A very similar question has been asked regarding which templating library is best . I would even consider flagging this as a duplicate question, but since you asked " is there not newer or more recent examples available? " -- I'll bite.
This is more of an opinion based question rather than one someone can factually answer. There is not the best but just different tools for the job. First I will say that the reason why you may only be seeing years old libraries for CI is because many have jumped shipped to newer frameworks that use namespacing and newer php 5.3 features.
This is not saying CI is bad, I still use it for a few of my projects.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.