10 Best Books on the History of America

The cover of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

10 Best Books on the History of America

A good understanding of the past is important as it makes sense of how, what we have today, came to be. This is not only in science but also in history.

Countries and nations of the world began from somewhere and while some of the past events are not rosy, it creates a better understanding of the present and future.

One such country is the United States of America. It has a long history that you may not have learnt all in school.

To help you get the best books on the history of America, I have a well-rounded reading list that touches on the entireness of American history from different perspectives.

This reading list will give you a better understanding whether you are a history buff or just curious. With these top 10 books, I hope you will have an unforgettable read.

1. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson

The front cover of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson

We will start with this book that gives you a good background of the American Civil War. It not only gives you a military history but also an endless litany of battles and military campaigns and strategies.

There is a lot explained about the social, political, economic, and diplomatic history of the Civil War period. James McPherson details it with fresh interpretations and information.

He breaks down old myths and challenges new ones. It is no wonder this book is unquestionably the best when looking to learn more about the history of the Civil War.

The narrative of the book integrates the political, social, and military events that took place for over two decades; from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox.

Get this book for a profound appreciation of that vast and confusing “second American Revolution”. This is the war that transformed a nation and expanded the heritage of liberty in America.

2. 1776 by David McCullough

The front cover of the first edition of 1776 by David McCullough

Another book to read on the history of America is this number by McCullough telling of how American men and boys were turned into soldiers.

The book further tells the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats. These men despised their rebel foes and fought with a valour too little known.

David McCullough skilfully narrates the powerful human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence.

His book is detailed with extensively researched material from both American and British archives. 1776 is a powerful literature drama written with extraordinary narrative vigour.

3. Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen

This is an updated and revised edition. It is an Award-winner and national bestseller that refreshes your knowledge of the truth of America’s history. The book explores how the myths continue to be executed. There is a new chapter on 9/11 and the Iraq War.

James Loewen wrote the book after surveying eighteen leading high school American history texts. He found out that none of the books was wholesome in telling American history interestingly or memorably.

In this revised edition, the author explores the truth about Columbus’s historic voyages to an honest evaluation of the national leaders.

It is the book to go for if you are a high school teacher, history buff, or just a citizen looking to understand your history.

4. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

The cover of Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

Ellis debates that the checks and balances that led to the founding of America were not necessarily legal, constitutional, or institutional. He notes that it was however intensely personal and rooted in the dynamic interaction of leaders who had varied visions and values.

The book will inform your understanding of American politics of then and now. It will give you a new perspective on the unpredictable forces that shape history.

As an Award-winning author, Ellis dives deep into flawed leaders like Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison.

Through his narrative, Ellis brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in America’s history.

5. Mayflower: Voyage, Community, War by Nathaniel Philbrick

In this book, Philbrick reveals the thrilling history of the Pilgrims; the story of Plymouth Colony was a fifty-five-year epic which began in peril and ended in war.

New England (six Northeastern states) erupted into a bloody conflict that nearly wiped out the English colonists and natives alike. This series of events helped shape the existing communities and the country that would grow from them.

6. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

The cover of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

This book tells the stories of the true natives of the land we call America. They lived here before Christopher Columbus first stepped foot here in 1492 and soon after unleashed a bloody genocide.

The author used science, history and archaeology to explain how much more advanced societies were before Christopher Columbus.

It is an interesting read since it opens your eyes to so much history that is not taught in schools. There were huge numbers of Indians who actively developed and influenced the land around them.

Some of their amazing works are on the astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan which had running water and orderly clean streets. This city was larger than any contemporary European city.

Grab this book for a transformative new look at the rich and fascinating world that is America.

7. Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne

This next read goes back to the 1860s when Comanche Indians once ruled the Great Plains. They slowed the march of Manifest Destiny and dominated rival tribes with their superior fighting and riding skills.

But this changed after the development of the railroads. It spelt doom for the Comanche.

Gwynne eloquently paints an enthralling portrait of the tribe and their last and greatest chief, Quanah Parker. He captures the blood and fury of westward expansion and restores the Comanche to their rightful place in American history.

This book will expose you to a hidden historical feast on how the United States came into being.

8. The Story of American Freedom by Eric Foner

The front cover of The Story of American Freedom by Eric Foner

The word America is synonymous with the word freedom and a place where dreams come true. However, this freedom has appeared different over the decades.

In this book, the author narrates that there’s no denying the uniquely American obsession with the idea of liberty.

This book takes the long-range perspective of the passion, investigating the evolution of American freedom for more than a long time both political freedom and private, general liberty and personal.

The book further examines the reactions of the white slaveholding class, revealing how they organized considerable effort to prevent runaways, gave out severe punishments, and established patrols to hunt down escaped slaves.

9. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

This next book gives you a front-row seat into the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House. You get to read about how Lincoln coped with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his boisterous cabinet.

Learn how Lincoln overcame these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, found a loyal and crucial friend to see him through.

Team of Rivals is a bestselling and prize-winning study of one of the most legendary American Presidents in history. It is said to be the book that inspired Barack Obama in his presidency.

10. Women, Race & Class by Angela Davis

Front cover of Women, Race & Class by Angela Davis

Women, Race and Class is a 1981 book by the American academic and author Angela Davis. This book contains a Marxist feminist analysis of gender, race and class.

Reading this book will enlighten you about Black women’s contributions to history and a multi-layered look at the feminist movement.  

Through this book, Angela Davis provides a powerful history of the social and political influence of whiteness and elitism in feminism. She goes back from the abolitionist days to the present.

In this book, she not only contextualizes the legacy and pitfalls of civil and women’s rights activists, but also discusses Communist women, the murder of Emmitt Till, and Margaret Sanger’s racism.

She shows her readers how the inequalities between Black and white women influence the contemporary issues of rape, reproductive freedom, housework and child care in this bold and indispensable work.