Spotlight BOOKS Looking for a book for America 250? Here’s what historians are reading Christopher Borrelli Chicago Tribune Jul 4, 2026 Jul 4, 2026 Updated Jul 27, 2026 0 × USA Today - News Literary tourism is booming as BookTok fans turn favorite stories into real-life travel adventures. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save What a difference 50 years makes.kAm%96 4@F?ECJ E92E 4@>>6>@C2E6D E96 ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 D:8?:?8 @7 E96 s64=2C2E:@? @7 x?56A6?56?46 :D 2 C25:42==J 5:776C6?E A=246 E92? E96 4@F?ECJ E92E 46=63C2E65 2 F3:BF:E@FD 3:46?E6??:2= :? `hfe] qFE @?6 A2CE @7 E92E 4@>>6>@C2E:@? H:== ?@E 492?86i %96 J62C?:?8 @7 6G6CJ52J p>6C:42?D E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96:C ?2E:@?’D DE@C:6D]k^AmkAmr6CE2:?=J[ AF3=:D96CD 9@A6 D@j E96:C DF>>6C 42E2=@8D 2C6 E9:4< H:E9 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ 2?5 2? 6>A92D:D @? E96 7@F?5:?8 7:8FC6D[ E96 7:CDE 46?EFCJ — E96 p\=:DE]k^Am k9amu@C 2 =@?8 G:6H @? 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 9625=:?6Dik^9am People are also reading… Appalachian Power again reducing water releases from SML amid drought Franklin County residents bash supervisors on data center discussions Governor visits Smith Mountain Lake to emphasize water conservation in drought Finding 'Project Flash:' How Franklin County residents learned the county was talking to a data center developer Mixed results in latest water quality testing at Smith Mountain Lake FIFA refereeing officer defends officials after Argentina-Egypt controversies Virginia Tech shrinks presidential search committee, citing competition for candidates Son of Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy arrested for shooting mother in Virginia home MLB power rankings: Red Sox win streak hits 13 as worst-to-first quest continues Virginia's sexual and domestic violence agencies are struggling to meet demand Roanoke-area drought now in Va. emergency status, could lead to mandatory restrictions FOIA documents reveal months of talks on 'Project Flash' in Franklin County After vehicle chase, Franklin County deputies arrest man for felonies Mexico, RFK Jr., Taylor Farms weigh in on cyclospora outbreak Waynesboro teacher's aide accused of putting hand sanitizer in student's mouth kAmkDEC@?8m“%96 &]$] r@?DE:EFE:@?i p r@>AC696?D:G6 2?5 p??@E2E65 vF:56 7@C E96 |@56C? #6256C[” 3J |6=:DD2 |FCC2Jk^DEC@?8m[ 6IA=2:?D 6G6CJ 2CE:4=6 2?5 p>6?5>6?E[ =2J:?8 @FE E96 9:DE@CJ[ C6D@?2?46 2?5 8C2J 2C62D H:E9 2 A2E:6?46 >:DD:?8 7C@> D@4:2=\>65:2 9@E E2<6D]k^Am “The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader” by Melissa Murray k9amu@C 2 7C6D9 E2<6 @? E96 7:CDE p>6C:42? C@25 EC:Aik^9amkAmkDEC@?8m“%96 '2DE t?E6CAC:D6i p }6H w:DE@CJ @7 {6H:D U2>Aj r=2C<[” 3J rC2:8 u69C>2?k^DEC@?8m[ :D 2? :>>6CD:G6 A2?@C2>2 E92E C6D4F6D E9:D A@EE65 ?2CC2E:G6 7C@> E96 FDF2= 4=2DDC@@> E2=6D @7 EH@ >6? 2?5 2 42?@6[ 7@C 2 C6G6=2E@CJ A@CEC2:E 23@FE >FEF2= DFCAC:D6[ 2==@H:?8 6BF2= E:>6 E@ 3@E9 E96 5:D4@G6C6CD 2?5 E96 @H?6CD @7 E96 =2?5 36:?8 5:D4@G6C65]k^Am “The Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark” by Craig Fehrman Simon & Schuster k9amu@C E96 4@>A=:42E65 ECFE9 23@FE 2? :4@?k^9amkAmkDEC@?8m“p? x?4@?G6?:6?E (:5@Hi %96 %@C>6?E[ %C:2=[ 2?5 %C:F>A9 @7 |2CJ %@55 {:?4@=?