Week 8

Biography: The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough

As a frequent traveler to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I have visited the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk, NC and have seen replicas of their plane there and at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  This book tells the rest of the story, starting with their extensive research and experimentation in Dayton, Ohio and continuing on after their successful flights in Kitty Hawk to commercialize their success in Europe. This title would be appealing to frequent visitors to the Outer Banks, who may be interested in learning more of the history of the area.  It would also be of interest to those who love science, especially the history of scientific discovery.  The book delves into the personal stories of the Wright family, and explores the close relationship between Wilbur and Orville, and how it contributed to their discoveries and achievements.

History: Dead Wake, by Erik Larson (940s)

Set at the outset of the Great War, and before the United States had entered, Dead Wake provides a wonderful and detailed account of the sinking of the steamship Lusitania, en route from New York to Liverpool.  The book takes a detailed look at the the captain, staff, and passengers of the ship, providing rich back stories on their lives and how they came to be aboard the Lusitania.  Meanwhile, a German U-Boat captain at large in the North Atlantic was determined to wreak havoc on British shipping, and was willing to target civilians from neutral ships in order to do so. President Woodrow Wilson, first heartbroken by the death of his wife Ellen, then distracted by the courtship of his second wife, Edith.  Even though one knows the ultimate fate of the Lusitania, the compelling story moves from ship, to U-Boat, to Washington DC to weave together the threads of history. This would be a wonderful choice for anyone who loves history, and enjoys character-driven fiction.

Adventure: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (Biography)

Disaster/Survival: In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick (History)

Sports: I Feel Like Going On by Ray Lewis (Biography)