Russell Shorto Books

From the author of the acclaimed history The Island at the Center of the World, an intimate new epic of the American Revolution that reinforces its meaning for today. Russell Shorto’s work has been praised as “first-rate intellectual history” (Wall Street Journal), “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune) and simply “astonishing” (New York Times). In his epic new book, Russell Shorto takes us back to the founding of the American nation, drawing on diaries, letters and autobiographies to flesh out six lives that cast the era in a fresh new light. They include an African man who freed himself and his family from slavery, a rebellious young woman who abandoned her abusive husband to chart her own course and a certain Mr. Washington, who was admired for his social graces but harshly criticized for his often-disastrous military strategy. Through these lives we understand that the revolution was fought over the meaning of individual freedom, a philosophical idea that became a force for violent change. A powerful narrative and a brilliant defense of American values, Revolution Song makes the compelling case that the American Revolution is still being fought today and that its ideals are worth defending.

Tourists see Amsterdam as a charming city with canals and brick houses, while students know it for its legal brothels and hash bars, and art lovers admire Rembrandt's portraits. However, the city's rich history is deeply tied to its geography and the ongoing struggle of its citizens against the sea, which fostered a unique democratic philosophy. Amsterdam embodies liberalism in two senses: it promotes tolerance for free thought and love, and it has significantly influenced political and economic freedom, impacting even America. The city was a refuge for religious dissidents and radical thinkers, as well as the birthplace of the world's first global corporation. In this insightful narrative, Russell Shorto explores Amsterdam's evolution, connecting seemingly unrelated elements like herring anatomy and Anabaptists to its historical significance. Through his personal experiences in his adopted city, Shorto presents a captivating and intellectually stimulating account of Amsterdam, tracing its journey from the construction of its first canals in the 1300s, through its fight for independence and golden age as an empire, to its contemporary challenges regarding its cherished liberal ideals.

When the British wrested New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664, the truth about its thriving, polyglot society began to disappear into myths about an island purchased for 24 dollars and a cartoonish peg-legged governor. But the story of the Dutch colony of New Netherland was merely lost, not destroyed: 12,000 pages of its records–recently declared a national treasure–are now being translated. Drawing on this remarkable archive, Russell Shorto has created a gripping narrative–a story of global sweep centered on a wilderness called Manhattan–that transforms our understanding of early America. The Dutch colony pre-dated the “original” thirteen colonies, yet it seems strikingly familiar. Its capital was cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic, and its citizens valued free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom. Their champion was a progressive, young lawyer named Adriaen van der Donck, who emerges in these pages as a forgotten American patriot and whose political vision brought him into conflict with Peter Stuyvesant, the autocratic director of the Dutch colony. The struggle between these two strong-willed men laid the foundation for New York City and helped shape American culture. The Island at the Center of the World uncovers a lost world and offers a surprising new perspective on our own.

With the skill of a seasoned journalist and the passion of an amateur sleuth, Russell Shorto offers a radical revision of the gospel story: a new composite of Jesus that is based on scientific research and supported by some of our most conservative religious scholars. A vivid and sometimes shocking reconstruction of the life and times of Jesus, Gospel Truth will change the way we see Jesus forever.

A fascinating intellectual adventure story from the acclaimed author of Amsterdam and The Island at the Center of the World.

Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America