Are there modern Recon books that can pass as popular history?

DRW

Sergeant
Joined
Feb 7, 2014
Location
New York
I noticed some historians having a discussion on twitter earlier today about the distinction between popular and academic history books. I like to think of popular history as the stuff I actually enjoy reading, like Catton, Foote, or Sears. Another litmus test I use is whether my non-history major family members might pick up and finish the book. They tend to like Kearns-Goodwin, McCullough, Tuchman, Manchester, etc. Isn't the problem for Reconstruction history that most early 20th century Dunning material was essentially popular history while none of the stuff taking it down qualifies? I love Foner and think he wrote the most important U.S. history book of the past generation, but I don't see many people picking up his masterwork "Reconstruction" for the fun of it, or just to educate themselves. Do you know of modern Recon focused books that you consider "popular history?"
 
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