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SoBrief

American History Book Summaries

Slavery and the Founders
by Paul Finkelman • 1995
Race and Liberty in the Age of Jefferson
3.85
54
History
Race
American History
Slavery and the Founders Summary
Slavery and the Founders
Race and Liberty in the Age of Jefferson
by Paul Finkelman 1995 272 pages
3.85
54 ratings
History
Race
American History
Ghost Wars
by Steve Coll • 2004
The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
4.32
19k+
History
Politics
War
Ghost Wars Summary
Ghost Wars
The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
by Steve Coll 2004 712 pages
4.32
19k+ ratings
History
Politics
War
One Nation Under God
by Kevin M. Kruse • 2015
How Corporate America Invented Christian America
3.96
2k+
History
Politics
Religion
One Nation Under God Summary
One Nation Under God
How Corporate America Invented Christian America
by Kevin M. Kruse 2015 384 pages
3.96
2k+ ratings
History
Politics
Religion
Republican Gomorrah
by Max Blumenthal • 2007
Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party
3.88
1k+
Politics
Religion
History
Republican Gomorrah Summary
Republican Gomorrah
Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party
by Max Blumenthal 2007 432 pages
3.88
1k+ ratings
Politics
Religion
History
The Two Faces of American Freedom
by Aziz Rana • 2010
4.03
90
History
Politics
American History
The Two Faces of American Freedom Summary
The Two Faces of American Freedom
by Aziz Rana 2010 432 pages
4.03
90 ratings
History
Politics
American History
Separate and Unequal
by Steven M. Gillon • 2018
The Kerner Commission and the Unraveling of American Liberalism
3.97
95
Politics
History
Race
Separate and Unequal Summary
Separate and Unequal
The Kerner Commission and the Unraveling of American Liberalism
by Steven M. Gillon 2018 400 pages
3.97
95 ratings
Politics
History
Race
The Age of Federalism
by Stanley Elkins • 1993
4.17
283
History
American History
Politics
The Age of Federalism Summary
The Age of Federalism
by Stanley Elkins 1993 944 pages
4.17
283 ratings
History
American History
Politics
Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins
by Robert K. Murray • 1979
4.07
364
History
Biography
Historical
Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins Summary
Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins
by Robert K. Murray 1979 360 pages
4.07
364 ratings
History
Biography
Historical
The Market Revolution
by Charles Grier Sellers • 1992
Jacksonian America, 1815-1846
3.63
293
History
American History
Economics
The Market Revolution Summary
The Market Revolution
Jacksonian America, 1815-1846
by Charles Grier Sellers 1992 512 pages
3.63
293 ratings
History
American History
Economics
Nations Apart
by Colin Woodard • 2025
How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America
4.08
246
History
Politics
American History
Nations Apart Summary
Nations Apart
How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America
by Colin Woodard 2025 368 pages
4.08
246 ratings
History
Politics
American History
The Day Wall Street Exploded
by Beverly Gage • 2008
A Story of America in Its First Age of Terror
3.75
318
History
American History
True Crime
The Day Wall Street Exploded Summary
The Day Wall Street Exploded
A Story of America in Its First Age of Terror
by Beverly Gage 2008 400 pages
3.75
318 ratings
History
American History
True Crime
A Land So Strange
by Andrés Reséndez • 2007
The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca
4.11
4k+
History
Biography
Adventure
A Land So Strange Summary
A Land So Strange
The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca
by Andrés Reséndez 2007 336 pages
4.11
4k+ ratings
History
Biography
Adventure
American Amnesia
by Jacob S. Hacker • 2016
How the War on Government Led Us to Forget What Made America Prosper
4.14
500+
Politics
History
Economics
American Amnesia Summary
American Amnesia
How the War on Government Led Us to Forget What Made America Prosper
by Jacob S. Hacker 2016 464 pages
4.14
500+ ratings
Politics
History
Economics
Internal Improvement
by John Lauritz Larson • 2001
National Public Works and the Promise of Popular Government in the Early United States
3.73
33
American History
Politics
Class
Internal Improvement Summary
Internal Improvement
National Public Works and the Promise of Popular Government in the Early United States
by John Lauritz Larson 2001 342 pages
3.73
33 ratings
American History
Politics
Class
The Right To Vote The Contested History Of Democracy In The United States
by Alexander Keyssar • 2000
4.04
301
History
Politics
American History
The Right To Vote The Contested History Of Democracy In The United States Summary
The Right To Vote The Contested History Of Democracy In The United States
by Alexander Keyssar 2000 512 pages
4.04
301 ratings
History
Politics
American History
The Myth of Santa Fe
by Chris Wilson • 1997
Creating a Modern Regional Tradition
3.87
69
History
American History
Grad School
The Myth of Santa Fe Summary
The Myth of Santa Fe
Creating a Modern Regional Tradition
by Chris Wilson 1997 420 pages
3.87
69 ratings
History
American History
Grad School
The True and Only Heaven
by Christopher Lasch • 1991
Progress and Its Critics
4.36
382
Philosophy
Politics
History
The True and Only Heaven Summary
The True and Only Heaven
Progress and Its Critics
by Christopher Lasch 1991 592 pages
4.36
382 ratings
