Recommended Reading on US History

~ Clarissa

I was asked in the comments if I have any recommendations on books on American history, and yes, I do. I ploughed through a lot of stuff and finally found a really good volume. It is the perfect nation-state history book. I strongly believe it should be the school textbook everywhere instead of the horrible drivel by Howard Zinn.

The book I’m talking about is Land of Hope by Wilfred McClay. Here’s a quote I really like:

One of the worst sins of the present – not just ours but any present – is its tendency to condescend toward the past, which is much easier to do when one doesn’t trouble to know the full context of that past or try to grasp the nature of its challenges as they presented themselves at the time. This small book is an effort to counteract that condescension and remind us of how remarkable were the achievements of those who came before us, how much we are indebted to them.

Indentured servitude was recently mentioned here on the blog, and here’s a quote regarding it:

Indentured servitude was so common that some historians have estimated more than half of the white immigrants to the American colonies up to the time of the Revolution had come to the New World under indentures, and even the first black Africans to appear in North America, dropped off at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619 by a Dutch ship, may well have been indentured servants rather than slaves.

Indentured servitude is often written out of history because because it’s inconvenient to the reigninig narrative of race relations.

In short, a wonderful book that I highly recommend. There’s also a version for middle schoolers which I’m planning to buy for my own kid.

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Published by Clarissa

12 thoughts on “Recommended Reading on US History”

  1. On more granular scale, Stephen Ambrose’s: “Undaunted Courage”, detailing the Lewis & Clark expedition, articulates more about America than any overview.

    I’ve “assigned” it to each of the European EF students we’ve hosted, urging them to read it before arrival. It’s the best way of understanding a people and country where a pregnant Native American woman, Sacajawea, guides the party across the still untamed Bitteroots. An expedition led by a manic depressive who committed suicide soon after its completion. The co-leader brought York, his black slave, who had a full vote in expedition decisions long before the 15th Amendment. York was so valued that he was often sent to lead scouting expeditions.

    The hold of “The West” on the our imagination; the foundations of our “cowboy culture”; the American mosaic, geographic and ethnic, that both fascinates and baffles the rest of the world—each elucidated brilliantly.

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  3. I’m looking for Land of Hope and only see Young Readers edition. Is there one for old readers, or is the YR the one you quoted from?

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      1. Thank you, Clarissa! I looked inside the book and saw the “blurb” by Robert P. George, whom I greatly respect, so this is the confirmation that this book is worthwhile to read. I’ve never heard of this author, so I greatly appreciate the recommendation. (I asked the original question).

        Alina

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  4. Thanks for reminding me of this book. You’ve already mentioned it years ago, I downloaded it but haven’t read. Now started reading and it’s so clearly and beautifully written that I plan to continue.

    For quite a few years, I almost entirely stopped reading, which is a pity, so finding a book I enjoy is all the more precious.

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