From a master chronicler of Spanish history comes a magnificent work about the pivotal years from 1522 to 1566, when Spain was the greatest European power. Hugh Thomas has written a rich and riveting narrative of exploration, progress, and plunder. At its center is the unforgettable ruler who fought the French and expanded the Spanish empire, and the bold conquistadors who were his agents. Thomas brings to life King Charles V—first as a gangly and easygoing youth, then as a liberal statesman who exceeded all his predecessors in his ambitions for conquest (while making sure to maintain the humanity of his new subjects in the Americas), and finally as a besieged Catholic leader obsessed with Protestant heresy and interested only in profiting from those he presided over. The Golden Empire also presents the legendary men whom King Charles V sent on perilous and unprecedented expeditions: Hernán Cortés, who ruled the “New Spain” of Mexico as an absolute monarch—and whose rebuilding of its capital, Tenochtitlan, was Spain’s greatest achievement in the sixteenth century; Francisco Pizarro, who set out with fewer than two hundred men for Peru, infamously executed the last independent Inca ruler, Atahualpa, and was finally murdered amid intrigue; and Hernando de Soto, whose glittering journey to settle land between Rio de la Palmas in Mexico and the southernmost keys of Florida ended in disappointment and death. Hugh Thomas reveals as never before their torturous journeys through jungles, their brutal sea voyages amid appalling storms and pirate attacks, and how a cash-hungry Charles backed them with loans—and bribes—obtained from his German banking friends. A sweeping, compulsively readable saga of kings and conquests, armies and armadas, dominance and power, The Golden Empire is a crowning achievement of the Spanish world’s foremost historian.

“Immigration is now front-page news, and to grasp the background of current issues this is the book to read.” —David Reimers, author of Unwanted Strangers: American Identity and the Turn Against Immigration As renowned historian Roger Daniels shows in this brilliant new work, America’s inconsistent, often illogical, and always cumbersome immigration policy has profoundly affected our recent past. The federal government’s efforts to pick and choose among the multitude of immigrants seeking to enter the United States began with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Conceived in ignorance and falsely presented to the public, it had undreamt of consequences, and this pattern has been rarely deviated from since. Immigration policy in Daniels’ skilled hands shows Americans at their best and worst, from the nativist violence that forced Theodore Roosevelt’s 1907 “gentlemen’s agreement” with Japan to the generous refugee policies adopted after World War Two and throughout the Cold War. And in a conclusion drawn from today’s headlines, Daniels makes clear how far ignorance, partisan politics, and unintended consequences have overtaken immigration policy. Irreverent, deeply informed, and authoritative, Guarding the Golden Door presents an unforgettable interpretation of modern American history. “Engaging and lively.” —Publishers Weekly “As Americans continue to debate immigration in a world divided by international terrorism, few books offer a fuller context for the key issues.” —Booklist “A powerful and provocative argument about why the United States has remained an immigrant country—and why it should stay one for its own benefit.” —Eric Rauchway, author of Murdering McKinley

Lost Treasures from the Golden Era of Americas Game: Forgotten Heroes and Legends of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, focuses on Pro Footballs forgotten stars from the glorious past. They were outstanding players who somehow slipped through the cracks of immortality and should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio but are not. Its been over 40 years for some legends and its a mystery if they will ever be selected to Footballs highest honor. Many of them have just been forgotten. These men defined a bygone era of Pro Football with their brilliant performances. They were the men who made the game and were some of the most exciting players to ever play Pro Football. Many of these guys were pioneers and trailblazers in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. They were stars who showed us how to play their positions and did it in a professional manner. These players provided excitement and happiness to millions of fans across the country and were part of the most popular sport in the world. Lets hope they receive recognition for their accomplishments and be selected to the Hall of Fame. These heroes and legends were just too good to be forgotten. Fans of all ages will enjoy this book. http://www.starsofthenfl.com/index.html

WINNER • 2021 PULITZER PRIZE IN HISTORY Winner • 2022 James Beard Foundation Book Award [Writing] The “stunning” (David W. Blight) untold history of how fast food became one of the greatest generators of black wealth in America. Just as The Color of Law provided a vital understanding of redlining and racial segregation, Marcia Chatelain’s Franchise investigates the complex interrelationship between black communities and America’s largest, most popular fast food chain. Taking us from the first McDonald’s drive-in in San Bernardino to the franchise on Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, in the summer of 2014, Chatelain shows how fast food is a source of both power—economic and political—and despair for African Americans. As she contends, fast food is, more than ever before, a key battlefield in the fight for racial justice.

His old man liked a stiff drink and a close shave, but he drives a convertible and has a tiki bar in his closet. He wears a shiny pegged-leg suit and takes chicks back to his pad. He's cool, he's urbane, he's glib, he's copacetic. He's a cross between James Bond and James T. Kirk, all wrapped up into one smooth-talking, cocktail-mixing package. The swinging space-age bachelor is back!and more prepared than ever with this classic guide. Illustrated with original artifacts and commercial relics from the Beat era and beyond, this very classy little volume offers a hilarious glimpse into the evolution of the modern man-about-town.