WWII

10 25, 2017

MPL Talks: Winston Churchill & the Battle of Britain

By |2017-10-25T06:00:33-04:00October 25, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series concludes with a closer look at Winston Churchill.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

  • Churchill’s acumen as a leader, speaker, soldier, writer, war correspondent, and drinker.
  • Churchill’s relationship with Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Stalin.

For those who want a deeper dive into Churchill’s life, Foster recommends the William Manchester biographies.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

08 29, 2017

MPL Talks: The Life of Josef Stalin

By |2017-08-29T06:00:26-04:00August 29, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series continued with a program about Josef Stalin, our ally during the war and greatest threat afterward.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

  • Stalin’s rise through the ranks of his party
  • his misdeeds, from armed robbery to mass murder
  • the difference between Stalinism, Leninism, and Marxism
  • how Stalin would “erase” his opponents from history

For those who want a deeper dive into Stalin’s life, Foster recommends Stephen Kotkin’s, Stalin Vol. I: Paradoxes of Power.

If you enjoy history, the next talk in our WWII series will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, at our Main Branch. The subject will be Winston Churchill.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

07 13, 2017

MPL Talks: Franklin Delano Roosevelt & WWII

By |2017-07-13T06:00:42-04:00July 13, 2017|

Our Major Leaders of World War II series continued with a program about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the longest-serving president in the country’s history.

Our speaker, John Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed:

• how his Roosevelt’s father’s illness contributed to his personality
• why someone tried to assassinate Roosevelt shortly after he was elected president
• his troubled marriage with Eleanor Roosevelt
• how he interacted with other world leaders like Churchill and Stalin
• the two biggest mistakes he made while in office.

If you enjoy history, the next talk in our WWII series will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, at our Main Branch. The subject will be Joseph Stalin.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

04 3, 2017

MPL Talks: Nazism in Power

By |2017-04-03T06:00:01-04:00April 3, 2017|


If Dr. John Foster’s talk on the rise of National Socialism in Germany intrigued you, its sequel will fascinate you.

Recently, Foster—who, in addition to being a librarian, also has a doctorate degree in history—discussed the Nazi Party in power both before and during World War II.

We now share it here, so you may enjoy it—even if you missed the talk initially.

During the program, Foster examines:

  • how National Socialism’s particular brand of anti-Semitism was especially malevolent. (Not that any form of bigotry is admirable.)
  • how Adolf Hitler’s Germany gradually dehumanized and then exterminated certain sub-populations of humans.
  • how the Nazi Party wasn’t organized—and we use that word loosely—as most people expect or assume.
  • the inherent danger in deciding a group of people “isn’t one of us.”

If you love WWII history and enjoy Foster’s talks, you’ll want to catch his new Major Leaders of World War II series.

The first talk is 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, at our Main Branch. The topic will be the life of Hitler. (It will be his birthday, after all.)

The program is free and open to everyone. However, we do ask that you register beforehand. You can sign up online or call us at (440) 255-8811 ext. 216.

Other historical talks by Foster can be watched on our YouTube page, including:

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