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The End of the Sixties: What Happened in 1969
50 years later: Woodstock, Stonewall Riots, the moon landing, and more.
Published on April 18, 2019
1969: The Year Everything Changed
Rob KirkpatrickA dizzying number of generation-defining events rocked the culture in 1969, and we’re still feeling the reverberations today. Kirkpatrick chronicles the upheaval, from highs like the Apollo 11 moon landing and Woodstock, to lows like the Manson murders and Altamont.
Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl TEAM That Changed Football
Bob LedererFifty years ago, an explosive underdog victory changed American football forever. The New York Jets shocked the nation when they beat the Baltimore Colts in the third-ever Super Bowl. “Beyond Broadway Joe” puts you on the gridiron and in the huddle with superstar quarterback Joe Namath in the game that made Super Bowls a thing.
Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution
David CarterIn 1969, homosexuality was still illegal in most states. Riots broke out that summer in response to a series of police raids on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Known as the Stonewall riots, the protests launched the modern LGBTQ rights movement. This is the definitive account of the legendary uprising, and PBS adapted it into the American Experience documentary “Stonewall Uprising.”
American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race
Douglas BrinkleyOn July 20th, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the lunar surface. Fifty years later, this is the fascinating story of all the men and women who got him there, the technology that launched him into orbit and returned him safely back to Earth, and the powerful political tensions that triggered the race to put a man on the moon.
First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
James R. HansenNeil Armstrong became a larger-than-life figure after taking that giant leap for mankind. Author James Hansen brings this star of aviation back down to Earth in this detailed, myth-busting biography. (Ryan Gosling plays Armstrong in the movie adaptation.)
Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins Of The Internet
Matthew LyonYou can thank (or blame) 1969 for all your current favorite viral videos, because on October 29 the first message was sent over ARPANET (the internet forerunner), paving the way for puppy memes galore. This fascinating history of the internet introduces you to the visionary computer geeks who turned the audacious idea of computers talking to each other into reality.