Best American History Books

Books about the history of the United States. Non-fiction only, please. Biographies of generals, presidents, activists, etc. are fine, but celebrity bios, even celebrities who lived in turbulent times, will be removed. To be considered History and not Current Events, books must focus on events that occurred at least 50 years ago.

See also:

Best 19th Century American (U.S.) History - 3.7 Stars and Up

Best 20th Century American (U.S.) History - 3.7 Stars and Up

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	John Adams by David McCullough 4.08 avg rating — 362,104 ratings score: 46,691, and 475 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	1776 by David McCullough 4.09 avg rating — 230,963 ratings score: 43,881, and 447 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin 4.28 avg rating — 187,114 ratings score: 35,663, and 364 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn 4.08 avg rating — 244,693 ratings score: 29,727, and 302 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown 4.25 avg rating — 93,089 ratings score: 19,787, and 207 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow 4.22 avg rating — 181,986 ratings score: 18,854, and 196 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson 4.38 avg rating — 31,387 ratings score: 18,781, and 194 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 686,576 ratings score: 17,093, and 180 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis 3.95 avg rating — 45,759 ratings score: 16,193, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Truman by David McCullough 4.16 avg rating — 87,834 ratings score: 16,186, and 168 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.22 avg rating — 62,689 ratings score: 15,494, and 162 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris 4.23 avg rating — 55,642 ratings score: 11,587, and 121 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X 4.36 avg rating — 268,920 ratings score: 10,964, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 43,721 ratings score: 10,449, and 110 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.43 avg rating — 126,953 ratings score: 10,308, and 109 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen 3.97 avg rating — 69,586 ratings score: 10,088, and 105 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow 4.15 avg rating — 73,756 ratings score: 9,280, and 100 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand 4.38 avg rating — 938,088 ratings score: 9,176, and 99 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote 4.53 avg rating — 7,880 ratings score: 9,164, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Mary Edwards Walker: America's Only Female Medal of Honor Recipient by Ammar Habib (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 7,877 ratings score: 9,080, and 91 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis 3.95 avg rating — 41,657 ratings score: 8,894, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl: A National Book Award Winner by Timothy Egan (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 55,843 ratings score: 8,754, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann 4.05 avg rating — 87,482 ratings score: 8,722, and 92 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris 4.18 avg rating — 49,364 ratings score: 8,420, and 91 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton 4.10 avg rating — 40,341 ratings score: 8,243, and 88 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 140,085 ratings score: 7,731, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson 4.16 avg rating — 31,800 ratings score: 7,628, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe 4.23 avg rating — 52,830 ratings score: 7,517, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville 4.04 avg rating — 25,774 ratings score: 7,220, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Citizen Soldiers: The US Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.23 avg rating — 23,509 ratings score: 7,125, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass 4.11 avg rating — 124,229 ratings score: 6,785, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin 4.20 avg rating — 45,194 ratings score: 6,592, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro 4.47 avg rating — 21,807 ratings score: 6,527, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Master of the Senate by Robert A. Caro 4.40 avg rating — 22,441 ratings score: 6,334, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough 4.09 avg rating — 33,184 ratings score: 6,328, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard 4.21 avg rating — 75,194 ratings score: 6,209, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Battle for the Normandy Beaches by Stephen E. Ambrose 4.30 avg rating — 29,471 ratings score: 5,773, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham 3.85 avg rating — 53,545 ratings score: 5,721, and 63 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Common Sense by Thomas Paine 3.99 avg rating — 36,401 ratings score: 5,365, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer 4.15 avg rating — 14,908 ratings score: 5,279, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 102,742 ratings score: 5,247, and 56 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Path to Power by Robert A. Caro 4.39 avg rating — 23,951 ratings score: 5,223, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Parting the Waters: Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement 1954-63 by Taylor Branch 4.35 avg rating — 9,731 ratings score: 5,024, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis 3.93 avg rating — 28,363 ratings score: 4,818, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Hiroshima by John Hersey 4.03 avg rating — 80,842 ratings score: 4,484, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough 4.25 avg rating — 16,950 ratings score: 4,444, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 108,735 ratings score: 4,299, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes 4.39 avg rating — 22,451 ratings score: 4,151, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik 4.16 avg rating — 12,196 ratings score: 4,120, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden 4.30 avg rating — 64,665 ratings score: 4,096, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 (World War II Liberation Trilogy, #1) by Rick Atkinson 4.29 avg rating — 20,830 ratings score: 4,087, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 3.93 avg rating — 46,577 ratings score: 4,085, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts 3.64 avg rating — 8,463 ratings score: 3,834, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides 4.27 avg rating — 16,830 ratings score: 3,807, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815 - 1848 by Daniel Walker Howe 4.15 avg rating — 8,293 ratings score: 3,796, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Nothing Like It in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69 by Stephen E. Ambrose 3.98 avg rating — 13,113 ratings score: 3,556, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne 4.23 avg rating — 55,346 ratings score: 3,491, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan 4.33 avg rating — 24,459 ratings score: 3,365, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw 4.03 avg rating — 18,740 ratings score: 3,306, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough 4.13 avg rating — 23,105 ratings score: 3,298, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America (America: A Cultural History, Vol. I) by David Hackett Fischer 4.36 avg rating — 3,240 ratings score: 3,125, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 202,536 ratings score: 3,099, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands 4.10 avg rating — 22,227 ratings score: 3,077, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan 4.23 avg rating — 12,066 ratings score: 2,959, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964 by William Manchester 4.08 avg rating — 13,591 ratings score: 2,899, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 by David McCullough 4.22 avg rating — 20,598 ratings score: 2,890, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	A Stillness at Appomattox by Bruce Catton 4.37 avg rating — 6,327 ratings score: 2,831, and 33 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux by John G. Neihardt 4.12 avg rating — 17,501 ratings score: 2,755, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham 4.04 avg rating — 40,186 ratings score: 2,717, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror by Larry Schweikart 4.12 avg rating — 3,688 ratings score: 2,693, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Wright Brothers by David McCullough 4.16 avg rating — 92,709 ratings score: 2,692, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Passage of Power by Robert A. Caro 4.38 avg rating — 18,199 ratings score: 2,639, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	A History of the American People by Paul Johnson 4.11 avg rating — 2,861 ratings score: 2,551, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #2) by Robert A. Caro 4.26 avg rating — 25,764 ratings score: 2,550, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression by Amity Shlaes (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 6,012 ratings score: 2,533, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry 3.98 avg rating — 40,472 ratings score: 2,524, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Beads on a String-America's Racially Intertwined Biographical History by Ey Wade (Goodreads Author) 4.85 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 2,458, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck 4.08 avg rating — 95,147 ratings score: 2,404, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America by Rick Perlstein 4.24 avg rating — 10,026 ratings score: 2,401, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy 3.92 avg rating — 13,329 ratings score: 2,383, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Glory and the Dream: A Narrative History of America 1932-72 by William Manchester 4.43 avg rating — 2,103 ratings score: 2,330, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (World War II Liberation Trilogy, #2) by Rick Atkinson 4.35 avg rating — 14,797 ratings score: 2,284, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam 4.27 avg rating — 12,218 ratings score: 2,277, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 by David M. Kennedy 4.19 avg rating — 5,146 ratings score: 2,258, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner 4.27 avg rating — 10,999 ratings score: 2,198, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to September 1787 by Catherine Drinker Bowen 4.07 avg rating — 1,909 ratings score: 2,179, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Memoirs and Selected Letters by Ulysses S. Grant 4.08 avg rating — 3,248 ratings score: 2,178, and 26 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen B. Oates 4.27 avg rating — 8,321 ratings score: 2,172, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Collected Writings: Common Sense / The Crisis / Rights of Man / The Age of Reason / Pamphlets, Articles, and Letters by Thomas Paine 4.26 avg rating — 1,708 ratings score: 2,126, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Civil War, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote 4.44 avg rating — 12,835 ratings score: 2,052, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides 4.24 avg rating — 36,776 ratings score: 2,040, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Anti-Intellectualism in American Life by Richard Hofstadter 4.12 avg rating — 3,211 ratings score: 1,952, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic that Shaped Our History by Molly Caldwell Crosby (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 6,439 ratings score: 1,947, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Life of Andrew Jackson, The by Robert V. Remini 4.04 avg rating — 3,739 ratings score: 1,940, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877 by Eric Foner 4.20 avg rating — 5,816 ratings score: 1,915, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson & Abigail & John Adams by Lester J. Cappon (Editor) 4.28 avg rating — 1,207 ratings score: 1,757, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court by Bob Woodward 4.14 avg rating — 4,935 ratings score: 1,730, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Day Lincoln Was Shot by Jim Bishop 4.14 avg rating — 1,140 ratings score: 1,728, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Second World War by John Keegan 4.22 avg rating — 6,977 ratings score: 1,703, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	The Strange Career of Jim Crow by C. Vann Woodward 4.14 avg rating — 3,090 ratings score: 1,659, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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2,005 books · 2,450 voters · list created July 15th, 2008 by Cindy (votes) .

