US History Suggestions

Posted by lmarrott 9 years, 10 months ago to History
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At the end of a post the other day I asked for recommendations of good US History Books.

jbrenner gave me the recommendation of HW Brands' American Stories and I'm going to look that up.

I just saw something reference Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen. Can anyone give me any feedback on this selection?

Any other recommendations?

Thanks!


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  • Posted by straightlinelogic 9 years, 10 months ago
    The Myth of the Robber Barons, Burt Folsom
    Rethinking The Great Depression, Gene Smiley
    The Forgotten Man, Amity Shlaes (Depression)
    Heisenberg's War, Thomas Powers (Atomic Bomb)
    The Secret History of the CIA, Joseph J. Trento (You can't understand the history of the last seven decades without knowing about our intelligence agencies)
    The Venona Secrets, Exposing Soviet Espionage and America's Traitors, Herber Romerstein and Eric Breindel
    World War I and World War II (two volumes), Richard J. Maybury (He has a whole series that is quite insightful, especially The Thousand Year War in the Mideast)
    The Making of the Atomic Bomb, Richard Rhodes
    The Real Lincoln, Thomas J. DiLorenzo
    The Roosevelt Myth, John T. Flynn
    The Golden Pinnacle (novel), Robert Gore aka straightlinelogic
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  • Posted by readthebook 9 years, 10 months ago
    Rothbard, Conceived in Liberty (colonial America up to the Constitution, but watch for weird interpretations)

    Blumenfeld, Is Public Education Necessary (history of early state control of education through mid 19th century, title is misleading)

    Hacker, The World of Andrew Carnegie (last half of the 19th century, includes Supreme Court, education, economics, industry, etc.)

    Ekirch, The Decline of American Liberalism (meaning the real "liberalism", pre-revolution to 1950s, good emphasis on philosophical pragmatism in progressivism)

    Martin, Fabian Freeway (detailed influence of British Fabian Society in US)

    Flynn, The Roosevelt Myth (domestic New Deal history)

    Lasky, JFK: The Man and the Myth (history of JFK's quest for power as head of the family clan and the resulting policies in Congress and presidency into 1963, published before the assassination)

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  • Posted by ISank 9 years, 10 months ago
    There was a few things about "lies my teacher" because I bought it and keep a copy in my class.
    I do like a few of the books by Burt Folsom, especially regarding the robber Barron's and the not so new deal. I haven't read a relatively new book titled the government can't count that sounds interesting.
    For the US Constitution, I have read "miracle at Philadelphia" but should probably read it again.
    I see the post before mine mentioned mises.org and there is a ton of "free" history there. Bastiat in "the law" mentions mid 19th century US. Nock "enemy of the state" shows the US post not so new deal.
    Current events: duty memoirs of a secretary at war or the "foreign policy association. For economics FEE.org has a wealth of videos and resources available.
    This is just of the top of my head after coaching at basketball camp but there is some good stuff out there. I wish reading improved longevity and as long as your reading you would prolong life because there is so much out there and so much to do.
    Have some fun!
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 9 months ago
    The First Amendment Book by Robert J. Wagman
    While not strictly speaking a history book, it contains much history as it pertains to the Constitution and most particularly, the First Amendment. It was written to be published at the Bicentennial but was republished in soft cover in 1991.
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  • Posted by Susannah 9 years, 10 months ago
    Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson. A very even-handed account of the American Civil War. Also the Shelby Foote Civil War trilogy.
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  • Posted by strugatsky 9 years, 10 months ago
    Simple rule of thumb: use history books published before 1980 or so. The earlier, the better. They may also uncover the fact that kids attending public schools today do not have the vocabulary to comprehend older history books. Newspeak is getting smaller and smaller...
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