History, Biographies, etc...

[Mandi-chan]

I find it frustrating that in my younger years I had no interest in history, and now I'm suddenly very drawn to gaining more knowledge. I was hoping some of the other board members here would have some good suggestions for me to go by.

I'm looking for:

Detailed history of the past presidents of the USA.
Detailed (and accurate) history of the USA.
European history.
Books about living in the 1800s (both USA and Europe).
Good biographies on Marie Antoinette and Jane Austin (I haven't read any of her books yet, but am planning on getting a collection of them soon).

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Speranza]

Good biographies on Marie Antoinette

I've heard that Antonia Fraser's biography on Marie Antoinette is good. Haven't read it myself though.

 

[silverseason]

Some recommendations:

David McCullough, Truman
Doris Kearns Goodman, No Ordinary Time (the Roosevelts during World War II)
Joseph Ellis, Founding Brothers

Also, consider some novels for getting you into a historical period. For example, Gone with the Wind, shows you the Civil War as the South experienced it.

 

[Sin]

I didn't learn almost anything about the USA history in my school.
Just like you, I have recently developed interest in that topic and I found this book:

History of the United States
by Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard

You can download this book from the Gutenberg web site: Main Page - Gutenberg

The book is quite old but it was informative for a beginner like me.

 

[sparkchaser]

The book is quite old but it was informative for a beginner like me.

Old books are fine. Facts and dates don't change; just the interpretations.

 

[sparkchaser]

How technical do you want the books to be?

 

[abecedarian]

I liked Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. I have John Adams by David McCullough on my TBR shelf. My dh recently read it and liked it so much he kept reading bits aloud to me.

 

[Libra]

I liked Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. I have John Adams by David McCullough on my TBR shelf. My dh recently read it and liked it so much he kept reading bits aloud to me.

I can't say enough about this man and the rest that had to do with the Declaration of Independence,amazing story.

 

[abecedarian]

I can't say enough about this man and the rest that had to do with the Declaration of Independence,amazing story.

I know! "Undaunted Courage" would be an apt title for a book about these men if it weren't already spoken for.

 

[Mandi-chan]

How technical do you want the books to be?

As long as they're full of rich/accurate information and well praised by others, then I'm interested.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys!

 

[SFG75]

A good "warts and all" historical truth would be A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, you can't go wrong with him. I have also enjoyed An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution and The Republic by Charles A. Beard.

 

[incredulo]

If you want books on the Presidencies I would suggest (particularly if you have a good base knowledge of many of them already) the Presidents' memoirs - especially Reagan and Nixon's which are both hugely involving and interesting. Haven't read them all by any stretch, but the ones I have are phenomenonally interesting in places.