All the President’s Men, by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein (Simon and Schuster). The book behind the Oscar-winning film and one of the most incredible pieces of investigative journalism in history. Follow the journey of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, journalists from the Washington Post, as they discover the secret behind the Watergate break-in, leading to the exposé of the biggest political scandal in America’s history and the only resignation of a U.S. president. Woodward and Bernstein are like yin and yang, each with their distinct method of investigative journalism, but they work seamlessly together to discover the truth. The book reveals how journalists investigate news stories, giving a newfound appreciation for their work. – Robert Cerniglia ’24
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, by Alex Haley (Doubleday). Published in 1965, just nine months after the assassination of Malcolm X, this autobiography provides the experience of living during the Jim Crow era through the lens of Malcolm. From the colorism that he faced in Lansing, Michigan, because of his light skin, to the white supremacy rooted deep into the “Negro” people who wore “conks” as a symbol of higher status, to his struggles of becoming a Muslim and joining the Nation of Islam—the book depicts every detail and gives the reader a firsthand account of who Malcom X was. – Musa Jabateh ’24
Black Hawk Down, by Mark Bowden (Signet Books). This journalistic masterpiece tells the ruthless story of an American mission to capture certain Habr Gidr clan members in the city of Mogadishu, Somalia. Bowden creates a thrilling account, intricately explaining in real time what took place during the disastrous mission. It focuses on the struggle for survival in the midst of great adversity primarily through Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann and other soldiers’ eyes. This “grab and snatch” operation was supposed to be a smooth and deathless mission, but after two Black Hawk rescue helicopters were shot down, they were in for a night of hell on earth, pinned down by heavy fire. -Banks Young ’24
Into the Wild, by Joe Krakauer (Villard). Krakauer tells the story of the disappearance of Christopher McCandless. The story opens with the discovery of McCandless’s body in Denali National Park. During the FBI investigation, McCandless’s storyline seems not to add up. However, when the case becomes public knowledge years later, Krakauer conducts his own investigation. After graduating from university, and unbeknownst to his family, McCandless begins an unplanned excursion, during which he makes his way through the West Coast and eventually ends up in Alaska. While investigating McCandless’s case, Krauker finds himself in several unideal situations, but his discovery is worthwhile as McCandless’s true story is revealed. – Jai Bonaparte ’24
