-
-
About
UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: History
Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics – Elle Reeve
(Reviewed by JD Jung) I’ve been amazed how CNN correspondent Elle Reeve has put herself in risky situations to get a story as well as to obtain the perspective of potentially dangerous people. This is even more evident in her … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Social Justice
Tagged alt-right, January 6, neo-fascism
Comments Off on Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics – Elle Reeve
The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History – Karen Valby
(Reviewed by JD Jung) At the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, five original dancers from the Dance Theater of Harlem formed the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council. Lydia Abarca, Gayle Mc-Kinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells, and Karlya Shelton … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction
Tagged ballet, black history, dancers, racism
Comments Off on The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History – Karen Valby
Benetton: A true story – Francesco della Barba
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Benetton: A True Story offers a fascinating journey through the history of one of the most iconic fashion brands of the 1980s. Written by Francesco della Barba, the Executive Vice-President of Benetton USA, this memoir provides … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction
Tagged Britain, Business, fashion, Italy, memoirs
Comments Off on Benetton: A true story – Francesco della Barba
The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen
(reviewed by JD Jung) “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. But what did the “pursuit of Happiness” mean to the founding fathers? American legal scholar, Jeffrey Rosen uncovers … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Philosophical reads
Tagged American History, happiness, justice, philosophy, racism, slavery
Comments Off on The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America – Jeffrey Rosen
C’mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock -David Fantle and Tom Johnson
(Review and poem by Betty Jo Tucker) #CommissionsEarned Summer Stock, a movie I love, now a book on the making of. Ring cowbells and shout hooray What a great read to have today! Questions answered? Oh, yes indeed. Everything fans … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Poetry
Tagged movies
Comments Off on C’mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock -David Fantle and Tom Johnson
Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility – Rebecca Solnit & Thelma Young-Lutunatabua
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Nothing is inevitable, and that’s crucial to remember in this fight.” Personally, I have felt both hopeless and helpless when it comes to preserving our planet and fighting climate change. Not Too Late convinced … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Social Justice
Tagged climate change, colonization, ecology, Indigenous peoples
Comments Off on Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility – Rebecca Solnit & Thelma Young-Lutunatabua
Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You – Keir Giles
(Reviewed by JD Jung) When I started reading Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You, I thought “I know all of this.”, as I considered myself relatively informed on the subject. However, I am so glad that … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice
Tagged cyber-crime, disinformation, espionage, media, military, murder, Putin, Russia, Soviet Union, war
Comments Off on Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You – Keir Giles
They Got Daddy: One Family’s Reckoning with Racism and Faith – Sharon Tubbs
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “This story would reveal parts of who I am, as a Black woman in America, by discovering who my grandfather was.” This was not her original intention though. She wanted to learn more about her grandfather’s … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Social Justice
Tagged African American history, Alabama, memoirs, race relations, racism
Comments Off on They Got Daddy: One Family’s Reckoning with Racism and Faith – Sharon Tubbs
Hotel Splendide – Ludwig Bemelmans
(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned The comical 1941 out-of-print memoir of author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans (1898- 1962) has just been re-released by Puskin Press. Bemelmans would later write the Madeline children’s book series. However, this memoir covers his few … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Immigration, Non-fiction
Tagged American History, humor, immigration, memoir, New York
Comments Off on Hotel Splendide – Ludwig Bemelmans
Uncle Charlie Killed Dutch Schultz: The Jewish Mob: A Family Affair – Alan Geik
(Reviewed by Don Jung) #CommissionsEarned There are a lot of family histories out there to read about, but this one is different. While Alan Geik’s parents were not directly in the mafia, many of their relatives and friends he met … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Non-fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged Crime, gangsters, Mafia, Prohibition, WWII
Comments Off on Uncle Charlie Killed Dutch Schultz: The Jewish Mob: A Family Affair – Alan Geik