The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brough The American Ideal West
by David McCullough
An inspiring tale of little-known patriots and the big-time impact they had on America. Drawn in great part from a rare and all-but- unknown collection of diaries and letters by the key figures, The Pioneers is a uniquely American story of people whose ambition and courage led them to remarkable accomplishments.
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan The trade routes which connected the East and the West also led to the spread of ideas, cultures and religions. In the midst of the budding trade war, perhaps some history on trade between China and the world might shed some light on current affairs.