State Building

In Institution Building in Weak States, Andrew Radin argues that the international community's approach to building state institutions needs its own reform. This innovative book proposes a new strategy, rooted in a rigorous analysis of recent missions.

In June 1846, General Stephen Watts Kearny rode out of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with two thousand soldiers, bound for California. At the time, the nation was hell-bent on expansion: James K. Polk had lately won the presidency by threatening England over the borders in Oregon, while Congress had just voted to annex Texas. After Mexico declared war on the United States, Kearny’s Army of the West was sent out, carrying orders to occupy Mexican territory. Winston Groom recounts the amazing adventure and danger that Kearny and his troops encountered on the trail.

A monumental tale of American ambition, told by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and master historian David McCullough. This gripping saga of the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the country’s boldest engineering achievements, reveals not only the politics and personalities behind...

Later known as the Weston State Hospital, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum formerly functioned as a prominent psychiatric facility in northern West Virginia. Using the findings of Doctor Thomas Kirkbride and the wishes of Dorothea Dix as the foundation for the structure, the hospital was meant to hold a mere two-hundred and fifty patients upon its opening in 1864. However, by the time it closed in 1994, it was home to over two thousand patients. During the thirteen decades of its existence, officials sanctioned the use of a vast array of medical techniques to serve as treatment to the ...

This riveting, true account of the 1929 race to build New York City's tallest skyscraper evokes the glory of an exciting time long past.

A Sweeping History of The Great State of New York From the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to the gleaming towers of Manhattan, New York has been at the center of the American story for four centuries. This sweeping narrative traces how a Dutch trading post became the nation's indispensable state—shaping revolutions, building canals that opened a continent, welcoming waves of immigrants who transformed a nation, and creating the financial and cultural capital of the modern world. Through vivid storytelling and sharp analysis, The Empire State reveals how New York's history illuminates America's...

America's Constitutional Republic is like no other. Most Americans recognize the names George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, but few can tell you their stories—much less that of James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, or Andrew Jackson. These seven men from the Founding Ear were America's first presidents. They established our republic on the foundation of the Constitution and its liberties.

Who built the Empire State Building? Astonishingly, no list of workmen on this historic landmark was ever compiled. While the names of the owners, architects, and contractors are well known, and Lewis Hine's legendary portraits left us indelible images of the workers, their identities—the last generation of workmen still practicing these time-honored trades, have not been identified until author Glenn Kurtz unearthed their individual stories for this book.

Brian Phillips Murphy follows the collaborations between political leaders and a group of unelected political entrepreneurs, including Robert R. Livingston and Alexander Hamilton, who persuaded legislative powers to grant monopolies corporate status in order to finance and manage civic institutions.

Conceived in the early 1800s and completed in 1825, the Erie Canal was the boldest and biggest American engineering project of its century, with enduring political, social, and economic effects. It was the Erie Canal that first opened up the West to American enterprise and imagination, bringing vast riches and a far-reaching vision to a rapidly expanding nation.In this compelling narrative, author Gerard Koeppel tells the complete, sweeping story of the creation of the canal.

Empire State Building History & Travel Guide: Discover the Legacy, Secrets, and Views of NYC’s Most Iconic Skyscraper is your complete companion to one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Whether you're planning a visit or fascinated by architecture and history, this engaging guide brings the story of the Empire State Building to life. Explore how this American icon rose from a bold idea during the Great Depression to become a global symbol of innovation, resilience, and beauty. Learn about the engineering feats behind its rapid construction, how it evolved through the decades, and...

Don’t waste time — get licensed fast. Conquer the Residential Contractor Exam in Under 90 Minutes is your no-fluff, high-impact study guide for passing your state’s residential contractor licensing test the first time. Whether you're pursuing a license in homebuilding, remodeling, or residential construction supervision, this concise review focuses on what really matters. Covering core concepts in structural framing, building materials, safety codes, site preparation, HVAC and electrical basics, contracts, estimating, and residential code compliance, this guide is designed for ...

"Conquer the Building Inspector Exam: Your Guide to Structural, Architectural, and Safety Inspections" is a comprehensive study guide designed to help candidates excel in the building inspector exam. The book is divided into meticulously structured chapters that cover a wide range of topics, ensuring a thorough understanding of the key areas required for the exam. The guide begins with an introduction to the role of a building inspector, emphasizing the importance of building codes, standards, and key skills necessary for the job. It then delves into specific codes and regulations, ...

Why the American Revolution, of all the great revolutions, was the only enduring success. Through the Founders' own voices - and in the homes they designed and built to embody the ideal of domestic happiness they fought to achieve - we come to understand why the American Revolution, of all great revolutions, was the only enduring success. The Founders were vivid, energetic men, with sophisticated worldviews, and this magnificent reckoning of their successes draws liberally from their own eloquent writings on their actions and well-considered intentions.

His very name inspires awe, horror, and, for some of the greatest masters of contemporary science fiction, a strong affection. Find out why in this special collector's edition of the original 1932 novelization of Wallace and Cooper's movie that includes commentary by masters of science fiction Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, Orson Scott Card, Harlan Ellison, Larry Niven, Catherine Asaro, Jack Williamson, and Marc Zicree.

An elite Navy SEAL Team 6 operator trained to kill the United States’ most dangerous enemies takes readers inside the unadulterated, morally complicated and riveting post-military adventures of a lethal American mercenary. In American Mercenary, Daniel Corbett takes readers on a wild ride...

The Empire State Building was constructed using the art deco style, which was trendy during the era. It had been used for other skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building, but that's where the comparisons end. At the time, the Empire State Building was unprecedented in almost every aspect of its creation. With a race for dizzying heights underway, ground was broken on the Empire State Building on St. Patrick's Day 1930. The ceremony marking its completion would come just a little more than a year later.

FROM THE PULIZTER-PRIZE WINNING STAFF OF THE NEW YORK TIMES, this edition of THE JANUARY 6 REPORT offers the definitive record of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, with exclusive reporting, eyewitness accounts and analysis. Listen to the report from the select committee’s investigation into...

A New York Times Notable Book A lively, immersive history by an award-winning urbanist of New York City’s transformation, and the lessons it offers for the city’s future. Dangerous, filthy, and falling apart, garbage piled on its streets and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble; New...

Rashid examines Central Asia, and the corridors of power in Washington and Europe, to see how the promised nation building in the region has progressed. His conclusions are devastating.