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Actually, Jickler, this book is on my Amazon Wish List that I have politely informed all friends and relatives over the years that if they ever want to gift me something I would love - Go To My Wish List! It has turned out just right so many times.
I think I may have to add this title to "My Cart", because it has been on the list long enough!!
Thanks, for reminding me of Lamb's book, one of several Booknotes books that he wrote.
There are some texts written by Wirth - I've been trying and trying, but I just can't remember the titles. I can, however, clearly remember our US history teacher telling us to look it up [whatever it was] in Wirth.
Kumud, do check back in, if time permits, and let us know if any of these recommendations are helpful.
My bad I hadn't check this thread in ages
I'd say definitely In Search of Tocqueville's Democracy in America
add to that the site that you mentioned very user -friendly.
I'm still working on getting to the other books mentionned .
Thank you guys
Which ones would you recommend to a non -American, person wanting to get the basics on the origin and dynamics of the U.S .
Some kind of comprehensive but thorough book covering a variety of topics such as politics, religion, ,immigration, and various industries etc... past and present.
Honestly? There two books by Richard Shenkman I'd check out. One is called "Lies, Legends, and other Cherished Myths"; the other is along the same lines.
A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present by Howard Zinn Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen
Both tell the "untold stories" of American history and tell history through a fresh point of view, backed by factual evidence, and aim to dispel false, eurocentric, or mythologized views of history. A fascinating read.
One of the best series of historical novels I have ever read is John Jakes "Kent Family Chronicles".
It is an 8 book series of a fictional family intertwined with factually correct people, places, and events. The way the author blends in the fictional family with actual American history is superb. I learned more about American history from reading these books than I ever learned in a class room or from reading school text books on history.
John Jakes writes in a way that makes you feel like you were there and experiencing the events.
I highly recommend this series.
They were written back in the 70's and I have worn mine out from reading the books again and again over the years.
I am going to try to find this series of books on ebay and buy them again.
I enjoyed and learned more about the ideas, everyday life and attitudes and struggles of early Americans from the Kent Family Chronicles than I ever learned in a class room.
The Kent family is fictional although there is a Kent or Kentland in England still today. The historical facts were as correct as research could make them.
A very good read.
I think they should be required reading in every high school in the country.
Did I mention I really liked these books??
I am an American history buff and it takes something a little special to really get me interested since I have read so much on the subject.
This series of books really grabbed my attention.
There is one drawback though. I have found myself still reading when the birds started chirping in the morning.
Whoops. Where did the time go?
"Democracy in America" is THE book to read. I couldn't be emphatic enough to get this point across. If someone wants to understand America, that is it.
"The Wealth of Nations" by Smith is another MUST READ for any American.
Locke's "Second Treatise of Government" is the foundation of American government philosophy.
"The Constitution: For and Against" includes not only the Federalist Papers, but also the arguments against the Constitution that were made in speeches and writings by the likes of Patrick Henry and many others. This is another amazing, amazing book. I prefer it over the Federalist Papers by themselves because the opposing views put the papers in perspective.
These books represent what America is. You read just one of them, and you'll be a better American. You read them all, well, you'll be a very proud American.
Once a couple of those are taken in, I'd just read and read any book on American history by reputable authors. For a quick overview of our history, I'd just watch documentaries.
I would avoid Zinn like the plague unless you're looking to mislead someone. I suppose it's factually accurate, however, when you read the books I recommend first, you'll spend page after page rolling your eyes. He's a pathetic author who seems to view America through the eyes of citizen of the USSR... He's really out there... Wholly irreputable.
"1776" is a great book. However, I don't know if that's what you're looking for. It's pretty detailed about one year of the Revolution. It's a book worth reading, for sure. However, I don't know if it'll fit your goals. It's primarily strategy oriented, I'd say.
Last edited by One Thousand; 05-07-2008 at 02:29 AM..
These books represent what America is. You read just one of them, and you'll be a better American. You read them all, well, you'll be a very proud American.
Quote:
Originally Posted by One Thousand
I would avoid Zinn like the plague unless you're looking to mislead someone. I suppose it's factually accurate, however, when you read the books I recommend first, you'll spend page after page rolling your eyes. He's a pathetic author who seems to view America through the eyes of citizen of the USSR... He's really out there... Wholly irreputable.
Factually accurate, yet irreputible... Factually accurate, but really out there... I suppose the appreciation for this book comes through in one's political leanings, and this is probably not the forum for such a debate. [Mod Cut]
Should the goal of a historical study be strictly laudatory? That smells wrong to me. As an example: After reading Zinn I read A Patriot's History of the United States, and was disgusted...through the whole book actually, but specifically in the very short section on Westward Expansion and our treatment of Native Americans. It said something to the effect of, "And there was a bit of trouble with the natives..." Zinn spent a bit more time on it than that. Why the disparity? Why is it unpatriotic to admit to flaws? I know you didn't bring up the Patriot's History, 1000, but the books you mentioned, while great in their own ways, do not complete the history, especially considering the fact that they're a bit on the old side. What do you suggest for a "complete" history of the U.S.?
I hear constantly that the history we're taught in schools is biased by the left, but I couldn't possibly disagree more. All I remember about History class in my middle/high school years was the requisite memorization of dates and the distinct feeling I wasn't getting the whole story.
Last edited by ontheroad; 05-07-2008 at 11:15 AM..
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