"The true patriot isn't the man who refrains from attacking his city when he's been unjustly deprived of it, but the one whose loyalty is so ardent that he does all he can to get it back." – Thucydides #books #history @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social @jackewilson.bsky.social

"[A] stimulating take on the complexities and influence of a rich and multifaceted musical tradition." Read the latest review of "How Black Music Took Over the World," the "exuberant debut" by legendary jazz bassist @melvingibbs.bsky.social -- #[bit.ly/3LUW2tF

“[A] captivating, unsettling up-close look at America’s increasingly vicious partisan split.” —@publisherswkly.bsky.social "Strange People on the Hill," @michaelehayden.bsky.social's investigation into small town extremism, will be available 4/7/2026. Read the review: bit.ly/4t89Hy7

"[A] stunning emperor-has-no-clothes indictment." IT'S ON YOU, Nick Chater and George Loewenstein's scalding critique of the "nudge" theory of social change, has a starred review in @publisherswkly.bsky.social! Read it here: #[bit.ly/3Odgy9n

Lena Dunham recommends a Basic Books classic: "Thoughts without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective" by Mark Epstein. "Pro tip: listen to the audiobook as Dr. Epstein has one of the all time great voices." Read the essay: bit.ly/3NJNxSJ

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Chief Wakara died on this day in 1855. He remains one of the most complex and influential figures in the history of the American West. Read Max Perry Mueller's definitive biography for the complete story of his life and legacy, a tale of America with native people at its center.

.@financialtimes.com calls Daniel Neep's forthcoming book "SYRIA: A Modern History" an "excellent, comprehensive history... [that] corrects the traditional narrative of a passive Syria by placing its people at the heart of their story." Read it here: bit.ly/4bpx1RB

"This is an excellent book—engaging and well written." —Nassim Nicholas Taleb IT'S ON YOU, by Nick Chater and George Loewenstein, is available today! Learn more: bit.ly/4a8PzV6

"AUGUSTUS: First Emperor of Rome," the definitive and critically acclaimed biography by eminent historian Adrian Goldsworthy, is now available from Basic Books! Learn more: bit.ly/4qzd53k

"WE REFUSE: A Forceful History of Black Resistance" by @kcarterjackson.bsky.social is now available in paperback! Named a Best Book of 2024 by Smithsonian * Kirkus * Chicago Review of Books * Emancipator Learn more: bit.ly/46gtNwf

"IT'S ON YOU: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems," by Nick Chater & George Loewenstein, is available today! Learn more: bit.ly/49RNfAF

A recap of the books we’ve spotlighted in the past few days. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/our... @aaknopf.bsky.social @littlebrown.bsky.social @eccobooks.bsky.social @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social #booksky

"A wise and deeply researched book and a stirring call to action." —@timharford.ft.com "IT'S ON YOU: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems," by Nick Chater and George Loewenstein, will be available January 27th!

IT'S ON YOU, a critique of the "nudge" theory of social change by leading behavioral scientists Nick Chater and George Loewenstein, will be available January 27th wherever books are sold! @dacemoglumit.bsky.social calls it "a master class on how to blend individual psychology with institutions."

An outstanding look at the DNA whisperer’s life. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/c... @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social @matthewcobb.bsky.social #booksky

Read the introduction to *Feed the People!: Why Industrial Food Is Good and How To Make It Even Better,* my new book with @jandutkiewicz.bsky.social that is out with @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social next month. bearistotle.substack.com/p/the-food-s...

"A sweeping reimagining of how we think about Muslim history." —Reza Aslan @jamesrmcd.bsky.social's "Worlds of Islam: A Global History" is available now: bit.ly/3Nu2wA6

What a nice thing to say. (New book out today.)

.@financialtimes.com calls "IT'S ON YOU" by Nick Chater and George Loewenstein "lively," "persuasive," and "ultimately cheering" in an advance write-up! See the full piece here: bit.ly/3LVBjWr IT'S ON YOU will be available January 27th, pre-order now: bit.ly/3NsprvD

"There is simply no better book on Islam in history." —Eugene Rogan, author of "The Arabs" "Worlds of Islam" by James McDougall (@jamesrmcd.bsky.social) is available today: bit.ly/4sG1O2G

Happy publication day to "Worlds of Islam: A Global History" by James McDougall (@jamesrmcd.bsky.social). Sweeping and authoritative, Worlds of Islam narrates the epic story of how Muslims emerged as a community, built empires, traversed the globe, came to number in the billions, and became modern.

Hugely honoured and thrilled by this review of The Whispers of Rock in the Wall Street Journal, thank you! 🙏🏾😀

"[A] fascinating romp around the world to more than 50 exotic and ordinary places." Read the latest review "Whispers of Rock" by Anjana Khatwa (@anjanakhatwa.bsky.social) at @wsj.com here: bit.ly/3NmQkR

Hey Bluesky ppl in the US! The nice folks at @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social are offering 20% off my new book : use code WORLDS20 valid through 26 Feb. www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/james...

