Sign in with Facebook
Best American History Books
Books about the history of the United States. Non-fiction only, please. Biographies of generals, presidents, activists, etc. are fine, but celebrity bios, even celebrities who lived in turbulent times, will be removed. To be considered History and not Current Events, books must focus on events that occurred at least 50 years ago.
See also:
Best 19th Century American (U.S.) History - 3.7 Stars and Up
Best 20th Century American (U.S.) History - 3.7 Stars and Up
See also:
Best 19th Century American (U.S.) History - 3.7 Stars and Up
Best 20th Century American (U.S.) History - 3.7 Stars and Up
Tags:
18th-century-history, 19th-century-history, 20th-century-history, aboriginal, aboriginal-history, african-american, african-american-history, african-american-studies, afro-american-studies, america, american, american-history, american-politics, american-president, american-presidents, american-studies, autobiographies, autobiography, best, biographies, biography, black-american, black-history, colonialism, dc, first-nations, first-nations-history, founder, founders, founding-father, founding-fathers, globalization, history, history-american, imperialism, indigeneity, indigenous, indigenous-history, memoir, memoirs, military-history, native-american, native-american-history, non-fiction, political-history, political-science, politics, president, presidents, u-s-history, u-s-politics, united-states, united-states-history, united-states-politics, united-states-president, united-states-presidents, us-history, us-politics, us-president, us-presidents, usa, war
Comments Showing 1-50 of 96 (96 new)
So why isn't it up there? I mean, if you think it's the best then it should have at least one vote right?
How is The Rape of Nanking about American history?
Who on earth selected these books? These are supposed to be the BEST of American History Books? Where is Shelby Foote or Bruce Catton? Where is a decent history of the American Revolution? Where is there a history of Political Parties in the US?
Some of these authors are inferior in writing on the subject matter. It is not only important to learn about our history, but to learn about it from leaders in the field of the subject matter. Where is the Viet Nam War?
Some of these authors are inferior in writing on the subject matter. It is not only important to learn about our history, but to learn about it from leaders in the field of the subject matter. Where is the Viet Nam War?
How are books by Mc Cain, Hillary & Bill Clinton insightful into our American History?
It's pretty easy to add books, over at the right side of the page.
A Bright Shining Lie is about Vietnam, as is Dispatches.Shelby Foote is on the list, on page two.
There are plenty of books on the list that are either about the American Revolution, or are biographies of the people involved in it.
And the books were selected by the people who have chosen to vote on this list.
I love this list! I have found some great reads from it. Thanks to everyone who chose the books. My latest read was Indian Givers and it was amazing.
I've read:"John Adams" (Excellent)
and
"Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" (Good).
Currently reading:
"1776". Has been Excellent.
I have yet to read a McCullough I haven't liked.
"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" is by far and away the best historical non-fiction book I have ever read....glad to see it's high on this list!!
I love The Killer Angels and you can learn a lot from it, but it's a novel. Isn't this a non-fiction list?
Johnny Tremain is a wonderful novel that brings pre-Revolutionary Boston to life, but it's not a history.
I haven't read them (and it's unlikely that I will), butI don't think Ron Paul's books are history.
Gore Vidal's Lincoln, Burr, etc. are all novels.
Cindy, you're the creator of this list - you want me to remove the non-fiction?
I really had non-fiction in mind, but I admit that I voted for Killer Angels. I really don't want this to turn into a historical romance list, but there's a difference between Gone With the Wind and Killer Angels. What does everyone else think?
Y'all tell me what to delete, and I'll be happy to delete it.
Should The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich be on the list?
Deleted The Man in the High Castle - speculative/alternative history (fiction).
I don't see any reason why Rise and Fall of the Third Reich should be on, no.
Susanna wrote: "I don't see any reason why Rise and Fall of the Third Reich should be on, no."Someone 'muxing this ip' with a Philip Roth story that they think is :Teh:Real:?
