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This week, we feature an illuminating bird’s eye view of the Allied Nations’ Italian campaign and an introspective journey into man’s quest for life’s meaning.
History
‘Mediterranean Sweep: The USAAF in the Italian Campaign’
By Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
In August 1943, the Allies decided to invade Italy. They lacked better options. This book examines the air campaign in Italy from 1943 through 1945. It shows the campaign as a successful application of tactical air power and provides a clinic on how to do tactical air right. Using participant accounts to tell the story, it gives a cockpit view of the war. A good introduction to the Italian campaign. It shows what air power can and cannot do and delivers an account that keeps readers engaged.
Osprey Books, March 2025, 320 pages
Nonfiction
‘Super-Italian: More Than 110 Indulgent Recipes Using Italy’s Healthiest Foods’
By Giada De Laurentiis
Television personality, author of 10 books, and restaurant owner, De Laurentiis has put together more than 110 recipes using Italy’s healthiest foods. She has chosen ingredients that are rich in nutrition, simply cooked, and eaten with pleasure. Pasta, fish, salads, soups, and “dolce” (meaning sweets): You’ll find all these dishes here, prepared Italian-style and packed with nutrients. Each chapter and each recipe come with friendly tips of encouragement about cooking and living a vita dolce.
Rodale Books, 2025, 272 pages
Philosophy
‘The Meaning of Human Existence’
By Edward O. Wilson
How did we get here and where are we going? And most of all, why (that is, what is the meaning of our existence)? These are just some of the questions that the late Edward Wilson tackles in his book. Weaving together science, history, and philosophy, the author works to answer some of these questions. Considered one of the most brilliant naturalists of his time, Wilson deftly guides the reader through the complexities of life, while also warning about science and technology redefining the meaning of life.
Liveright, 2015, 219 pages
Novel
By Richard McKenna
A classic novel of the United States Navy between the two World Wars, it’s set on a small Yangtze River gunboat in 1926. It follows the adventures of motor machinist’s mate Jake Holman, an assistant engineer aboard the U.S. Navy gunboat San Pablo. The book is a study of the clash of cultures between traditional pre-Communist China and the culture of the 1920s U.S. Navy’s Asiatic Fleet. Delivering adventure in an exotic locale, it was written by a man who served in the U.S. Navy in that time and place.
Naval Institute Press, 2001, 624 pages
Classics
‘The Penguin Book of Elegy: Poems of Memory, Mourning and Consolation’
Edited by Andrew Motion and Stephen Regan
In this collection of elegies, verse written to record the experience of death while honoring the dead and consoling the living, the editors include pieces from dozens of poets, both ancient and modern. You’ll find works like Shakespeare’s “Full Fathom Five,” selections from Tennyson’s “In Memoriam,” and Christina Rossetti’s “Remember,” as well as less familiar tributes to the deceased. The editors aimed for selections that would move us and help surmount our loss; an ambition they fulfill.
Penguin Classics, 2025, 688 pages
For Kids
By Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish
In celebration of the special relationship between grandchildren and grandmothers, this fun picture book is the perfect read before a stay at Grandma’s house. It’s chock-full of delightful ideas and family-centered warmth. This book is sure to ease any anxieties and influence a positive mindset about an overnight stay apart from Mom and Dad.
Knopf, 2014, 32 pages
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