20 Best Books About Us History (2023 Update)

Setting the record straight is a unique view of the religious and moral heritage of black americans, with an emphasis on the untold yet significant stories from our rich political history. the material presented is ground-breaking and revolutionary, leaving viewers amazed and inspired.

Written by a combat veteran of the wars in iraq and afghanistan and a former professor of us history at west point, his alma mater, this book grew out of the lectures sjursen produced for the survey course he taught to cadets. although he covers all of the major events, movements and figures in american history, sjursen flips the lens, offering fresh insights and uncommon empathy. written in vivid, engaging prose, a true history is accurate with respect to the facts and intellectually honest in its presentation and analysis. a true history will change how you view america's past, and present. with chapter titles such as original sin and just how good was 'the good war'?, sjursen challenges readers to think deeply and critically and to apply common sense to their understanding of the history of our republic.

A multicultural, multinational history of colonial america from the pulitzer prize-winning author of the internal enemy and american revolutionsin the first volume in the penguin history of the united states, edited by eric foner, alan taylor challenges the traditional story of colonial history by examining the many cultures that helped make america, from the native inhabitants from milennia past, through the decades of western colonization and conquest, and across the entire continent, all the way to the pacific coast.transcending the usual anglocentric version of our colonial past, he recovers the importance of native american tribes, african slaves, and the rival empires of france, spain, the netherlands, and even russia in the colonization of north america. moving beyond the atlantic seaboard to examine the entire continent, american colonies reveals a pivotal period in the global interaction of peoples, cultures, plants, animals, and microbes. in a vivid narrative, taylor draws upon cutting-edge scholarship to create a timely picture of the colonial world characterized by an interplay of freedom and slavery, opportunity and loss." formidable . . . provokes us to contemplate the ways in which residents of north america have dealt with diversity." -the new york times book review

A new, completely revised, expanded and updated edition of the million-selling new york times bestseller that launched the entire don't know much about series when don't know much about history first appeared thirteen years ago, it created a sensation. with humor, wit, great stories, and a trademark conversational style, the book brought americans a fresh new take on history. shattering myths and vividly bringing the past to life, it spent thirty-five consecutive weeks on the new york times bestseller list. davis proved that americans don't hate history — they just hate the dull textbook version they were force-fed in school. the book became an instant classic, an "anti -textbook" that has sold more than 1.3 million copies. in his irreverent and popular question-and- answer style, davis now returns with a completely revised edition that brings history right up to the moment — covering such topics as the end of the cold war, clinton's impeachment, the bizarre election of 2000, and the events that led to september 11. incorporating new research and discoveries, davis also updates and expands on such long-standing american controversies as the jefferson-hemings affair, the alger hiss trial, and the rosenberg spy case. and he includes an expanded "civics lesson" that examines some of america's hottest social and political issues, such as the death penalty, gun control, and school prayer. for history buffs and history-phobes alike, longtime fans who need a refresher course, and for a new generation of americans who are still in the dark about america's past, davis proves once more why people magazine said, "reading him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had."

The national book award winning history of how racist ideas were created, spread, and deeply rooted in american society. but racist thought is not just alive and well in america–it is more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. and as award-winning historian ibram x. kendi argues, racist ideas have a long and lingering history, one in which nearly every great american thinker is complicit. in this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of american history. he uses the life stories of five major american intellectuals to drive this history: puritan minister cotton mather, thomas jefferson, abolitionist william lloyd garrison, w.e.b. du bois, and legendary activist angela davis. as kendi shows, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. they were created to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation's racial inequities. in the process, he gives us reason to hope. i found both descriptions accurate for ibram x. i will never look at racial discrimination again after reading this marvellous, ambitious, and clear-sighted book." – george saunders, financial times, best books of 2017"ambitious, well-researched and worth the time of anyone who wants to understand racism." –seattle times"a deep (and often disturbing) chronicling of how anti-black thinking has entrenched itself in the fabric of american society." –the atlantic – a new york times bestseller – a washington post bestseller – on president obama's black history month recommended reading list – finalist for the 2016 national book critics circle award for nonfiction – named one of the best books of the year by the boston globe, washington post, chicago review of books, the root, buzzfeed, bustle, and entropy

Uncover the key moments that shaped american history in this extensive history encyclopedia for children.get the background on the battle of yorktown and discover what started the american revolution. learn the legends of the wild west. relive the atmosphere of the "roaring twenties." covering everything from the cultures of the first native americans right up to the events of the present day, american history: a visual encyclopedia is the ultimate reference tool for exploring the history of one of the most remarkable nations in the world.created in collaboration with the smithsonian institution, american history: a visual encyclopedia gives detailed historical information and brings it to life with more than 750 photographs and paintings, plus extensive maps, charts, and state-specific information. each double-page spread focuses on one aspect of the nation's history, be it the civil war or civil rights, the great depression or the moon landing. complete texts of the declaration of independence and the u.s. constitution are included in the book for easy reference for classroom work or reports. perfect as both an irreplaceable homework help and a fascinating read, american history: a visual encyclopedia showcases the incredible journey the united states of america has made to become a major 21st century power.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the united states, then keep reading… – when the preachers of the great awakening stood on the backs of wagons or bits of old tree stumps and told the american people a new story of individual freedom and the power of ordinary people, they could never have dreamed that their preaching would trigger a landslide of abolitionism that would end in a civil war that almost tore the entire country apart. – when the civil war was finally won by the union, and all african americans' chains were broken at last, the military leaders could never have dreamed that within the next half century, the united states would emerge as one of the world's greatest military powers during the spanish-american war. and when those soldiers won the struggle against spain in cuba, they could never have dreamed that later in the century, cuba itself would turn against them and become the single greatest threat of nuclear annihilation during the cold war. – when the wright brothers first took to the air and thomas edison made the lightbulb, they could never have dreamed that american innovation would produce not only the ford car, basketball, the telephone, and facebook, but it would also be instrumental in creating the atomic bombs that killed hundreds of thousands of people and finally brought an end to the second world war. as for martin luther king, jr., he did dream. he had a dream of equality and brotherhood, and his dream at least partially came true in 2008 when america saw the inauguration of its first black president. never could the slaves of the great plantations of the south have dreamed that that day would ever come, but it did. – nobody could have dreamed it, but it all came to pass, and it became the history of the united states of america. and this is how it all happened… in the history of the united states: a captivating guide to american history, including events such as the american revolution, french and indian war, boston tea party, pearl harbor, and the gulf war, you will discover topics such as the people who were there first a time of exploration colonizing america the french and indian war the boston tea party the american revolution the first president restless times horrors for the natives awakening civil war seeking for peace a rising power progress disaster strikes the biggest bomb in the world icy tension freedom on the home front terror and its war and much, much more so if you want to learn more about the history of the united states, then scroll up and click the "add to cart" button

New york times bestseller – pulitzer prize–winning biographer jon meacham chronicles the life of abraham lincoln, charting how—and why—he confronted secession, threats to democracy, and the tragedy of slavery to expand the possibilities of america. “in his captivating new book, jon meacham has given us the lincoln for our time.”—henry louis gates, jr. – one of the best books of the year: kirkus reviews – a president who governed a divided country has much to teach us in a twenty-first-century moment of polarization and political crisis. hated and hailed, excoriated and revered, abraham lincoln was at the pinnacle of american power when implacable secessionists gave no quarter in a clash of visions bound up with money, race, identity, and faith. – at once familiar and elusive, lincoln tends to be seen as the greatest of american presidents—a remote icon—or as a politician driven more by calculation than by conviction. this illuminating new portrait gives us a very human lincoln—an imperfect man whose moral antislavery commitment, essential to the story of justice in america, began as he grew up in an antislavery baptist community; who insisted that slavery was a moral evil; and who sought, as he put it, to do right as god gave him to see the right. – this book tells the story of lincoln from his birth on the kentucky frontier in 1809 to his leadership during the civil war to his tragic assassination in 1865: his rise, his self-education, his loves, his bouts of depression, his political failures, his deepening faith, and his persistent conviction that slavery must end. in a nation shaped by the courage of the enslaved of the era and by the brave witness of black americans, lincoln’s story illustrates the ways and means of politics in a democracy, the roots and durability of racism, and the capacity of conscience to shape events.