Tags: 18th-century-history, 19th-century-history, 20th-century-history, aboriginal, aboriginal-history, african-american, african-american-history, african-american-studies, afro-american-studies, america, american, american-history, american-politics, american-president, american-presidents, american-studies, autobiographies, autobiography, best, biographies, biography, black-american, black-history, colonialism, dc, first-nations, first-nations-history, founder, founders, founding-father, founding-fathers, globalization, history, history-american, imperialism, indigeneity, indigenous, indigenous-history, memoir, memoirs, military-history, native-american, native-american-history, non-fiction, political-history, political-science, politics, president, presidents, u-s-history, u-s-politics, united-states, united-states-history, united-states-politics, united-states-president, united-states-presidents, us-history, us-politics, us-president, us-presidents, usa, war

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People Who Voted On This List (2450)

Cindy 10165 books
150 friends

Steven 4340 books
2508 friends

Dave 817 books
61 friends

Heather 977 books
164 friends

Don 1581 books
124 friends

Todd 339 books
16 friends

Lisa 200 books
25 friends

Robert 1894 books
27 friends

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Comments Showing 1-50 of 96 (96 new)

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message 1: by Mackay (new)

Oct 15, 2008 02:43PM

Cincinnatus: by Garry Wills.

That's the best American History book.

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message 2: by Travis (new)

Feb 02, 2009 07:13PM

So why isn't it up there? I mean, if you think it's the best then it should have at least one vote right?

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message 3: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 26, 2009 02:27PM

How is The Rape of Nanking about American history?

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message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 17, 2009 03:36PM

Who on earth selected these books? These are supposed to be the BEST of American History Books? Where is Shelby Foote or Bruce Catton? Where is a decent history of the American Revolution? Where is there a history of Political Parties in the US?
Some of these authors are inferior in writing on the subject matter. It is not only important to learn about our history, but to learn about it from leaders in the field of the subject matter. Where is the Viet Nam War?

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message 5: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 17, 2009 03:37PM

How are books by Mc Cain, Hillary & Bill Clinton insightful into our American History?

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message 6: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Sep 20, 2009 05:41PM

It's pretty easy to add books, over at the right side of the page.

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message 7: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Sep 20, 2009 06:00PM

A Bright Shining Lie is about Vietnam, as is Dispatches.

Shelby Foote is on the list, on page two.

There are plenty of books on the list that are either about the American Revolution, or are biographies of the people involved in it.

And the books were selected by the people who have chosen to vote on this list.

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message 8: by Cindy (new)

Mar 20, 2010 10:02PM

I love this list! I have found some great reads from it. Thanks to everyone who chose the books. My latest read was Indian Givers and it was amazing.

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message 9: by Reader (new)

Nov 12, 2010 10:44PM

I've read:
"John Adams" (Excellent)
and
"Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" (Good).

Currently reading:
"1776". Has been Excellent.

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message 10: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 16, 2010 12:04PM

I have yet to read a McCullough I haven't liked.

