American Reading List: History

image from here

As I've done in the past, (see my Books page for links to German and British versions), today I start presenting an American Reading List (ARL). Due to its anticipated size, I will present titles by category. Today: history.

History matters, which is why people fight over it. America in particular seems to be a polarized nation, and that is reflected in the presentation of our history. You can find books that proclaim America as the best nation ever, those that argue it is instead a nation of hypocrisy, racism, and oppression. Ultimately, I want the truth, and sometimes that gets messy . . . the best history books present the good and bad.

The below are 40 books related to American history, with a handful of surveys up front followed by (roughly) chronological topics. I'm sure this list will grow and evolve over the next few years. I have read a good percentage of these already, starting in 2013; follow the links below for my reviews.

Susan-Mary Grant          A Concise History of the United States of America

Various                        Rand McNally Atlas of United States History

Smithsonian                 American History: A Visual Encyclopedia

Paul S. Boyer                 American History: A Very Short Introduction

Shi & Tindall                 America: A Narrative History (vol. 1)

Shi & Tindall                 America: A Narrative History (vol. 2)

Dee Brown                 Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee

Robert Middlekauff        The Glorious Cause

Joseph Ellis                 Founding Brothers

David McCullough         1776

Gordon S. Wood         The Radicalism of The American Revolution

Gordon S. Wood         Empire of Liberty

Stephen Ambrose         Undaunted Courage

Daniel Walker Howe What Hath God Wrought

David Crockett         Davy Crockett: My Own Story

Christian Wolmar         The Iron Road: An Illustrated History of the Railroad

H.W. Brands                 The Age of Gold

James M. McPherson Battle Cry of Freedom

DK Publishing                The American Civil War- A Visual History

S.C. Gwynne                 Rebel Yell

Doris Kearns Goodwin Team of Rivals

Candice Millard         Destiny of the Republic

Richard White                 The Republic for Which It Stands

David McCullough         The Great Bridge

Stephen Ambrose         Nothing Like It in the World

Hampton Sides         Blood and Thunder

Bruce Schulman         Brand Name America

Edmund Morris         The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

David McCullough         The Path Between the Seas

Doris Kearns Goodwin The Bully Pulpit

DK Publishing                World War I- The Definitive Visual History

David M. Kennedy         Freedom From Fear

Michael Hiltzik                Colossus

DK Publishing                World War II- The Definitive Visual History

E.B. Sledge                 With the Old Breed

Robert Leckie                 Helmet for my Pillow

Margot Theis Raven Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

James T. Patterson         Grand Expectations

Robert Kurson                Rocket Men

James T. Patterson         Restless Giant