Guess what? the indians didn’t save the pilgrims from starvation by teaching them to grow corn. thomas jefferson thought states’ rights—an idea reviled today—were even more important than the constitution’s checks and balances. the “wild” west was more peaceful and a lot safer than most modern cities. and the biggest scandal of the clinton years didn’t involve an intern in a blue dress. surprised? don’t be. in america, where history is riddled with misrepresentations, misunderstandings, and flat-out lies about the people and events that have shaped the nation, there’s the history you know and then there’s the truth. woods jr., the new york times bestselling author ofthe politically incorrect guide to american history, sets the record straight with a provocative look at the hidden truths about our nation’s history—the ones that have been buried because they’re too politically incorrect to discuss. woods draws on real scholarship—as opposed to the myths, platitudes, and slogans so many other “history” books are based on—to ask and answer tough questions about american history, including: – did the founding fathers support immigration? – was the civil war all about slavery? – did the framers really look to the american indians as the model for the u.s. political system? – was the u.s. you’d never know it from the history that’s been handed down to us, but the answer to all those questions is no. woods’s eye-opening exploration reveals how much has been whitewashed from the historical record, overlooked, and skewed beyond recognition. more informative than your last u.s. history class,33 questions about american history you’re not supposed to askwill have you wondering just how much about your nation’s past you haven’t been told.

From the founding of the united states of america government to the present-day challenges, this clearly explained text is a perfect guide for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable about the history of america and its democracy. as it goes through the sequence of the events of the past, it provides readers with the analysis necessary to make them more engaged and appreciative participants in the american future. this book was designed for those who want to develop a better understanding of america's founding, economic and cultural growth, the political and social challenges it went through, as well as the relationships between different historical events. the content is focused on an essential review of all the important facts and events within the u.s. history. you will learn about historical figures and important events that established the foundations of american government, the meaning and significance of the various social movements, as well as how each important historical event shaped the country's cultural heritage and political development. for systematized learning, the content is divided into three historical periods and is centered around five focus areas: political history, economic history, social history, intellectual and cultural history, and foreign policy. this context-based approach to studying american history is more engaging than a raw fact-based approach. created by highly qualified history teachers, scholars and education specialists, this book educates and empowers both the average and the highly informed american, helping them develop and increase their understanding of american history.

A new york times bestseller, this is the “outstanding” (the atlantic), insightful, and authoritative account of dwight eisenhower’s presidency.drawing on newly declassified documents and thousands of pages of unpublished material, the age of eisenhower tells the story of a masterful president guiding the nation through the great crises of the 1950s, from mccarthyism and the korean war through civil rights turmoil and cold war conflicts. this is a portrait of a skilled leader who, despite his conservative inclinations, found a middle path through the bitter partisanship of his era. at home, eisenhower affirmed the central elements of the new deal, such as social security; fought the demagoguery of senator joseph mccarthy; and advanced the agenda of civil rights for african-americans. abroad, he ended the korean war and avoided a new quagmire in vietnam. yet he also charted a significant expansion of america’s missile technology and deployed a vast array of covert operations around the world to confront the challenge of communism. as he left office, he cautioned americans to remain alert to the dangers of a powerful military-industrial complex that could threaten their liberties. today, presidential historians rank eisenhower fifth on the list of great presidents, and william hitchcock’s “rich narrative” (the wall street journal) shows us why ike’s stock has risen so high. he was a gifted leader, a decent man of humble origins who used his powers to advance the welfare of all americans. now more than ever, with this “complete and persuasive assessment” (booklist, starred review), americans have much to learn from dwight eisenhower.

Named one of the ten best books of the year by the chicago tribune – a publishers weekly best book of 2019 | a 2019 npr staff pick – a pathbreaking history of the united states’ overseas possessions and the true meaning of its empire but what about the actual territories—the islands, atolls, and archipelagos—this country has governed and inhabited? in crackling, fast-paced prose, he reveals forgotten episodes that cast american history in a new light. in puerto rico, immerwahr shows how u.s. doctors conducted grisly experiments they would never have conducted on the mainland and charts the emergence of independence fighters who would shoot up the u.s. congress. – in the years after world war ii, immerwahr notes, the united states moved away from colonialism. instead, it put innovations in electronics, transportation, and culture to use, devising a new sort of influence that did not require the control of colonies. rich with absorbing vignettes, full of surprises, and driven by an original conception of what empire and globalization mean today, how to hide an empire is a major and compulsively readable work of history.