Philosophy
Politics
History
The Populist Persuasion
by Michael Kazin • 1995
An American History
3.75
134
History
Politics
American History
The Populist Persuasion Summary
The Populist Persuasion
An American History
by Michael Kazin 1995 387 pages
3.75
134 ratings
History
Politics
American History
Kill Switch
by Adam Jentleson • 2021
The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy
4.24
2k+
Politics
History
American History
Kill Switch Summary
Kill Switch
The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy
by Adam Jentleson 2021 352 pages
4.24
2k+ ratings
Politics
History
American History
Fault Lines in the Constitution
by Cynthia Levinson • 2017
The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today
4.00
500+
History
Politics
Middle Grade
Fault Lines in the Constitution Summary
Fault Lines in the Constitution
The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today
by Cynthia Levinson 2017 240 pages
4.00
500+ ratings
History
Politics
Middle Grade
Seven Social Movements That Changed America
by Linda Gordon • 2025
3.91
108
History
Politics
American History
Seven Social Movements That Changed America Summary
Seven Social Movements That Changed America
by Linda Gordon 2025 528 pages
3.91
108 ratings
History
Politics
American History
Workers on Arrival
by Joe William Trotter Jr. • 2019
Black Labor in the Making of America
4.20
41
History
Labor
Race
Workers on Arrival Summary
Workers on Arrival
Black Labor in the Making of America
by Joe William Trotter Jr. 2019 328 pages
4.20
41 ratings
History
Labor
Race
The Johnstown Flood
by David McCullough • 1968
4.13
25k+
History
American History
Historical
The Johnstown Flood Summary
The Johnstown Flood
by David McCullough 1968 302 pages
4.13
25k+ ratings
History
American History
Historical
Eisenhower
by Stephen E. Ambrose • 1990
Soldier and President
4.03
12k+
Biography
History
Presidents
Eisenhower Summary
Eisenhower
Soldier and President
by Stephen E. Ambrose 1990 635 pages
4.03
12k+ ratings
Biography
History
Presidents
The Myth of American Exceptionalism
by Godfrey Hodgson • 2009
3.46
115
History
Politics
American History
The Myth of American Exceptionalism Summary
The Myth of American Exceptionalism
by Godfrey Hodgson 2009 240 pages
3.46
115 ratings
History
Politics
American History
We Have Not a Government
by George William Van Cleve • 2017
The Articles of Confederation and the Road to the Constitution
3.99
76
History
Politics
American History
We Have Not a Government Summary
We Have Not a Government
The Articles of Confederation and the Road to the Constitution
by George William Van Cleve 2017 390 pages
3.99
76 ratings
History
Politics
American History
Under a Flaming Sky
by Daniel James Brown • 2006
The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894
4.13
4k+
History
American History
Book Club
Under a Flaming Sky Summary
Under a Flaming Sky
The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894
by Daniel James Brown 2006 288 pages
4.13
4k+ ratings
History
American History
Book Club
Indians and English
by Karen Ordahl Kupperman • 2000
Facing Off in Early America
3.85
114
History
American History
Native American History
Indians and English Summary
Indians and English
Facing Off in Early America
by Karen Ordahl Kupperman 2000 320 pages
3.85
114 ratings
History
American History
Native American History
The Heart of the Declaration
by Steve Pincus • 2016
The Founders’ Case for an Activist Government
3.64
36
History
American History
The Heart of the Declaration Summary
The Heart of the Declaration
The Founders’ Case for an Activist Government
by Steve Pincus 2016 224 pages
3.64
36 ratings
History
American History
The Black Hand
by Stephan Talty • 2017
The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History
3.63
2k+
History
True Crime
Crime
The Black Hand Summary
The Black Hand
The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History
by Stephan Talty 2017 298 pages
3.63
2k+ ratings
History
True Crime
Crime
American Poison
by Eduardo Porter • 2020
How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise
3.91
270
Race
Politics
History
American Poison Summary
American Poison
How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise
by Eduardo Porter 2020 272 pages
3.91
270 ratings
Race
Politics
History
Nothing Like It in the World
by Stephen E. Ambrose • 2000
The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69
3.99
14k+
History
American History
Westerns
Nothing Like It in the World Summary
Nothing Like It in the World
The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69
by Stephen E. Ambrose 2000 432 pages
3.99
14k+ ratings
History
American History
Westerns
American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion
by John D. Wilsey • 2015
Reassessing the History of an Idea
4.17
175
History
American History
Religion
American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion Summary
American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion
Reassessing the History of an Idea
by John D. Wilsey 2015 263 pages
4.17
175 ratings
History
American History
Religion
If We Can Keep It
by Michael Tomasky • 2019
How the Republic Collapsed and How it Might Be Saved
3.96
181
Politics
History
Economics
If We Can Keep It Summary
If We Can Keep It
How the Republic Collapsed and How it Might Be Saved
by Michael Tomasky 2019 288 pages
3.96
181 ratings
Politics
History
Economics
The People's Welfare
