Summer of '76

14 bicentennial reads that take you back

This year we have been celebrating America’s 250^th birthday—a major milestone that will forever be remembered by the historical and cultural times we’re living in now. And we thought it would be fun to dial back the clock and take a look at the books we were reading during the nation’s bicentennial celebration fifty years ago.

Some of these titles tapped into the cultural zeitgeist of that moment in history. Others offer something universal that speaks to all times. Whatever the reason, they still have a place on our shelves. Here are fourteen of the most iconic titles released in 1976.

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice

Fans can preorder the dazzling 50^th Anniversary Edition of Rice’s spellbinding debut, a gothic horror novel that launched both the author’s illustrious career, the bestselling Vampire Chronicles series, and multiple adaptations including the 1994 film and 2022 TV series.   

Passages by Gail Sheehy

Before this landmark volume was published, the life cycle was largely defined by male-centric models of adulthood. In her research, Sheehy interviewed hundreds of men and women across the U.S., revealing distinct phases of adulthood and offering a more nuanced, gender-specific framework of development.

The Deep by Peter Benchley

In this thriller from the author of Jaws, a couple honeymooning in Bermuda take a scuba diving trip, looking for the wreck of a sunken ship. What they find lures them into a strange and increasingly terrifying encounter with past and present, a struggle for salvage and survival along the floor of the sea.

The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank by Erma Bombeck

She might well be considered the original "mommy blogger." Starting in 1965, Bombeck developed a devoted following for her humor-filled newspaper column chronicling the life of a Midwestern suburban housewife. This book was her fourth bestselling collection.  

Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart

After the sudden death of her father, Bryony Ashley is haunted by his final warning of a family curse. Like many of Stewart’s novels, this gothic romantic mystery contains supernatural elements and literary references. Here, all of the chapter headings are drawn from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov

This classic collection, sparkling with Asimov’s characteristic inventiveness and imagination, includes the title story about a domestic robot who gradually develops sentience and seeks recognition as a human. The story, considered one of the artist’s finest, was adapted into a 1999 movie starring Robin Williams.

Mr. Impossible by Roger Hargreaves

The Mr. Men series, created by English author and illustrator Hargreaves, is one of the most enduring children’s book franchises of the 20th century. Its significance lies in its unique storytelling approach, cultural impact, and lasting influence on children's literature.

Roots by Alex Haley

Drawing from Haley's family history, this novel tells the multigenerational story of the family of Kunta Kinte, who is sold into slavery in the United States. The book electrified the nation, winning a Pulitzer Prize and topping the New York Times bestseller list for 22 weeks. The celebrated miniseries followed a year later.

A New Hope: Star Wars: Episode IV by Alan Dean Foster and George Lucas

You may be surprised to learn that the first Star Wars novel, originally titled Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, preceded the movie, coming out several months before the film's release. It was ghostwritten by Foster but credited to Star Wars director Lucas.

The Final Days by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

A follow-up to their Pulitzer Prize-winning political investigation, All the President's Men, this volume concerns itself with the unsettled and unsettling final months of Richard Nixon's presidency including battles over the White House tapes and the impeachment process.

Raise the Titanic by Clive Cussler

On orders from the Pentagon, marine explorer Dirk Pitt must salvage crucial material from the world's most infamous maritime disaster. Racing against brutal storms, Soviet spies, and a ticking clock, Pitt embarks on his most thrilling mission in this thriller that inspired a 1980 feature film.

Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey

Long before A Game of Thrones and Fourth Wing, McCaffrey's beloved Dragonriders of Pern series, finds humans joining forces with dragons on the distant planet Pern. In the first book of the Harper Hall trilogy, Fifteen-year-old Menolly allies with a group of dragons in pursuit of her dreams.

Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie

Gwenda Reed's new home, a charming Victorian villa, is giving the lovely new bride the strangest feeling of déjà vu and a deep sense of dread. Can her husband's aunt, the intrepid Miss Marple, solve the mystery? Christie’s final published novel, this gem was published after her 1976 death.

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins

When it was first published, this popular science book set off a wave of excitement among both scientists and lay readers. A vivid rendering of a gene’s eye view of life, it offered far-reaching implications about evolution and natural selection, insights that remain relevant and significant forty years later.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon