Major Historical Trends

Our summer reading will be The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America, by Russell Shorto. Even if you aren’t (or weren’t) a New Yorker, you’ll have to admit that Shorto has chosen an irresistible topic. Truth or myth: the island was purchased for $24? Truth or myth: Peter Stuyvesant was a cartoonish, peg-legged character? Who was his antagonist, Adriaen van der Donck? Barbara Tuchman calls this book “as readable as a finely written novel.” The Wall Street Journal describes it as “a masterpiece of storytelling and first-rate intellectual history.” Others have called it “a landmark work,” “deliciously rich and witty,” and “a triumph of scholarship and a rollicking narrative.” Join this group’s discussions. Each session will be led by a different member of this decades-running group. These will be fully interactive discussions, giving the group insights and viewpoints from people of many backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. The book is available online in paperback at a lessthan-modest price. Look for The Island at the Center of the World (ISBN: 978-1-4000-7867-7).