by William J. Novak • 1996
Law and Regulation in Nineteenth-Century America
3.88
81
History
American History
Law
The People's Welfare Summary
The People's Welfare
Law and Regulation in Nineteenth-Century America
by William J. Novak 1996 408 pages
3.88
81 ratings
History
American History
Law
The Ruling Race
by James Oakes • 1982
3.73
104
History
American History
Race
The Ruling Race Summary
The Ruling Race
by James Oakes 1982 307 pages
3.73
104 ratings
History
American History
Race
Age of Betrayal
by Jack Beatty • 2007
The Triumph of Money in America, 1865-1900
3.66
142
History
Economics
American History
Age of Betrayal Summary
Age of Betrayal
The Triumph of Money in America, 1865-1900
by Jack Beatty 2007 512 pages
3.66
142 ratings
History
Economics
American History
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
by Herbert Aptheker • 1966
Including the 1831 "Confessions"
3.55
64
History
Race
American History
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion Summary
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Including the 1831 "Confessions"
by Herbert Aptheker 1966 176 pages
3.55
64 ratings
History
Race
American History
The Political Economy of American Industrialization, 1877-1900
by Richard Franklin Bensel • 2000
3.50
22
History
Politics
American History
The Political Economy of American Industrialization, 1877-1900 Summary
The Political Economy of American Industrialization, 1877-1900
by Richard Franklin Bensel 2000 576 pages
3.50
22 ratings
History
Politics
American History
A Revolution in Favor of Government
by Max M. Edling • 2003
Origins of the U.S. Constitution and the Making of the American State
3.78
65
History
Politics
American History
A Revolution in Favor of Government Summary
A Revolution in Favor of Government
Origins of the U.S. Constitution and the Making of the American State
by Max M. Edling 2003 352 pages
3.78
65 ratings
History
Politics
American History
In the Hurricane's Eye
by Nathaniel Philbrick • 2018
The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown
4.13
5k+
History
American Revolution
American History
In the Hurricane's Eye Summary
In the Hurricane's Eye
The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown
by Nathaniel Philbrick 2018 366 pages
4.13
5k+ ratings
History
American Revolution
American History
A True History of the United States
by Daniel A. Sjursen • 2021
Indigenous Genocide, Racialized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism
4.43
500+
History
Politics
American History
A True History of the United States Summary
A True History of the United States
Indigenous Genocide, Racialized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism
by Daniel A. Sjursen 2021 683 pages
4.43
500+ ratings
History
Politics
American History
These United States
by Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore • 2015
A Nation in the Making, 1890 to the Present
3.75
111
History
Politics
American History
These United States Summary
These United States
A Nation in the Making, 1890 to the Present
by Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore 2015 736 pages
3.75
111 ratings
History
Politics
American History
Empire's Crossroads
by Carrie Gibson • 2014
A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day
3.83
500+
History
World History
American History
Empire's Crossroads Summary
Empire's Crossroads
A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day
by Carrie Gibson 2014 448 pages
3.83
500+ ratings
History
World History
American History
Republic of Wrath
by James A. Morone • 2020
How American Politics Turned Tribal, From George Washington to Donald Trump
4.06
33
Politics
History
American History
Republic of Wrath Summary
Republic of Wrath
How American Politics Turned Tribal, From George Washington to Donald Trump
by James A. Morone 2020 423 pages
4.06
33 ratings
Politics
History
American History
Crazy Horse and Custer
by Stephen E. Ambrose • 1975
4.23
9k+
History
Biography
American History
Crazy Horse and Custer Summary
Crazy Horse and Custer
by Stephen E. Ambrose 1975 560 pages
4.23
9k+ ratings
History
Biography
American History
American Taxation, American Slavery
by Robin L. Einhorn • 2006
4.17
46
History
Economics
American History
American Taxation, American Slavery Summary
American Taxation, American Slavery
by Robin L. Einhorn 2006 352 pages
4.17
46 ratings
History
Economics
American History
Building a New American State
by Stephen Skowronek • 1982
The Expansion of National Administrative Capacities 1877-1920
3.75
57
History
Political Science
Politics
Building a New American State Summary
Building a New American State
The Expansion of National Administrative Capacities 1877-1920
by Stephen Skowronek 1982 400 pages
3.75
57 ratings
History
Political Science
Politics
America's Three Regimes
by Morton Keller • 2007
A New Political History
3.29
45
History
Politics
American History
America's Three Regimes Summary
America's Three Regimes
A New Political History
by Morton Keller 2007 384 pages
3.29
45 ratings
History
Politics
American History
The Republic of Violence
by J.D. Dickey • 2022
The Tormented Rise of Abolition in Andrew Jackson's America
4.03
34
History
American History
The Republic of Violence Summary
The Republic of Violence
The Tormented Rise of Abolition in Andrew Jackson's America
by J.D. Dickey 2022 408 pages
4.03
34 ratings
History
American History
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