How to Hide an Emire by Daniel Immerwahr

Ask most people to picture the United States and they’ll sketch the familiar outline: the lower forty-eight, maybe Alaska and Hawaii floating in a corner box. This book asks you to look again.

Here is the story of the Greater United States, the overseas territories, island outposts, and colonies that have always been part of the American story, even when they’ve been left off the map. Puerto Rico. The Philippines. Guam. American Samoa. Tiny guano islands claimed for their bird droppings. It’s a surprising, sharp, and often startling history, told with real narrative flair.

This one is a conversation-starter. It’s the kind of book that makes you set it down mid-chapter and say, “Wait, did you know…?” It was widely praised and appeared on many best-of-the-year lists, and it’s easy to see why. The research is deep, but the writing never feels heavy. It’s accessible, curious, and brisk.

You’ll love this if you:

• Enjoy narrative nonfiction that changes how you see the world
• Are curious about American history beyond the textbook version
• Like books on geography, politics, and power
• Want a smart, thought-provoking gift for the history buff in your life

It’s the sort of book we love to put in a customer’s hands here at the shop, ideally right before they head out to the footbridge with the sea air at their back. Settle in with a thick, satisfying read and let your sense of the map get a little bigger.

Pick up a copy and linger over the pages. We think you’ll be glad you did.