It's official launch day for Naked At Our Age, 2026 edition! I'm so in love with this book that I'm holding it, wearing it, taking it to bed with me! Order from joanprice.com/books/naked-... in the US or from your local or online retailer. @hachetteus.bsky.social @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social

So exciting to see Matthew Sutton recognized by @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social and Publishers Weekly! 📚✨ His upcoming book, CHOSEN LAND, was just named a Top 10 Pick in PW’s Spring Religion & Spirituality Preview 👏

@publisherswkly.bsky.social just named Matthew Avery Sutton's forthcoming book CHOSEN LAND, a Top 10 Pick in Religion & Spirituality: bit.ly/4qoMHcs Use code CHOSEN20 for 20% pre-orders today: bit.ly/4bvb4R4

"The Feminist Killjoy Handbook," by renowned theorist Sara Ahmed, is now available in paperback! Today, get the essential guide to the transformative power of "getting in the way."

On this day in 1893, Chaim Soutine, the great Modernist painter, was born in present-day Belarus. Celeste Marcus's new biography, "Chaim Soutine: Genius, Obsession, and a Dramatic Life in Art," corrects the myths surrounding his work and proves his importance to the contemporary art world.

"Naked at Our Age," Joan Price's classic guide to intimacy for seniors, is now available in an updated paperback edition! Real life stories, expert advice, now with a new foreword and added tips!

"From the beginning of the nation's story, America is betwixt and between two impulses..." Mark J. Dunkelman stopped by The Gray Area on @vox.com to talk about the deep history of why nothing in America seems to work anymore--from Jefferson to Robert Moses to Trump. Watch here: bit.ly/4jyO7OO

Even when everyone agrees in principle that we really, really need to get things done, the system still can’t move. Author Marc Dunkelman joined The Gray Area podcast to discuss why that sense of paralysis isn’t a mystery, and it isn’t just a product of polarization or bad politicians.

"In short, by the time the United States is ready to return to multilateralism, the world will have moved on." Read Amitav Acharya's sobering new essay in @foreignpolicy.com, on the global order in the age of Trumpism: bit.ly/457GnO0

"Jalonick's collected oral histories capture the sense of danger, fear, and fury of that unprecedented day, hour by frantic hour."--Donald A. Ritchie STORM AT THE CAPITOL is available now: bit.ly/4sqSb7N

Mary Clare Jalonick spoke to NPR's Here & Now, about her new book "Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th." Listen to her speak here, along with some extraordinary archival material from the audiobook: bit.ly/3YrOVvo

I would highly recommend this oral history for anyone who wants to get a feel for how January 6th felt at the scene, and for those who are interested, @lawfaremedia.org will be posting a podcast interview tomorrow between myself and the author.

"Coyote America" by Dan Flores, the @nytimes.com bestselling account of how coyotes took over North America—and are now taking over South America as well—is available in paperback. Read the updated and expanded edition today!

Mary Clare Jalonick's STORM AT THE CAPITOL is "a riveting account of one of the most consequential days in American history," says @ryanjreilly.com

Happy publication day to "Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th," by Mary Clare Jalonick. This is the definitive, unbiased account of the twenty-four hours surrounding the historic January 6th attack on the Capitol.

"[Crick's] real second act was in the nascent field of neuroscience. Mr. Cobb... is especially persuasive on Crick's hitherto unacknowledged influence here." Read the latest @wsj.com review of "Crick: A Mind in Motion" by @matthewcobb.bsky.social here: on.wsj.com/44SNMRg

@jackewilson.bsky.social talks to Edward J. Watts, author of The Romans: A 2,000-Year History. Through his comprehensive overview, Watts shifts our focus away from Rome's fall, instead bringing to light the qualities that helped Rome endure for so long. #books #history @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social

Rome's greatest orator was born on this day in 106 BC. Read about the rise and fall of Cicero and the fate of the Roman Republic in Josiah Osgood's "Lawless Republic." Avaialble now: bit.ly/4j6gC6p

"The Call of the Honeyguide" by Rob Dunn, which shows how rethinking our relationships with other species can help us reimagine the future of humankind, has been long-listed for @penamerica.bsky.social's Literary Science Writing Award! Read more, and see all the nominees here: bit.ly/493uyJN

“Biting critiques of the red-tape state." Philip K. Howard recommends "Why Nothing Works" by Marc J. Dunkelman on @wsj.com! Learn more, and see all the selections here: bit.ly/48KvW5g "Why Nothing Works" is available now: bit.ly/3YDpsPq

Thank you to everyone who has supported #Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth & Power 📗 this year. I am enormously grateful. #womenwealthpower‬⁩ ⁦‪‬⁩ @headlinebooks.bsky.social @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social @hachetteuk.bsky.social

"A stunning account." Justice Anthony Kennedy recommends "The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation" by @vdhanson.bsky.social at @wsj.com . Read more: bit.ly/490BLKw

"[An] enthralling and illuminating history of German U-boats in the battle for the Atlantic." Read the latest review of Roger Moorhouse's "Wolfpack" at @foreignaffairs.com: bit.ly/48XYmrj

"A magisterial ode to Americana." "Born Equal" by Akhil Reed Amar is a @wsj.com Recommended Read of 2025! Learn more: bit.ly/4oWgR59

"O’Brien speaks on these subjects with immense authority. He was one of the few who predicted the developments in Ukraine correctly from the start." @wsj.com reviews "War and Power," @phillipspobrien.bsky.social's bold, revisionist study of modern warfare. Read more: bit.ly/4oTWmGc