[” 3J {@:D #@>2?@k^DEC@?8m[ DF3DE:EFE6D 2 8=:3 72>:=:2C 42C:42EFC6 WD96 H2D 4C2KJ[ 5@>:?66C:?8[ 6E 2=X 7@C E96 ?F2?46D @7 2? 6A:4 @7 56AC6DD:@?[ 2>3:E:@? 2?5 =@DD — 2?5 2 4@FCEC@@> 7:?2=6 E92E 92F?ED] k^Am “An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial, and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln” by Lois Romano kAm}@E 2 5F5 :? E92E 3F?49]k^AmkAmqFE H92E :7 J@F 92G6 C@@> 7@C ;FDE @?6 3@@< 23@FE E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E9:D DF>>6Cn (6 2D<65 D6G6C2= 9:DE@C:2?D 2?5 2FE9@CD E@ C64@>>6?5 @?6 9:DE@CJ\>:?565 3@@< 6G6CJ p>6C:42? D9@F=5 C625 367@C6 {23@C s2J]k^Am k9amVq6=@G65V 3J %@?: |@CC:D@? W`hgfXk^9am 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison kAmk6>m#64@>>6?565 3J |2EE96H qC:@?6D[ 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 9:DE@CJ 2E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r9:428@k^6>mk^AmkAm$=2G6CJ 92D 2=H2JD 366? p>6C:42’D @C:8:?2= D:?[ D@>6E9:?8 u2F=<?6C 2?5 |@CC:D@? 36DE 8C2AA=6 H:E9 :? E96:C 7:4E:@?] x? Qq6=@G65[Q E96 ?2CC2E@C 92F?E:?8=J D2JD :E’D “?@E 2 DE@CJ E@ A2DD @?[” H96? :E’D 6I24E=J E9:D EJA6 @7 EC2F>2E:4 9:DE@CJ E92E H6 ?665 E@ C6>6>36C[ AC@46DD 2?5 =62C? 7C@> :? @FC ?2E:@?’D 9:DE@CJ] %92E’D E96 @?=J H2J E@ 962= 2?5 86E 36EE6Ci E@ 7246 @FC 9:DE@CJ 9@?6DE=J[ H:E9 2== @7 :ED 89@DED[ 2?5 :? 2== @7 :ED ;@J 2?5 A2:?]k^Am k9amV(9J u:D9 s@?VE tI:DEV 3J {F=F |:==6C Wa_a_Xk^9am “Why Fish Don’t Exist” by Lulu Miller Simon & Schuster kAmk6>m#64@>>6?565 3J z2E6 |2DFC[ AC@76DD@C @7 9:DE@CJ 2E }@CE9H6DE6C? &?:G6CD:EJk^6>mk^AmkAm|2?J 3@@<D 2C6 8@@5 @C 6G6? 8C62Ej 76H 2C6 DE2CE=:?8=J @C:8:?2= 2?5 2 ;@J E@ C625] ~?6 DF49 C2C:EJ :D “(9J u:D9 s@?’E tI:DE” 3J D4:6?46 ;@FC?2=:DE {F=F |:==6C] xE’D 23@FE 2 a`DE 46?EFCJ H@>2?’D BF6DE E@ F?56CDE2?5 :49E9J@=@8:DE s2G:5 $E2CC y@C52?[ E96 7:CDE AC6D:56?E @7 $E2?7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ] qFE :E’D C62==J 23@FE E96 56D:C6 E@ >2<6 D6?D6 @7 E96 H@C=5] “(9J u:D9 s@?’E tI:DE” 6>3C246D E96 362FEJ 2?5 56AC2G:EJ @7 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ[ C6>:?5:?8 FD E92E A6@A=6 2C6 5C2H? E@ E96 p>6C:42? A2DE 7@C 2 >:==:@? C62D@?D] xE’D 2 3@@< @7 @FC E:>6[ 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 D9@F=5 C625 :E]k^Am k9amV~C:8:?2= $:?Di %96 W|:DXt5F42E:@? @7 q=24< 2?5 }2E:G6 r9:=5C6? 2?5 E96 r@?DECF4E:@? @7 p>6C:42? #24:D>[V 3J tG6 {] tH:?8 Wa_aeXk^9am 'Original Sins: The (Mis)Education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism,' by Eve L. Ewing kAmk6>m#64@>>6?565 3J q2C32C2 #2?D3J[ AC@76DD@C :? 9:DE@CJ[ q=24< DEF5:6D 2?5 86?56C 2E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x==:?@:Dk^6>mk^AmkAmtH:?8VD 3@@< C6>:?5D FD AF3=:4 65F42E:@?[ 2?5 E96 @C:8:? DE@C:6D H6 E6== @FC 49:=5C6?[ 92G6 2 AC@7@F?5 :>A24E @? 9@H p>6C:42?D F?56CDE2?5 2?5 567:?6 C246[ C:89ED[ 56>@4C24J 2?5 ;FDE:46] w6C A@H6C7F=[ DH66A:?8 ?2CC2E:G6 8C@F?5D FD :? E96 F?4@>7@CE23=6 ECFE9D E92E 6I4=FD:@?[ =:6D 2?5 3=2E2?E @AAC6DD:@? 92G6 366? 5@>:?2?E E96>6D E9C@F89@FE E96 9:DE@CJ @7 p>6C:42? 