Suggested Books 2026
Remarkable People of Action
Code Girls: the untold story of the American women who secretly broke codes in World War II by Liza Mundy. This is the amazing true story of the young American women who cracked German and Japanese military codes. More than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II, recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy.
Life After Power: seven presidents and their search for purpose beyond the White House by Jared Cohen. Read about seven former presidents who each decided what to do in their next chapter of life in different ways. This is an interesting read for those of us who are retired or facing retirement and are asking ourselves, “What’s next?”
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. Justice Sotomayor, the first Hispanic on the U.S. Supreme Court, tells the story of her life in an inspiring, personal memoir. She recounts her life from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench, a testament to her determination and the power of believing in oneself.
Personal History by Katherine Graham. Katherine Graham became the publisher of the Washington Post after the death of her husband. Learn about the role of the Washington Post during the era of Watergate and the Pentagon Papers and Graham’s leadership of the Post during this time.
The Sisterhood: the secret history of women at the CIA by Liza Mundy. This book reveals how women at the CIA ushered in the modern intelligence age, a sweeping story of a "sisterhood" of women spies spanning three generations who broke the glass ceiling, helped transform spycraft, and tracked down Osama Bin Laden.
The Small and the Mighty: twelve unsung Americans who changed the course of history, from the founding to the civil rights movement by Sharon McMahon. This is an inspiring portrait of twelve ordinary Americans whose courage formed the character of our country. These remarkable Americans are ordinary people who didn't make it into the textbooks. Read their rich, riveting stories.
Who is Government? the untold story of public service edited by Michael Lewis. These essays spotlight the essential behind-the-scenes work of exemplary federal employees. The profiles dispel the stereotype of the irrelevant bureaucrat and show how the essential work of government makes our lives possible. This was written in early 2025 before recent events.