2024 in review: history behind the headlines

In *The Green Ages*, historian Annette Kehnel delves into medieval sustainability practices, highlighting communities that implemented sustainable systems such as barter trade, sustainable fishing, common lands, and crowdfunding for infrastructure. The book draws parallels between these historical practices and modern sustainability needs, demonstrating that premodern societies had innovative and effective methods for living sustainably. Kehnel's work challenges the conventional view of the Middle Ages and offers practical lessons from the past to address contemporary environmental issues.

In this comprehensive history, Kathleen DuVal reframes North American history by centering Indigenous power and sovereignty. The book spans a millennium, from the rise of ancient cities to the present day, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Native nations. DuVal challenges traditional narratives by showing that Native Americans were empowered agents who managed complex political, social, and economic matters, often outmatching their European counterparts. The book covers various Native nations, such as the Mohawks, Quapaws, Shawnees, and Cherokees, and their interactions with European colonizers, emphasizing their continued influence and sovereignty despite historical challenges.

In 'Judgment at Tokyo', Gary J. Bass provides an authoritative and detailed account of the Tokyo war-crimes trial, which followed World War II. The book delves into the complexities of the trial, including the political tensions, the debate over Emperor Hirohito's guilt, and the failure to prosecute key figures like Shirō Ishii. Bass examines how the trial reflected the postwar geopolitical landscape, including the rise of communism in China and the onset of the Cold War. The book is a result of a decade of research and offers a riveting narrative of wartime actions, courtroom battles, and the formative years of the postwar era in the Asia-Pacific region.

This book by Andrew C. McKevitt explores the complex and contentious relationship between America and firearms, particularly in the post-World War II era. It delves into how the influx of cheap surplus firearms from WWII, combined with Cold War anxieties and unfettered consumer capitalism, led to a significant increase in gun ownership and violence in the United States. The book examines key figures, cultural flashpoints, and legislative milestones such as the Gun Control Act of 1968, highlighting the roles of consumerism, racial and social anxieties, and the evolution of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in shaping American gun culture. McKevitt's work provides a nuanced understanding of the historical roots of contemporary gun debates and policies in America.