David Nasaw Libros

Examines the life of Joseph P Kennedy, the founder of the twentieth century's most famous political dynasty. This book tells the story of a man who participated in the major events of his times: the booms and busts, the Depression and the New Deal, two world wars and the Cold War, and the birth of the New Frontier.

In May 1945, after German forces surrendered to the Allied powers, millions of concentration camp survivors, POWs, slave laborers, political prisoners, and Nazi collaborators were left behind in Germany, a nation in ruins. British and American soldiers attempted to repatriate the refugees, but more than a million displaced persons remained in Germany- Jews, Poles, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, and other Eastern Europeans who refused to go home or had no homes to return to. Most would eventually be resettled in lands suffering from postwar labor shortages, but no nation, including the United States, was willing to accept more than a handful of the 200,000 to 250,000 Jewish men, women, and children who remained trapped in Germany. When in June, 1948, the United States Congress passed legislation permitting the immigration of displaced persons, visas were granted to sizable numbers of war criminals and Nazi collaborators, but denied to 90% of the Jewish displaced persons. A masterwork from acclaimed historian David Nasaw, The Last Million tells the gripping but until now hidden story of postwar displacement and statelessness and of the Last Million, as they crossed from a broken past into an unknowable future, carrying with them their wounds, their fears, their hope, and their secrets. Here for the first time, Nasaw illuminates their incredible history and shows us how it is our history as well

Focusing on the lives of children during the early twentieth century, the book offers a vivid portrayal of urban growth and the hopes that accompanied it. David Nasaw utilizes a wealth of memoirs, autobiographies, and oral histories to illuminate the experiences of these children, revealing their familial bonds, daily routines, and aspirations. Through this rich tapestry of personal narratives, readers gain insight into a transformative era in American social history, seen through the eyes of its youngest inhabitants.

A New York Times bestseller, this biography offers a definitive account of Andrew Carnegie’s life, crafted by celebrated historian David Nasaw. Known for his meticulous research, Nasaw brings new insights into the story of one of America’s most renowned businessmen and philanthropists. Born in Scotland in 1835, Carnegie is famous for founding Carnegie Steel and exemplifying the American dream. His journey from a poor linen weaver’s son to the world’s richest man is told with dramatic flair. After moving to Pittsburgh at thirteen, he rose from bobbin boy in a cotton factory to immense wealth, dedicating his later years to philanthropy and advocating for international peace. Despite his accomplishments as a successful businessman, self-educated writer, and peace activist, Carnegie remains an enigma. Nasaw explores how he amassed his fortune and why he chose to give it away, detailing his opposition to the Spanish-American War and his efforts for global peace. Utilizing a wealth of new materials, including unpublished chapters of Carnegie’s Autobiography, personal letters, and extensive correspondence with prominent figures, Nasaw skillfully reveals the complexities of Carnegie’s character while situating his life within the broader cultural and political landscape.

Describes the life of William Randolph Hearst, head of an American publishing empire by the 1930s, strong political presence, and subject of the film "Citizen Kane."