Jim Himes

This biography delves deep into the multi-faceted life of Robert F. Kennedy, painting a multilayered portrait of a man who played many roles throughout his career in American politics. From his days as Joseph McCarthy's counsel to his enshrinement as a progressive icon, this definitive biography traces the complex and controversial arc of Kennedy's life. With access to unpublished memoirs, unreleased government files, and interviews with RFK intimates, including his widow Ethel and sister Jean, Larry Tye delivers a gripping and thorough account of one of America's most important political figures.

1944 was a pivotal year that determined the outcome of World War II and tested President Roosevelt's leadership. In this gripping New York Times Bestseller, Jay Winik captures the epic events of the year with cinematic force. From FDR's re-election to the liberation of Paris to the decision to prioritize winning the war over saving Europe's Jews, Winik paints a complex history with great color and sympathy. This compelling account underscores the need for moral clarity and sheds light on how America could have done more to thwart Nazi aggression.

This political biography covers the life of an American president at a time when many witnesses are still able to share previously untold stories. Book One chronicles the rise of Lyndon Johnson, delving into the origins of his almost superhuman drive to succeed. The book follows his life from his childhood in Texas through his time in Depression-era Washington, revealing his fierce ambition and endless capacity for hard work. Through Caro's detailed account, readers see Johnson's ability to mesmerize and manipulate powerful men, and his radical relationships with fellow politicians. We also see the country that bred him: the harshness of rural life, the Depression, and the sudden hope of the New Deal. Through all of it, one thing remains in the foreground: LBJ, on the move and unrelenting in his pursuit of power.

This book is a passionate and epic account of the Vietnam War, focusing on Lt Col John Paul Vann. His story exposes America's failures and disillusionment in Southeast Asia. As a field adviser to the army when US involvement was just beginning, Vann became appalled by the corruption of the South Vietnamese regime and their incompetence in fighting the Communists. Finding his superiors too blinded by political lies to understand the truth of the war, he secretly briefed reporters such as Neil Sheehan. This book won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction.

Explore the riveting career of one of America's most distinguished diplomats in The Back Channel. In this memoir, Ambassador William J. Burns draws on his experiences serving five Presidents and ten Secretaries of State, and argues for the renewal of diplomacy as the primary tool for American statecraft. With newly declassified cables and searing memos, Burns takes readers behind the scenes of some of the most significant diplomatic moments of our time, from the end of the Cold War to post-9/11 Middle East turmoil, and the secret nuclear talks with Iran. Ultimately, The Back Channel is a compelling reminder of the importance of diplomacy in today's turbulent world.