Modern History Stories

So much has happened in the past decade alone, but what got us here? Humanity has evolved in so many ways in the modern era. From the Industrial Revolution to the invention of the iPhone, from the Space Race to SpaceX, from last century's influenza pandemic to Covid-19, there’s a lot to cover. These stories attempt to recount how we’ve gotten to where we are and the rapid change that took place within the last few centuries.

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James Wilkinson: The Man Who Double-Crossed the Founders of America

The notorious statesman's ability to get out of tight pinches while benefitting himself is beyond compare.

Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho—and That Famous Shower Scene

Screenwriter and journalist Stephen Rebello unpacks the controversies surrounding the iconic film.

Unbreakable: How Navajo Code Talkers Helped Win WWII

A group of Navajo men came together in the 1940s to create an unbreakable military code.

Behind the Bombshell: 7 Best Marilyn Monroe Books

Rediscover the icon whose life was as dramatic as her movies.

The Deadly Collision Between SS Andrea Doria and MS Stockholm

Like the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the 1956 shipwreck was one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century. 

Lysander Spooner: The Man Who Took on the U.S. Postal Service—and Won

The American Mail Company successfully forced the U.S. Post to bring down its postal rates.

Ulysses S. Grant: The Man Who Secured the Union’s Victory in the Civil War

Grant Moves South explores the legendary general’s pivotal successes and military strategies.

Léo Major: The "One-Eyed Ghost" Who Single-Handedly Liberated a Dutch Town

Major went above and beyond the call of duty in World War II and the Korean War.

Charlie Wilson's War: The Man Behind the CIA's Biggest Covert Operation

Congressman Charlie Wilson was a champion for the covert op that affected the outcome of the Soviet-Afghan War.

10 Dramatic Battles in American History

From the Battle of Gettysburg to the Second Battle of Fallujah, these conflicts will never be forgotten.

7 of the Best American History Books

Celebrate the red, white, and blue by remembering the history of those who came before us.

365 Days: Ronald Glasser’s Moving Account of the Vietnam War

The American doctor was a beacon of hope for the soldiers he treated during his tour of duty.

The Robert Kennedy Biography You Can't Miss

Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam describes the specific allure of Robert Kennedy, and how he was "different from other politicians."

The Earliest-Born American to Be Photographed Is Also a Veteran

In 1852, at age 103, Revolutionary War veteran Conrad Heyer sat down to have his picture taken. 

Discover Emma Goldman's Life of Anarchy in To the Barricades

Goldman was a revolutionary from the start. Her work in the U.S. and Russia shook up governments and oligarchs.

Abandoned in the Desert: Humberstone, and Chile's Eerie Ghost Towns

In the sands of northern Chile are haunting reminders of the country's troubled history.