Deleted
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Jun 23, 2024 19:00:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 19:02:40 GMT
So having falling into the grasp of "Hamilton" the Broadway show thanks to my daughter introducing me to the cast album, I find myself wanting to learn more. I've had discussions with my daughter over the things she's already researched with regards to facts and those things that "poetic license" was taken for the benefit of a musical on Broadway.
Then I went back and watched "John Adams" the HBO mini-series that's available on Amazon Video. Now I'm eager to do some more investigating. I'd like to pick the Pea brains about books that cover U.S. History matters. Both general historical books and biographies. As one would imagine, there are MANY to choose from.
Help me add more things to my Good Reads "want to read" list.
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Post by Basket1lady on May 25, 2016 19:07:28 GMT
The musical is based on the book Hamilton by Rob Chernow. Hamilton
Goodreads has a whole list of popular history books. Most are by subject, but you may find some general overviews on the list. Goodreads History Books |
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melissa
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Post by melissa on May 25, 2016 19:38:40 GMT
The obvious choice is to read Ron Chernow's book that Basket1lady linked above. It's very long. It's fun to see the details that did and did not make it into the musical and to see what Lin Manuel-Miranda took license with. I'd also recommend "Lafayette in the Somewhat United States" by Sarah Vowell. He was really quite the superstar during the Revolution, probably the first true celebrity personality in the US. Fun to read about the Lafayette mania. |
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Mystie
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Post by Mystie on May 25, 2016 19:51:44 GMT
I'm in the middle of another bio by Ron Chernow, about George Washington. It's excellent so far. (It's just called Washington.) I also read a good bio of Martha Washington a few years ago, called Martha Washington: First Lady of Liberty by Helen Bryan. It's often hard to find out information about women of that era, even the famous ones. Abigail Adams would also be a great woman to read about, but I can't recommend a book--the only bio I've read on her was not very well-written. It looks like there's one called First Family: Abigail and John Adams by Joseph Ellis, and I know he's a good historical writer. In fact, I'm putting that one on my to-read list right now!
For other eras of American history...you can't go wrong with David McCullough. I read his latest book, The Wright Brothers, at Christmastime and I just loved it. He has a book called Mornings on Horseback, about the early life of Theodore Roosevelt--fantastic. Those are my favorites of his.
Doris Kearns Goodwin is also a wonderful writer. I especially like No Ordinary Time, about FDR and Eleanor in the WW II years. Nathaniel Philbrick is also pretty good, and Erik Larson.
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Deleted
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Jun 23, 2024 19:00:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 20:07:04 GMT
I second David McCullough. His book 1776 is probably my favorite non-fiction book about the Revolutionary War. It gives great insight into George Washington's mindset as the war started. The story of the evacuation of Manhattan before the British could totally cut off the Continental Army gave me goosebumps.
He also wrote a very thorough biography of John Adams that I highly recommend.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 20:14:12 GMT
<div class="quote" timestamp="1464203248" author=" Basket1lady" source="/post/1132654/thread"><div class="quote_body"><div class="quote_avatar_container"><div title="Basket1lady" class="avatar-wrapper avatar_size_quote avatar-1108"><img alt="Basket1lady Avatar" src="http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac208/Basket1lady/e0284a0e.jpg"></div></div><div class="quote_header"><a href="/post/1132654/thread"><abbr title="May 25, 2016 12:07:28 GMT -7" class="time" data-timestamp="1464203248000">May 25, 2016 12:07:28 GMT -7</abbr></a> <span itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemscope=""><a title=" Basket1lady" class="user-link user-1108 group-0" href="/user/1108" itemprop="url"><span itemprop="name">Basket1lady</span></a></span> said:</div>The musical is based on the book <u>Hamilton</u> by Rob Chernow. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Hamilton-Ron-Chernow/dp/0143034758/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464203133&sr=8-3&keywords=hamilton" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hamilton<br><br></a>Goodreads has a whole list of popular history books. Most are by subject, but you may find some general overviews on the list. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1362.Best_History_Books" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Goodreads History Books</a><div class="quote_clear"></div></div></div>I am just finishing this up and it's been a wonderful book. It's super long but worth the read. I have learned more about the beginning of our country from this book than from any college history class I took. <br> |
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Deleted
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Jun 23, 2024 19:00:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 20:34:57 GMT
Chernow's "Hamilton" book is in my Audible list. I'm working my way through it now. Great input thus far, thanks!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 20:37:29 GMT
I'd definitely recommend anything by Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough. I think my husband has read pretty much everything they've ever written.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on May 25, 2016 22:01:37 GMT
I second anything by David McCullough
I also like Crazy Horse and Custer by Ambrose
Bury my heart at Wounded knee is a classic
Biography of Abigail Adams.
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Post by kellybelly77 on May 25, 2016 22:20:14 GMT
The Hatfields and McCoys by Otis Rice. Good and short.
Lewis and Clark by Ralph Andrist. I really really liked this one about the journey Lewis and Clark took.
Doc by Mary Doria Russell. A story about Doc Holliday. I have been meaning to read the next book she wrote that details the shootout at the OK Corral. I really liked this book and she is a great writer!
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Post by Tamhugh on May 25, 2016 23:49:21 GMT
If you like historical fiction, try the Killer Angels. Gods and Generals was the first one in the trilogy, but I enjoyed the Killer Angels more.
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Post by myboysnme on May 25, 2016 23:51:24 GMT
Private Yankee Doodle is a wonderful first person account
John Adams miniseries is amazing if a bit slow at times.
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