In his bestselling book, 1491, Charles C. Mann challenges the idea of pre-Columbian America as a sparsely populated wilderness. Instead, he reveals that advanced indigenous societies are actively shaping their world. The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, with its running water and clean streets, was larger than any European city of its time. Mann’s work offers a transformative perspective on the innovation and influence of the Americas before Columbus.

"Astonishing . . . A book that will permanently alter the way we regard our collective past." --The New York Times. In a riveting, groundbreaking narrative, Russell Shorto’s The Island at the Center of the World reveals how New Netherland shaped New York City and American ideals. This early Dutch colony fostered tolerance and rights, offering a fresh view of America’s origins long before the Pilgrims arrived.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction • Winner of the National Book Award • New York Times Bestseller

The Pulitzer Prize-winning book "The Swerve" by Stephen Greenblatt tells the remarkable story of how a rediscovered ancient text, "On the Nature of Things" by Lucretius, ignited the Renaissance and transformed modern thought. Blending history, philosophy, and biography, Greenblatt reveals how this discovery reshaped science, art, and culture. Ideal for history enthusiasts, this Pulitzer-winning book illuminates a pivotal moment in human history