Steve Cone

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A Night to Remember by Walter Lord (Bantam, $13). So much has been written about the Titanic, but the best account is this first one. This early-20th-century story is so powerful and such a necessary reminder about the hubris of believing that advanced technology, in any era, is a substitute for just plain common sense. Interesting tidbit: The New York Times was considered a second-rate newspaper until its coverage of this tragedy at sea.

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Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose (Simon & Schuster, $17). The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition—one of the most fascinating adventure stories ever told. Stephen Ambrose gives us an intimate look at the highs and lows of leadership, politics, endurance, and the boundless curiosity of explorers.

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The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer (Simon & Schuster, $25). The one book that should be read about how one of the greatest cultures of all time fell under Hitler’s spell, resulting in World War II and the deaths of 80 million people.

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Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar by Simon Sebag Montefiore (Knopf, $19). A riveting account of the most audacious mass murderer of all time. Stalin was an absolute evil genius and almost beyond human comprehension. Simon Montefiore’s book reads like a fast-paced fiction thriller; unfortunately, it’s all true.

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Goodbye, Darkness by William Manchester (Back Bay Books, $17). William Manchester was an eminent historian with an engaging literary style, and this autobiography of his near-death experience in the Pacific during World War II is in a class by itself. The courage of the American foot soldier in battle has rarely been conveyed in such a powerful firsthand account.

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Making Sense of Menopause

Making Sense of Menopause

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