USA History Book you will read on this Independence Day

[chinesealbumart]

I am a lover of United States history. I recently found that one of my favourite books, A History of the American People by Paul M. Johnson, is now available as an Ebook. It is so much better to read it in Sony PRS505 instead of a thick paperbook.

Looking around, I see that there are a few favourites general history of United States books.

• A History of the American People by Paul M. Johnson
• A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror
• A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn

Some USA History Books

Which ones do you like ? Any recommendations ?

Happy Independence Day !!

[Sparrow]

Thanks for the recommendation - it sounds interesting.
But most history books are replete with maps - how does the PRS505 cope with them?

I recently read a biography of William Pitt the Younger (one of our prime ministers) on my Cybook. Luckily there weren't many maps - but the ones there were, were almost indecipherable.

It made me wary of reading history books on my ereader.

[HarryT]

"A Patriot's History" doesn't sound terribly impartial, does it? A good history book should, IMHO, not "take sides".

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

"A Patriot's History" doesn't sound terribly impartial, does it? A good history book should, IMHO, not "take sides".

History is written by the victors.

I'm not sure there are impartial histories - maybe the best approach is to read from a wide range of viewpoints.

[JSWolf]

John Adams by David McCullough is one you should read.

Also to find out how George W, Bush and his cronies took our freedoms and stomped them to death read The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals by Jane Mayer

[rhadin]

Although not an ebook, still a book that should be read and treasured is Michael Burlingame's Abraham Lincoln: A Life. It is the most comprehensive biography of perhaps our greatest president, and probably the president who most added meaning through his actions and his life to the words of our Declaration of Independence.

Of course, it would do none any harm to read the Declaration of Independence in its entirety. These are still words to be treasured and applied.

[slayda]

Russian Amerika by Stony Compton (SciFi)

[MickeyC]

Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Of course, it would do none any harm to read the Declaration of Independence in its entirety. These are still words to be treasured and applied.

It's a masterpiece of political rhetoric to be sure. Beyond that, I suspect we may disagree .

[vivaldirules]

Today, I'm rereading Franklin's autobiography, thanks to Good Master RWood: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10976

[BenG]

I've been reading Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America by Rick Perlstein.
It's an excellent book about how America went from Lyndon Johnson's landslide Democratic victory over Barry Goldwater in 1964 to Richard Nixon's equally lopsided Republican reelection only eight years later.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BenG

I've been reading Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America by Rick Perlstein.
It's an excellent book about how America went from Lyndon Johnson's landslide Democratic victory over Barry Goldwater in 1964 to Richard Nixon's equally lopsided Republican reelection only eight years later.

The worst reelection was George W. Bush. He was an awful president his first term. So why he would be elected to a second term is beyond reason.

[rebarnmom]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

John Adams by David McCullough is one you should read.

This and others deemed "patriotic reading" are 40% off in the Sony eBook store through July 6th.

[SteveK]

A bit late perhaps, but on July 4, I finished reading At the Center of the Storm by George Tenet, about his years as head of the CIA. It was an interesting read, in part because it's obviously recent history.

Today, I finished reading Tried by War by James McPherson. It was an interesting account of Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War.

I've now started Their Finest Hour by Winston Churchill, Volume 2 of his 6-volume history of World War 2. I read the first volume a month ago, and purchased all 6 volumes from Fictionwise.

For the past number of years, I've read almost nothing but fiction, but I'm trying to diversify my horizons. I still prefer fiction, but I have found some of the nonfiction to be surprisingly interesting reading.

SteveK

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's a masterpiece of political rhetoric to be sure. Beyond that, I suspect we may disagree .

Harry, sorry to be so late responding, but couldn't we also agree that

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

(with "men" meaning both genders)?