65F42E:@?] k^Am k9amVt>A:C6 u2==DV 3J #:492C5 #FDD@ Wa__`Xk^9am 'Empire Falls' by Richard Russo kAmk6>m#64@>>6?565 3J y@?2E92? t:8[ 2FE9@C @7 “z:?8i p {:76”k^6>mk^Am kAmx’5 =@G6 E@ D66 p>6C:42?D E9:D DF>>6C C625:?8 “t>A:C6 u2==D” 3J #:492C5 #FDD@] xE’D 8@E :E 2==i E96 564=:?6 @7 3=F6\4@==2C p>6C:42[ E96 =@G:?8 6>3C246 @7 2 D>2== E@H?[ 9:=2C:@FD 92C5\=F4< 492C24E6CD[ HC6?49:?8 72>:=J 5C2>2[ 2?5[ E9C@F89 :E 2==[ 2 3FC?:?8 =@G6 7@C p>6C:42[ ?6G6C >:?5 :ED EC@F3=6D] xE’D D6E 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 a_E9 46?EFCJ[ 3FE :E 4@F=5 36 2=>@DE 2?J E:>6 :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ] $=:56 :?E@ 2 3@@E9 2E E96 t>A:C6 vC:==[ @C56C 2 3FC86C 2?5 6?;@J]k^Am k9amV%96 !2C2?@:5 $EJ=6 :? p>6C:42? !@=:E:4DV 3J #:492C5 w@7DE25E6C W`hedXk^9am 'The Paranoid Style in American Politics' by Richard Hofstadter kAmk6>m#64@>>6?565 3J p>J sCF $E2?=6J[ 2DD@4:2E6 9:DE@CJ AC@76DD@C 2E &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r9:428@k^6>mk^Am kAm%9:D 4@==64E:@? @7 6DD2JD D92A65 3J E96 r@=5 (2C 2?5 #65 $42C6 6IA=@C6D E96 7C28:=:EJ @7 56>@4C24J 2?5 D@4:2= 4@>:EJ 2?5 7C665@> @7 6IAC6DD:@?] %96 3@@< DA62<D E@ E96 AC6D6?E[ EC28:42==J[ :? EC24:?8 9@H :CC2E:@?2= 92EC65D[ 36=:67 :? 4@?DA:C24:6D[ 762C7F= ?@DE2=8:2 2?5 2A@42=JAE:4 56=FD:@?D 42? 8@G6C? p>6C:42? A@=:E:42= 4F=EFC6 — 9@H E96 G:D:@? @7 p>6C:42 2D 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 =:36CEJ 7@C E96 H@C=5 364@>6D 2 A@=:E:4D @7 A2C2?@:2] (6 92G6 >F49 E@ =62C? 7C@> E9:D DE@CJ @7 p>6C:42? :==:36C2=:D> :? D66<:?8 E@ AC@E64E 56>@4C24J E@52J]k^Am k9amVpEC@4:E:6D @7 E96 |:?5V 3J sH:89E |245@?2=5 Wa_aeXk^9am “Atrocities of the Mind” by Dwight Macdonald University of Chicago Press kAmk6>m#64@>>6?565 3J s2?:6= x>>6CH29C[ 9:DE@CJ AC@76DD@C 2E }@CE9H6DE6C? &?:G6CD:EJk^6>mk^Am kAm“tG6CJ@?6 92D E96 C:89E E@ 36 DEFA:5[” {6@? %C@ED<J C6A@CE65=J D2:5] “qFE 4@>C256 |245@?2=5 23FD6D E96 AC:G:=686]” %96 >2? :? BF6DE:@?[ sH:89E |245@?2=5[ H2D 2 C6?68256 4@>>F?:DE H9@ C6G@=E65 282:?DE $E2=:?] w6 H2D 2=D@ 2 C6?68256 42A:E2=:DE[ 2 *2=6 8C25F2E6 H9@ HC@E6 7@C u@CEF?6 F?E:= 96 4=2D965 H:E9 E96 >282K:?6’D @H?6C @G6C 2 D6C:6D 23@FE E96 &]$] $E66= r@CA@C2E:@?] ~?6 E9:?8 |245@?2=5 ?@E:465 H2D G:@=6?46[ 2?5 QpEC@4:E:6D @7 E96 |:?5[Q 2 4@==64E:@? @7 9:D 6DD2JD @? E96 E@A:4[ D9@H D@>6@?6 =:G:?8 E9C@F89 E6CC:3=6 E:>6D H:E9 4@FC286[ @A6??6DD[ 4FC:@D:EJ 2?5 2 C67FD2= E@ 6I6>AE 9:>D6=7 7C@> E96 5:28?@D:D] k^Am Books 15 of the most anticipated books you should read this summer Clare Mulroy USA Today 0 comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Are books dead? 9 fun ways to fight ‘the end of reading’ If a reading apocalypse is truly on the horizon, here are nine ways you can fight the “end of reading” right at home. BookTok is turning favorite books into real-life trips Literary tourism is booming as BookTok fans turn favorite stories into real-life travel adventures.
Are books dead? 9 fun ways to fight ‘the end of reading’ If a reading apocalypse is truly on the horizon, here are nine ways you can fight the “end of reading” right at home.
BookTok is turning favorite books into real-life trips Literary tourism is booming as BookTok fans turn favorite stories into real-life travel adventures.
