The 4 Best Books About American History

"History is the biography of the present," wrote Alexis de Tocqueville.

The History Of the United States Of America may be unwieldy in size; but then its enormousness is testimony to the plethora of incidents and characters that shaped the American story.

Here's a list of recommended books about American History, with reviews from avid readers like me and you.

If you want to purchase any of the books listed below, click on the titles. They are affiliated links that will take you directly to the store.

The First Tycoon, by T.J. Stiles

This is a beautifully written and meticulously researched book. It will be of great interest to students of early American history and of Vanderbilt's life, but it is more than a biography: the reader can trace the development of American economic history from 1800-1875 through the life of Vanderbilt.

I loved this book. It’s a wonderfully written, deeply researched biography of the man who was, in many respects, the most important figure in American economic history. Vanderbilt was an extraordinary entrepreneur whose story helped to shape the way that Americans think about business.

Vanderbilt was a businessman who never took a day off. He was a true entrepreneur, who made all of his own decisions and did not answer to stockholders. This biography is the story of the industrial revolution in America.

The Founders' Speech to a Nation in Crisis: What the Founders Would Say to America Today, by Steven Rabb

Rabb draws on the wisdom of the founders to provide clear insight into how they would view key issues of the day. A must read for anybody who wants to understand this great nation of ours and what needs to be done to save it.

The book is a great reminder of what we stand for and what we stand against. The Founders had an eye for each and every thing in their lives. They set out to create a country where they could live, love, raise their families, work, enjoy life...all these things are at risk today. As Americans, we all need to remember what it is that the founders wanted us to have and to be proud of who we are as Americans.

The Founders' Speech to a Nation in Crisis is the most powerful, concise, and clear book I have ever read on the subject of leadership. This book is destined to become a classic. It is the perfect tool for any citizen, regardless of his or her political leanings, to educate himself or herself about what America was founded upon and how it came to be.

Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow

I had heard so much about this book that I had to read it. It is the best biography I have ever read, and I have read several. Chernow tells an engrossing story that is at once timely, entertaining, and appropriately critical of its subject.

After reading approximately a quarter of the book, I was hooked. Chernow has uncovered a treasure trove of Hamilton's original letters and documents that provide a window into the mind of one of the most fascinating and influential individuals in American history.

After reading Ron Chernow's extraordinary biography of Alexander Hamilton, I now understand the reason for the hype. Ron Chernow's book is excellent. It is a beautifully written and deeply researched biography of an important but grossly misunderstood Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton.

The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, by Joseph J. Ellis

The author, Joseph Ellis, paints a complete picture of what happened. It is very interesting to learn about the thoughts and ideas of the "founding fathers" during the time of the American Revolution. The book explains how they came to their decisions and why they did what they did.

This is an excellent book! I had never read any of Mr. Ellis' work before, but the moment I opened this book on page one, I was hooked. The way he writes is both engaging and informative. His comparisons between the American Revolution and the French Revolution are quite fascinating. It was very eye-opening to me that these two revolutions were happening at the same time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history. It's very well-written and informative while easy

The American Revolution and its Discontents is a masterpiece by one of the greatest historians of all time. Joseph J. Ellis is at his best in this book, which is a must-read for anyone who enjoys American history.