That Book Is Dangerous!: How Moral Panic, Social Media, and the Culture Wars Are Remaking Publishing (Adam Szetela)

Adam Szetela’s That Book Is Dangerous! How Moral Panic, Social Media, and the Culture Wars Are Remaking Publishing is an investigation of how the publishing industry is being transformed by a mix of progressive intentions and pressure that predominantly comes from social media. Through dozens of anonymous interviews with editors, authors, agents, and even sensitivity readers, Szetela pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of the Big Five publishing houses.

The core argument is striking. While many on the left focus on conservative efforts to ban books and control curricula, Szetela shows that a different form of censorship is happening within progressive circles. Sensitivity reads are now standard practice, morality clauses are being added to contracts, and editorial decisions are increasingly shaped by the fear of online backlash from platforms like Goodreads, X, TikTok, and public petitions.

One of the most memorable lines in the book suggests that “the left is standing in a circular firing squad.” This metaphor captures the paradox that Szetela explores throughout the book: that movements meant to encourage inclusion and diversity have at times undermined free expression and narrowed the range of voices that are heard. In some instances, what is considered acceptable is defined by a very narrow subset of voices to the detriment of a number of writers.

The book is strongest when it shares firsthand accounts from those inside the industry. From the censorship of Toni Morrison to the rise of niche sensitivity reviewers, these stories bring the issues into sharp focus. That Book Is Dangerous! is a thought provoking and necessary contribution to the ongoing conversation about free speech, censorship, and literature.

MY RATING: 4.5

Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America (Scott Ellsworth)

In Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America, author Scott Ellsworth provides a dramatic retelling of the events of 1864 and early 1865. With page-turning narrative energy, Ellsworth brings the final stretch of the Civil War to life. This period includes the rise of Ulysses S. Grant’s fame as head of the Union army, Sherman’s march through Georgia, and the eventual assasination of Abraham Lincoln.

This period of time was arguably one of the most pivotal in our country’s history. The Civil War was wearing down morale in the North and mounting casualties made Lincoln’s reelection odds in 1864 seem slim. However, Sherman’s capture of Atlanta in September 1864 provided a turning point that, combined with strong support among voting Union soldiers, helped Lincoln win a hard-fought election that Fall.

In addition to major leaders and headliners of the time, the author includes overlooked voices such as runaway slaves, a female war correspondent named Lois Adams, and other lesser-known participants who provide added context and insight to the events of this timeframe. Ellsworth also provides added insight into the shifting methods of how war was conducted by the South, changing from mostly conventional field battle into more rogue and guerrilla tactics in an attempt to prolong the war. Those rogue tactics gradually wrap in a headlining actor of the day, who becomes a part of the plot to take down Lincoln.

Midnight on the Potomac is a very solid and exciting historical book that highlights the relatively precarious state of the Union effort in 1864 and how a few key events changed the course of the war and American history. It’s a captivating read that will keep you glued to its pages.

MY RATING: 4.5

The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life (Jimmy Hawkins)

One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. There's something about watching George Bailey running down the streets of Bedford Falls yelling "Merry Christmas!" that brings tears to my eyes every time. In The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Hawkins (who played Tommy Bailey) helps readers explore the messages of the beloved movie.

Each short chapter starts with an excerpt of the dialogue from a scene. Then Hawkins offers his take on what that excerpt means and how we can apply it to our own lives. He also provides never-before-heard facts about the cast and crew, including some very poignant remembrances of Jimmy Stewart.

While it could have used much more detail, The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life is a lovely reminder of the themes from a movie that never gets old. 

MY RATING: 4

Ring of Fire: A New History of the World at War: 1914 (Alexandra Churchill and Nicolai Eberholst)

In Ring of Fire: A New History of the World at War: 1914, authors Alexandra Churchill and Nicolai Eberholst provide a historical account of the early weeks of World War I. Churchill (not related to Winston) and Eberholst document with great detail the early stages of World War I, highlighting the actions taken by main combatants and the impact the fighting had on not only Europe, but also indirectly on the rest of the world. 

Drawing on previously unused primary sources in over twenty languages, the authors bring to light perspectives from Australia, Canada, North Africa, Argentina, and beyond. These diverse perspectives helped put forth the view that despite best efforts by many countries, neutrality was virtually impossible in the face of this global rupture.

The book weaves together the experiences of both soldiers and civilians, from colonial conscripts seizing an opportunity or fleeing hardship, to diplomats overwhelmed by the collapse of European stability, to ordinary people caught in the crossfire. These stories helped set the stage for what the next thirty years of history would bring about, both in wars and in the tumult that separated the two global conflicts.

Ring of Fire is a meticulous work that highlights the early weeks of World War I. It serves as essential reading for historians of this war and of the early 20th Century.

MY RATING: 4