Go ahead and delete all the fiction. Rise to Rebellion, The Killer Angels, The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
What about Rise and Fall of the Third Reich?I think I have found and removed the non-fiction.
OK, I shall remove it, then.
Alright, I'll remove it.
Although I'm reluctant to be critical of anyone who undertakes the kind of effort on display here, I can't resist commenting that any list of books on American History that includes Jesse Ventura's book and excludes those of Bernard Bailyn -- not to mention Barrington Moore and David Hackett Fischer -- cannot be taken seriously.
You can, of course, add them. Adding books to lists is easy; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes." You will then have the option of adding books from your own shelves, or of performing a search of GR's database.Also, David Hackett Fischer's Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, at least, is on the list, because I voted for it. (It is, in fact, currently #55. Washington's Crossing is #25.)
ETA: Bernard Bailyn's Ideological Origins of the American Revolution is currently at #107.
Loved Albion's Seed. I read it because of this list. Great book.
I certainly think so.
Removed:Weezer and the Painted Frog (fiction)
Susanna wrote: "You can, of course, add them. Adding books to lists is easy; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes." You will then have the option of adding books from your own shelves, or of per..."My oversight -- it's a great list! I hope it inspires many readers to acquire many of these titles. Participatory democracy works better when more voters know more about the country's history. In 25 years of casual history reading, I have found myself becoming more interested in intellectually challenging history books. I suspect most history 'consumers' have a similar experience. The nation was founded by a group of 'intellectuals'. What would they think about the intellectual quality of contemporary politicians?
I've read a number of books on this list and especially like McCullough's 1776 and John Adams. I also like Founding Brothers a great deal. I downloaded the audio to Shelby Foote's 1st Volume and plan to listen to it as soon as I finish War & Peace, which is not American history or non-fiction, but which is teaching me a great deal about Russian history. While fiction might not be good for this list, another list of works of fiction that are historically accurate might be helpful. Often, I find straight history books to be so packed with details that they bog down and lose any sense of narrative.
Susanna wrote: "How is The Rape of Nanking about American history?"It's about Japan and China. Other than that, it's a great book about American history.
History has never been a strong point for me. I need to select a book relevant to the historical period either from Columbus through the Civil War, or Reconstruction to the end of the Cold War. So I was wondering if anyone could point out a few good books, I might be interested in. THANK YOU.
If you're looking for an easy-to-read but good non-fiction work, I recommend The Perils of Prosperity. It covers 1914-1932.
It's easy to add books to lists; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes."
Manhunt is the best book about Lincoln's killer. Went to the Surratt House and the Dr Mudd Farm. Great
Lobstergirl wrote: "Deleted The Man in the High Castle - speculative/alternative history (fiction)."poster book is published to reader.
Hello, Mr./Mrs. ! how are you doing ? i would like reading a book too thus i am a supporter of reading book every day to find another acknowledges about this, actually, all of them are preferred reading them and wanna a writing some story of mine. that story is said about a life of mine surely. i will write some the meaning of story connecting to real life of mine was child, can be made a plan to refer to supporter. thanks you !
Removed a novel and 3 nonfiction books not about America.
Does Man Hunt (#75) belong on here? It appears to be historical fiction. (And aside from this list, the other lists it appears on are all for historical fiction.)
John wrote: "Although I'm reluctant to be critical of anyone who undertakes the kind of effort on display here, I can't resist commenting that any list of books on American History that includes Jesse Ventura's..."John, I'm assuming this list was not made up before for us to vote on, but is instead a list we make with our choices. If one person wants to put Jesse Ventura on his list--or Bill O'Reilly for that matter-let them do so. Such votes will be drowned out by less fringe opinions. Democracy, etc. etc.
Susanna wrote: "Does Man Hunt (#75) belong on here? It appears to be historical fiction. (And aside from this list, the other lists it appears on are all for historical fiction.)"Deleted.
Related News
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...
Anyone can add books to this list.
That's the best American History book.