Every teacher, every student of history, every citizen should read this book. it is both a refreshing antidote to what has passed for history in our educational system and a one-volume education in itself.–howard zinn a new edition of the national bestseller and american book award winner, with a new preface by the author since its first publication in 1995, lies my teacher told me has become one of the most important–and successful–history books of our time. having sold nearly two million copies, the book also won an american book award and the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished anti-racist scholarship and was heralded on the front page of the new york times. for this new edition, loewen has added a new preface that shows how inadequate history courses in high school help produce adult americans who think donald trump can solve their problems, and calls out academic historians for abandoning the concept of truth in a misguided effort to be objective. what started out as a survey of the twelve leading american history textbooks has ended up being what the san francisco chronicle calls an extremely convincing plea for truth in education. loewen brings history alive in all its complexity and ambiguity. beginning with pre-columbian history and ranging over characters and events as diverse as reconstruction, helen keller, the first thanksgiving, the my lai massacre, 9/11, and the iraq war, loewen offers an eye-opening critique of existing textbooks, and a wonderful retelling of american history as it should–and could–be taught to american students.

The new york times bestseller a new york times notable and critics' top book of 2016longlisted for the pen/john kenneth galbraith award for nonfiction – one of npr's 10 best books of 2016 faced tough topics head on – npr's book concierge guide to 2016's great reads – san francisco chronicle's best of 2016: 100 recommended books "when you turn an election into a three-ring circus, there's always a chance that the dancing bear will win," says isenberg of the political climate surrounding sarah palin. yet the voters who boosted trump all the way to the white house have been a permanent part of our american fabric, argues isenberg. the wretched and landless poor have existed from the time of the earliest british colonial settlement to today's hillbillies. they were alternately known as "waste people," "offals," "rubbish," "lazy lubbers," and "crackers." by the 1850s, the downtrodden included so-called "clay eaters" and "sandhillers," known for prematurely aged children distinguished by their yellowish skin, ragged clothing, and listless minds. surveying political rhetoric and policy, popular literature and scientific theories over four hundred years, isenberg upends assumptions about america's supposedly class-free society–where liberty and hard work were meant to ensure real social mobility. poor whites were central to the rise of the republican party in the early nineteenth century, and the civil war itself was fought over class issues nearly as much as it was fought over slavery. reconstruction pitted poor white trash against newly freed slaves, which factored in the rise of eugenics–a widely popular movement embraced by theodore roosevelt that targeted poor whites for sterilization. these poor were at the heart of new deal reforms and lbj's great society; they haunt us in reality tv shows like here comes honey boo boo and duck dynasty. marginalized as a class, white trash have always been at or near the center of major political debates over the character of the american identity.

"i too am not a bit tamed–i too am untranslatable / i sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world."–walt whitman, "song of myself," leaves of grass the american yawp is a free, online, collaboratively built american history textbook. over 300 historians joined together to create the book they wanted for their own students–an accessible, synthetic narrative that reflects the best of recent historical scholarship and provides a jumping-off point for discussions in the u.s. history classroom and beyond. long before whitman and long after, americans have sung something collectively amid the deafening roar of their many individual voices. without losing sight of politics and power, the american yawp incorporates transnational perspectives, integrates diverse voices, recovers narratives of resistance, and explores the complex process of cultural creation. it looks for america in crowded slave cabins, bustling markets, congested tenements, and marbled halls. it navigates between maternity wards, prisons, streets, bars, and boardrooms. the fully peer-reviewed edition of the american yawp will be available in two print volumes designed for the u.s. history survey. volume ii opens in the gilded age, before moving through the twentieth century as the country reckoned with economic crises, world wars, and social, cultural, and political upheaval at home.