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message 11: by Michelle (new)

Dec 30, 2010 09:42PM

"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" is by far and away the best historical non-fiction book I have ever read....glad to see it's high on this list!!

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message 12: by Bill (new)

Apr 17, 2011 02:28AM

I love The Killer Angels and you can learn a lot from it, but it's a novel. Isn't this a non-fiction list?

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message 13: by Bill (new)

Apr 17, 2011 02:39AM

Johnny Tremain is a wonderful novel that brings pre-Revolutionary Boston to life, but it's not a history.

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message 14: by Bill (new)

Apr 17, 2011 02:46AM

All of Jeff Shaara's books are novels.

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message 15: by Bill (new)

Apr 17, 2011 02:55AM

I haven't read them (and it's unlikely that I will), butI don't think Ron Paul's books are history.

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message 16: by Bill (new)

Apr 17, 2011 03:02AM

Gore Vidal's Lincoln, Burr, etc. are all novels.

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message 17: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 17, 2011 01:34PM

Cindy, you're the creator of this list - you want me to remove the non-fiction?

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message 18: by Cindy (new)

Apr 17, 2011 03:36PM

I really had non-fiction in mind, but I admit that I voted for Killer Angels. I really don't want this to turn into a historical romance list, but there's a difference between Gone With the Wind and Killer Angels. What does everyone else think?

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message 19: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 18, 2011 08:49AM

Y'all tell me what to delete, and I'll be happy to delete it.

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message 20: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 03, 2011 07:04PM

Should The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich be on the list?

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message 21: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 03, 2011 07:04PM

Deleted The Man in the High Castle - speculative/alternative history (fiction).

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message 22: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 04, 2011 07:54PM

I don't see any reason why Rise and Fall of the Third Reich should be on, no.

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message 23: by Bettie (last edited Jul 05, 2011 02:24AM) (new)

Jul 05, 2011 12:13AM

Susanna wrote: "I don't see any reason why Rise and Fall of the Third Reich should be on, no."

Someone 'muxing this ip' with a Philip Roth story that they think is :Teh:Real:?

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message 24: by Cindy (new)

Aug 29, 2011 09:18AM

Go ahead and delete all the fiction. Rise to Rebellion, The Killer Angels, The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

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message 25: by Cindy (new)

Aug 29, 2011 09:27AM

Also Leaves of Grass, What Ifs?

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message 26: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Aug 30, 2011 05:23PM) (new)

Aug 30, 2011 05:23PM

What about Rise and Fall of the Third Reich?

I think I have found and removed the non-fiction.

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message 27: by Cindy (new)

Aug 30, 2011 08:08PM

Yes, that one too!

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message 28: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Aug 31, 2011 10:35AM

OK, I shall remove it, then.

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message 29: by Cindy (new)

Oct 24, 2011 10:42PM

Am I Not a Man? is fiction also.

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message 30: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 25, 2011 12:17PM

Alright, I'll remove it.

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message 31: by John (new)

Apr 07, 2012 02:31PM

Although I'm reluctant to be critical of anyone who undertakes the kind of effort on display here, I can't resist commenting that any list of books on American History that includes Jesse Ventura's book and excludes those of Bernard Bailyn -- not to mention Barrington Moore and David Hackett Fischer -- cannot be taken seriously.

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message 32: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Apr 08, 2012 11:30AM) (new)

Apr 07, 2012 02:35PM

You can, of course, add them. Adding books to lists is easy; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes." You will then have the option of adding books from your own shelves, or of performing a search of GR's database.

Also, David Hackett Fischer's Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, at least, is on the list, because I voted for it. (It is, in fact, currently #55. Washington's Crossing is #25.)

ETA: Bernard Bailyn's Ideological Origins of the American Revolution is currently at #107.

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message 33: by Cindy (new)

Apr 07, 2012 04:38PM

Loved Albion's Seed. I read it because of this list. Great book.

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message 34: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 07, 2012 09:22PM

I certainly think so.

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message 35: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 08, 2012 11:35AM

Cindy, do you want me to remove Ron Paul's The Revolution: A Manifesto? I'm dubious about this one.

