Publishers: Cornell University Press

About this publisher’s catalog

This catalog offers a thoughtful mix of scholarly nonfiction that explores history, political science, and social dynamics across diverse regions and eras. Readers can expect in-depth examinations of power structures, labor movements, and cultural transformations alongside reflective works on nature and philosophy. The range is broad, inviting exploration by subject or thematic interest.

What you’ll often find

  • Detailed studies of political and military history, often focusing on 20th-century events and revolutions.
  • Analyses of labor relations, industrial change, and economic theory with social and political implications.
  • Explorations of philosophical ideas and intellectual traditions, including hermetic and psychoanalytic thought.
  • Investigations into gender, family structures, and colonial/post-colonial social dynamics.
  • Natural history and environmental observation presented through essays and educational works.
  • Regional studies that connect local histories and ecological perspectives.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches linking political science with sociology, psychology, and cultural critique.

How to browse this shelf

  • Start by selecting topics related to specific historical periods or geopolitical regions to narrow focus.
  • Look for works that combine social science with political analysis for a layered understanding of power and society.
  • Try exploring natural science and environmental titles separately for a change of pace and subject matter.
  • Use thematic clusters such as labor history, philosophy, or gender studies to find interconnected perspectives.
  • Consider browsing by the balance of theoretical versus empirical approaches depending on your reading preference.
  • Seek out titles that emphasize cultural and intellectual history for broader context on social change.
  • Distinguish between narrative-driven nonfiction and more essayistic or reference-style works to match your reading style.

Good fit if you like

  • Careful, evidence-based examinations of historical and political developments.
  • Interdisciplinary insights that connect economics, sociology, and political theory.
  • Reflective and occasionally philosophical writing that challenges conventional narratives.
  • Engagement with environmental and natural world topics through thoughtful observation.
  • Explorations of social structures and cultural identities in global and regional contexts.
  • Books that balance scholarly rigor with accessible prose and clear argumentation.

Generated from the books currently available in this catalog.

  • Phantom Formations Aesthetic Ideology and the Bildungsroman — Marc Redfield

    Phantom Formations Aesthetic Ideology and the Bildungsroman — Marc Redfield

  • The Geography of Money — Benjamin J. Cohen

    The Geography of Money — Benjamin J. Cohen

  • Thucydides and the Pursuit of Freedom — Mary P. Nichols

    Thucydides and the Pursuit of Freedom — Mary P. Nichols

  • Modern European Intellectual History: Reappraisals and New Perspectives — Dominick Lacapra

    Modern European Intellectual History: Reappraisals and New Perspectives — Dominick Lacapra

  • Queen of Sorrows Plague, Piety, and Power in Late Medieval Italy — Bianca M. Lopez

    Queen of Sorrows Plague, Piety, and Power in Late Medieval Italy — Bianca M. Lopez

  • What Good Is Grand Strategy? Power and Purpose in American Statecraft from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush — Hal Brands

    What Good Is Grand Strategy? Power and Purpose in American Statecraft from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush — Hal Brands

  • Conventional Deterrence — John J. Mearsheimer

    Conventional Deterrence — John J. Mearsheimer

  • Voyages From Tongan Villages to American Suburbs — Cathy Small

    Voyages From Tongan Villages to American Suburbs — Cathy Small

  • The End of Grand Strategy US Maritime Operations in the Twenty-first Century — Simon Reich

    The End of Grand Strategy US Maritime Operations in the Twenty-first Century — Simon Reich

  • Organizing the Shipyards Union Strategy in Three Northeast Ports, 1933-1945 — David Palmer

    Organizing the Shipyards Union Strategy in Three Northeast Ports, 1933-1945 — David Palmer

  • Humanitarianism in Question: Politics, Power, Ethics — Michael Barnett

    Humanitarianism in Question: Politics, Power, Ethics — Michael Barnett

  • Calculating Credibility How Leaders Assess Military Threats — Daryl G. Press

    Calculating Credibility How Leaders Assess Military Threats — Daryl G. Press

  • The Endtimes of Human Rights — Stephen Hopgood

    The Endtimes of Human Rights — Stephen Hopgood

  • The Orange Riots Irish Political Violence in New York City, 1870 and 1871 — Michael Allen Gordon

    The Orange Riots Irish Political Violence in New York City, 1870 and 1871 — Michael Allen Gordon

  • The Kitchen God and His Wives A Modern Chinese Folk Epic — Idema

    The Kitchen God and His Wives A Modern Chinese Folk Epic — Idema

  • The Sources of Military Doctrine France, Britain, and Germany Between the World Wars — Barry Posen

    The Sources of Military Doctrine France, Britain, and Germany Between the World Wars — Barry Posen

  • Medieval Sex Lives The Sounds of Courtly Intimacy on the Francophone Borders — Elizabeth Eva Leach

    Medieval Sex Lives The Sounds of Courtly Intimacy on the Francophone Borders — Elizabeth Eva Leach

  • Freedomland Co-op City and the Story of New York — Annemarie Sammartino

    Freedomland Co-op City and the Story of New York — Annemarie Sammartino

  • The Transmission of Affect — Teresa Brennan

    The Transmission of Affect — Teresa Brennan