American History Reclaimed

Accuracy in Academia ^ | June 27, 2006 | Malcolm A. Kline

[socal_parrot]

I just finished McCullough's 1776. Very good book and an easy read.

[true_blue_texican]

book ping!

[LS]

Dang. Here I thought we did a pretty good job of reclaiming American history with our book, "A Patriot's History of the United States" last year. (McCulloch is good, though, as is David Hackett Fischer).

[Neoliberalnot]

McCullough is one of the best. I have read both John Adams and 1776. If others reading this post can suggest historians with a knack for accuracy (sarc) I would relish hearing your suggestions. History is about all I read and I despise the modern-day embellishment, interpretation, and removal from context and remodeling to fit a modern agenda, that is so prevalent today.

[RexBeach]

As I recall, and this may be incorrect, God is referred to in the preamble to the Massachusetts constitution as "that great legislator in the sky."

Too bad it's in MA. John Adams would be shocked at what his successors are doing to his once fine commonwealth.

[socal_parrot]

I can recommend A Patriot's History of the United States by Larry Schweikart (FReeper LS).

[nonliberal]

Willard Sterne Randall is factually very good but his stuff reads like a high school term paper. Ron Chernow's bio of Alexander Hamilton was amazing. Thomas Fleming has some great stuff too.

H.W. Brands' newest book on Jackson is great. I am just finishing off William C. Davis' "The Pirates Lafitte" about the pirates in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 1800s. Davis is primarily a southern historian. His book on Jefferson Davis is definitive.

Civil War: Stephen W. Sears
Early America: Joseph Ellis (a few Freepers might disagree on that one but I enjoy his books)
Jackson-era: Robert Remini
General American History: Paul Johnson "A History of the American People."

[eyespysomething]

Dang. Here I thought we did a pretty good job of reclaiming American history with our book, "A Patriot's History of the United States" last year.

You did, trust me!

;-)

[LS]

Ellis is excellent, despite his personal lies about his career.

I'd strongly recommend both of my books, "A Patriot's History of the United States," and my recent book, "America's Victories: Why the U.S. Wins Wars and Will Win the War on Terror."

[roofgoat]

Can you or any other here recommend some good, honest written works regarding this time period (just before, during and just after 1776).

[uncitizen]

Can you recommend a good book(s) about the Reconstruction Period?

[nonliberal]

I'll have to pick those two up when I have a chance. I'm down to two books behind where I want to be. When I catch up, I head to the bookstore and go nuts.

[LS]

Hehe. Thanks. If I'm ever in the area, I'll be happy to sign them.

[LS]

Both Middlekauf's "Glorious Cause," and the novel by the same name by Shaara, are great.

I also recommend "Washington's Crossing" by David Hackett Fischer.

[nonliberal]

I liked Benson Bobrick's "Angel in the Whirlwind." Thomas Fleming's book on the Hamilton-Burr duel is also amazing.

McCullough's "John Adams" is always good.

Also try Joseph Ellis' "Founding Brothers" and Bernard Weisberger's "America Afire" about the election of 1804.

[Neoliberalnot]

McCullough's book 1776 is good. I think Ellis is a bit too subject to his own interpretation of how historical figures were thinking. Ellis may be a mind-reader, but I question his ability to read the mind of someone that lived 200 years ago. :)

[LS]

Let me note that Patriot's History is "special order" only at Barnes & Noble now, because they wanted us to go paperback. We reluctantly agreed, but it won't be out in paper until next March. In the meantime, it's best to get that one at Borders or on Amazon.
LS

[Neoliberalnot]

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions. How do I post to more than one person? What is the mechanism?

[nonliberal]

Not much on reconstruction. I think Eric Foner has a bunch of stuff out there but he is a flaming liberal and, like Zinn, hardly anything is cited so I don't put much stock in it.

Hans Trefousse wrote a very good biography of Andrew Johnson that details his battles with Sumner, Stevens and the Radicals over reconstruction.
Something that explores a bit of the end of reconstruction is Roy Morris, Jr.'s book "Fraud of the Century" about the Hayes-Tilden election.