"as part of the treaty of paris, in which great britain recognized the new united states of america, britain ceded the land that comprised the immense northwest territory, a wilderness empire northwest of the ohio river containing the future states of ohio, indiana, illinois, michigan, and wisconsin. a massachusetts minister named manasseh cutler was instrumental in opening this vast territory to veterans of the revolutionary war and their families for settlement. included in the northwest ordinance were three remarkable conditions: freedom of religion, free universal education, and most importantly, the prohibition of slavery. in 1788 the first band of pioneers set out from new england for the northwest territory under the leadership of revolutionary war veteran general rufus putnam. they settled in what is now marietta on the banks of the ohio river. mccullough tells the story through five major characters: cutler and putnam; cutler's son ephraim; and two other men, one a carpenter turned architect, and the other a physician who became a prominent figure in american science. they and their families created a town in a primeval wilderness, while coping with such frontier realities as trees of a size never imagined, floods, fires, wolves, bears, even an earthquake, all the while negotiating a contentious and sometimes hostile relationship with the native people. like so many of mccullough's subjects, they let no obstacle deter or defeat them. drawn in great part from a rare and all-but-unknown collection of diaries and letters by the key figures, the pioneers is a uniquely american story of people whose ambition and courage led them to remarkable accomplishments."–jacket.

"as part of the treaty of paris, in which great britain recognized the new united states of america, britain ceded the land that comprised the immense northwest territory, a wilderness empire northwest of the ohio river containing the future states of ohio, indiana, illinois, michigan, and wisconsin. a massachusetts minister named manasseh cutler was instrumental in opening this vast territory to veterans of the revolutionary war and their families for settlement. included in the northwest ordinance were three remarkable conditions: freedom of religion, free universal education, and most importantly, the prohibition of slavery. in 1788 the first band of pioneers set out from new england for the northwest territory under the leadership of revolutionary war veteran general rufus putnam. they settled in what is now marietta on the banks of the ohio river. mccullough tells the story through five major characters: cutler and putnam; cutler's son ephraim; and two other men, one a carpenter turned architect, and the other a physician who became a prominent figure in american science. they and their families created a town in a primeval wilderness, while coping with such frontier realities as trees of a size never imagined, floods, fires, wolves, bears, even an earthquake, all the while negotiating a contentious and sometimes hostile relationship with the native people. like so many of mccullough's subjects, they let no obstacle deter or defeat them. drawn in great part from a rare and all-but-unknown collection of diaries and letters by the key figures, the pioneers is a uniquely american story of people whose ambition and courage led them to remarkable accomplishments."–jacket.

A new, completely revised, expanded and updated edition of the million-selling new york times bestseller that launched the entire dont know much about series. when don't know much about history first appeared, it created a sensation. with humor, great stories, and a trademark conversational style, the book brought americans a fresh new take on history. davis proved americans don't hate historythey just hate the dull version they were force-fed in school. in his irreverent and popular question-and-answer style, davis now returns with a completely revised edition that brings history right up to the momentcovering such topics as the end of the cold war, clinton's impeachment, the bizarre election of 2000, and the events that led to september 11. incorporation new research and discoveries, davis also updates and expands on such long-standing american controversies as the hiss trial, and he includes an expanded civics-lesson that examines some of america's hottest social and political issues, such as the death penalty and school prayer. for history buffs and history-phobes alike, davis proves once more why people magazine said that listening to him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had.

A new, completely revised, expanded and updated edition of the million-selling new york times bestseller that launched the entire dont know much about series. when don't know much about history first appeared, it created a sensation. with humor, great stories, and a trademark conversational style, the book brought americans a fresh new take on history. davis proved americans don't hate historythey just hate the dull version they were force-fed in school. in his irreverent and popular question-and-answer style, davis now returns with a completely revised edition that brings history right up to the momentcovering such topics as the end of the cold war, clinton's impeachment, the bizarre election of 2000, and the events that led to september 11. incorporation new research and discoveries, davis also updates and expands on such long-standing american controversies as the hiss trial, and he includes an expanded civics-lesson that examines some of america's hottest social and political issues, such as the death penalty and school prayer. for history buffs and history-phobes alike, davis proves once more why people magazine said that listening to him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had.

The classic national bestseller"a wonderful, splendid book—a book that should be read by every american, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future." –howard fasthistorian howard zinn’s a people’s history of the united states chronicles american history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its emphasis on great men in high places—to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace.known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, it is the only volume to tell america's story from the point of view of—and in the words of—america's women, factory workers, african-americans, native americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. as zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality—were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. covering christopher columbus's arrival through president clinton's first term, a people's history of the united states features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. this edition also includes an introduction by anthony arnove, who wrote, directed, and produced the people speak with zinn and who coauthored, with zinn, voices of a people’s history of the united states.