The Island at the Center of the World - by Russell Shorto (Paperback)

The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto is a groundbreaking narrative that reveals the astonishing truth about the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which pre-dated the Pilgrims and established ideals of tolerance and individual rights that shaped American history.

This book will permanently alter the way you regard your collective past.

Drawing on 12,000 pages of recently translated records, Shorto brings to life a cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic capital, where citizens valued free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom.

The struggle between two strong-willed men, Adriaen van der Donck and Peter Stuyvesant, laid the foundation for New York City and helped shape America.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history and the origins of our nation's values.