Our patchwork country is a land of many stories – many colorful, many contradictory, some celebratory, some hard to swallow. Following the United States’ 250th birthday, First Light Books is compiling and discussing 50 works of fiction, memoir, history, poetry, commentary, art, and cooking that have documented or shaped our nation’s tale. To kick off the conversation series, book buyer Sam Ackerman is joined by Brian Jones, the New York Public Library’s senior director of reading & engagement, to ponder the power of curation and institutional responsibility in shaping the story of America. – Caroline Drew
