcome it and prevent future episodes.
Psychology: The Comic Book Introduction
by Grady Klein & Danny Oppenheimer
psychologist and a cartoonist team up to present a humorous guide to the study of human behavior with detailed observations on perception, stress, emotions, cognition, and more.
Writing Your Psychology Research Paper
by Scott A. Baldwin
This guide for undergraduates explains how to write a clear, compelling, well-organized psychology research paper, with tips and illustrated examples for each step of the process.
Mexican American Psychology
by Mario A. Tovar
Tovar covers the social and anthropological backgrounds of Mexican Americans and introduces comprehensive strategies for working with them in a clinical setting.