The 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence invites not only curiosity about early American and Revolutionary-era history but also reflection on how historical events have shaped the nation as it exists today. Here, a few historians discuss how their work, frequently published with university presses, meets the current moment, fueling widespread interest in America’s past and informing our better understanding of the present.
Association of University Presses (AUPresses) members share a commitment to advancing knowledge and have long published works that are essential to understanding a wide range of complex subjects. Earlier this year, our member presses curated a collection of more than 100 books, offered for sale on Bookshop.org, that provide new insights not only on Revolutionary-era history but also on America as a work-in-progress, 250 years along.
As July 4, 2026, nears, our members invite readers to take a deeper dive into America’s history during the Founding and since then, with the following reading lists, teaching materials, and commentary:
Association of University Presses members share a commitment to advancing knowledge and they have long published scholarly works that contribute to readers’ understanding of complex ideas and events. Here are selected books, journal articles, booklists, and commentary from our member presses and their expert authors, offering essential reading to all who seek context for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and responses throughout the Middle East.
The movement of people from one place of residence to another is as old as humankind itself. So how and why does human migration collide with geopolitics periodically, resulting in the demonization of human beings who have chosen to migrate or been forced to flee?
Association of University Presses members around the world have long published scholarly works that contribute to understanding even the most complex systems and contentious current events.
Here is essential reading on migration and immigration—selected books, journal articles, and commentary from our member presses and their expert authors—for all who seek to understand these topics more deeply than they are represented in today’s headlines.
2024 has been a big year for democratic elections around the world, as more than 3 billion people in 72 countries have gone to the polls. Robust elections definitely contribute to healthy democracies but what else is required, outside the voting booth, for democracy to flourish?
“Resilient democracies require good governance, which cannot be created overnight but is built on accountable social and political institutions, with norms, values and a culture based on respect for human rights.”
– Marcos Neto, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UN Development Programme Bureau for Policy and Programme Support
Association of University Presses members around the world have long published scholarly works that contribute to understanding even the most complex systems and contentious current events. Here are selected books, journal articles, reading lists, and commentary from our member presses and their expert authors in a wide range of fields, offering essential reading to all who seek to understand and nurture democracy.
February 21, 2023. As the first anniversary of Russia’s horrific invasion of Ukraine nears, our community’s resources for understanding the region and this brutal war continue to offer much-needed knowledge and context.
Below is an updated and expanded list of books, journal articles, booklists, and commentary from our member presses and their expert authors, essential reading to all who seek to understand the ongoing crisis.