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message 36: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 08, 2012 11:38AM

Removed:

Weezer and the Painted Frog (fiction)

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message 37: by John (new)

Apr 11, 2012 10:31AM

Susanna wrote: "You can, of course, add them. Adding books to lists is easy; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes." You will then have the option of adding books from your own shelves, or of per..."

My oversight -- it's a great list! I hope it inspires many readers to acquire many of these titles. Participatory democracy works better when more voters know more about the country's history. In 25 years of casual history reading, I have found myself becoming more interested in intellectually challenging history books. I suspect most history 'consumers' have a similar experience. The nation was founded by a group of 'intellectuals'. What would they think about the intellectual quality of contemporary politicians?

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message 38: by Karen (new)

Jul 01, 2012 07:22PM

I've read a number of books on this list and especially like McCullough's 1776 and John Adams. I also like Founding Brothers a great deal. I downloaded the audio to Shelby Foote's 1st Volume and plan to listen to it as soon as I finish War & Peace, which is not American history or non-fiction, but which is teaching me a great deal about Russian history. While fiction might not be good for this list, another list of works of fiction that are historically accurate might be helpful. Often, I find straight history books to be so packed with details that they bog down and lose any sense of narrative.

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message 39: by Timothy (new)

Oct 22, 2012 08:54AM

Susanna wrote: "How is The Rape of Nanking about American history?"
It's about Japan and China. Other than that, it's a great book about American history.

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message 40: by Kimberlyn (new)

Nov 05, 2012 05:18PM

History has never been a strong point for me. I need to select a book relevant to the historical period either from Columbus through the Civil War, or Reconstruction to the end of the Cold War. So I was wondering if anyone could point out a few good books, I might be interested in. THANK YOU.

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message 41: by Karen (new)

Nov 12, 2012 04:23PM

If you're looking for an easy-to-read but good non-fiction work, I recommend The Perils of Prosperity. It covers 1914-1932.

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message 42: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 12, 2012 04:51PM

It's easy to add books to lists; at the top of the list, at the tab next to "all votes."

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message 43: by Marguerite (new)

Mar 13, 2013 10:07AM

Manhunt is the best book about Lincoln's killer. Went to the Surratt House and the Dr Mudd Farm. Great

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message 44: by Piseth (new)

Mar 27, 2013 07:42PM

Lobstergirl wrote: "Deleted The Man in the High Castle - speculative/alternative history (fiction)."

poster book is published to reader.

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message 45: by Piseth (new)

Mar 27, 2013 07:56PM

Hello, Mr./Mrs. ! how are you doing ? i would like reading a book too thus i am a supporter of reading book every day to find another acknowledges about this, actually, all of them are preferred reading them and wanna a writing some story of mine. that story is said about a life of mine surely. i will write some the meaning of story connecting to real life of mine was child, can be made a plan to refer to supporter. thanks you !

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message 46: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Mar 29, 2013 01:55PM

Say what?

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message 47: by Lobstergirl (new)

Apr 16, 2013 05:54PM

Removed a novel and 3 nonfiction books not about America.

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message 48: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jun 10, 2013 02:57PM

Does Man Hunt (#75) belong on here? It appears to be historical fiction. (And aside from this list, the other lists it appears on are all for historical fiction.)

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message 49: by Thom (new)

Jun 10, 2013 02:59PM

John wrote: "Although I'm reluctant to be critical of anyone who undertakes the kind of effort on display here, I can't resist commenting that any list of books on American History that includes Jesse Ventura's..."

John, I'm assuming this list was not made up before for us to vote on, but is instead a list we make with our choices. If one person wants to put Jesse Ventura on his list--or Bill O'Reilly for that matter-let them do so. Such votes will be drowned out by less fringe opinions. Democracy, etc. etc.

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message 50: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jun 10, 2013 04:11PM

Susanna wrote: "Does Man Hunt (#75) belong on here? It appears to be historical fiction. (And aside from this list, the other lists it appears on are all for historical fiction.)"

Deleted.

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