NF Best Starting Books

[Sivart]

As I've gotten more familiar with the Civil War, I've decided it's time to start reading some books. I've watched movies, and read articles online, but I haven't done any actual reading. What are some of the best books (NF and HF) to start out my ACW reading with? Any and all suggestions accepted.

 

[Jamieva]

Battle cry of freedom

 

[James Brenner]

Although it is somewhat dated, the American Heritage book, The Civil War, is the book that probably got most of us started. Bruce Catton wrote it which means it is very readable. The maps are very good as are many of the pictures. I imagine it's readily available though Interlibrary Loan and used copies shouldn't be hard to find. Or expensive. True confession: I still refer to it on occasion for basic facts.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The Impending Crisis by David Potter.

I recommend not only McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, but also David Walker Howe's What Had God Wrought. Howe is part of the same Oxford American History series and, although it's not directly about the war, it's the prequel to the conflict. You can see the pieces start sliding into place.

 

[SSVilla]

I'd have to recommend Battle Cry of Freedom as well, for a single volume account of the whole war that puts in context. I listened to lectures too.

HIST 119: The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877

Courses Podcast · Professor David Blight. Open Yale Courses. The causes, course, and consequences of the American Civil War, from the 1840s to 1877. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA

podcasts.apple.com

And

The American Civil War

Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood - and the United...

share.libbyapp.com

From there I have gone to topics that interest me, therefore those inevitably will vary among us. One of the first, if not the very first original source account I read was Grant's Memoirs and I have read them since more than once, because the first time I read them, I missed a lot of context because I didn't know enough.

Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete by Ulysses S. Grant

Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.

www.gutenberg.org

 

[TallTallMan]

Don't do a book! I highly recommend watching the Ken Burns documentary, which lays out all of the basics clearly and concisely. I wish I'd done it first!

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Don't do a book! I highly recommend watching the Ken Burns documentary, which lays out all of the basics clearly and concisely. I wish I'd done it first!

If you're not already an avid reader I agree Ken Burns is probably the best place to start. Especially because his documentaries are good at making the viewer feel more passionate about the subject. You'll have a frame of reference and excited to learn more.

 

[Sivart]

Don't do a book! I highly recommend watching the Ken Burns documentary, which lays out all of the basics clearly and concisely. I wish I'd done it first!

If you're not already an avid reader I agree Ken Burns is probably the best place to start. Especially because his documentaries are good at making the viewer feel more passionate about the subject. You'll have a frame of reference and excited to learn more.

Is this the one?

 

[SSVilla]

^ Just be mindful it's an overview with more focus on the war in the East… Its only good as a starting point. I saw it when I already knew more and I didn't like it that much because I found it very superficial.

——-
Edit: having said that it's a good starting point.

 

[SSVilla]

Is this the one?

I don't think that's it. My recollection is that there are photographs and art of the time with a few interviews while a narrative describes the conflict and occasionally quotes some original personalities to private personal accounts. That video has reenactors… Its been a while but I don't think that's it.

 

[Library Lady]

You'd be looking for this. Try your library. If they have it, it should be in the nonfiction movie section with a Dewey code in the neighborhood of 973.7. If they don't, they might be able to get it for you through interlibrary loan. There is also a coffee table book that goes with it.

Amazon.com

 

[Sivart]

You'd be looking for this. Try your library. If they have it, it should be in the nonfiction movie section with a Dewey code in the neighborhood of 973.7. If they don't, they might be able to get it for you through interlibrary loan. There is also a coffee table book that goes with it.

View attachment 536176

Amazon.com

Sounds good. I was also able to find it on the internet after a search. Thanks for your help.

The Civil War | Ken Burns | PBS | Watch The Civil War | Ken Burns | PBS

The Civil War is an epic nine-episode series by the award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

www.pbs.org

 

[LCYingling3rd]

No, that is not Ken Burns Documentary.

You may be able to watch it on a PBS site

The Civil War | Ken Burns | PBS | Watch The Civil War | Ken Burns | PBS

The Civil War is an epic nine-episode series by the award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

www.pbs.org

You may also be able to find it at a local library? You can also purchase it, but I don't know how much it costs. It was a nine-episode documentary that played on PBS television in 1990. It truly is inspiring, and I believe it sparked a resurgence in interest in the Civil War during the 1990's. I agree with everyone who said it would be good to watch. It is worth the time it takes to watch it. I think each episode is two hours. I picked it up used on VHS years ago and still watch probably at least once a year. Sometimes I just watch segments I am interested in, maybe because I have a trip to that area planned.

I also agree with everyone who suggested reading James McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom" book. There are so many other good books, but that is probably the best starter. Others are:

Shelby Foote's three book history titled, "The Civil War: A Narrative Volumes 1-3" It is three books long but excellent.

The book, "Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara is a fictional novel based closely on the history of the battle of Gettysburg, PA. It is only about one battle, but it is a very good book, and the movie "Gettysburg" was based on it. I suggest it only because it does introduce you to some of the important soldiers of the war.

I have to say though, that the "Battle Cry of Freedom" book would be the best starter book.

 

[bdtex]

Any and all suggestions accepted.

All the suggestions made have been good. Several books are mentioned in the Ken Burns documentary series and it also might give you some ideas about particular battles/campaigns you might like to read about.

You're from Texas like me. You might consider starting on subjects close to home. We had battles at Galveston and Sabine Pass. There are a number of good books about Galveston and one about Sabine Pass that are pretty easy reads.

 

[Library Lady]

The Ken Burns series appears to be on Kanopy, a library streaming service. If you library has it, your library will give you a set number of "tickets" per month. Each borrow in this series, and it has many of them, costs 2 tickets for 72 hours access. I haven't been on the service for quite awhile. The tickets thing is new - it used to be one borrow per item, not a range of ticket prices per item. Kanopy has a lot of documentaries in addition to regular movies. It has a large number of Criterion movies. It's worth looking into and free with your library card.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Battle cry of freedom

I agree with @Jamieva. Battle Cry of Freedom has been on my bookshelf for a long time, and I read it twice.

 

[benmax]

I don't believe that Battle Cry of Freedom is a good book to start with. It's initial chapters are a hard carve. Important stuff yes, but very heavy information.

I found Shelby Footes' Narrative series far better.... for me. The book breathes a lot better, the pacing isn't as frantic and it's far easier for mental imaging than BCoF.

Starter books don't have to be one volume. The other one which is utterly fantastic is the PDF book from Gary Gallaghers' lecture series. It's already been mentioned.

But my opinion is simply from my perspective.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I found Shelby Footes' Narrative series far better.... for me. The book breathes a lot better, the pacing isn't as frantic and it's far easier for mental imaging than BCoF.

I would say starting with Foote or McPherson depends on the reader's interests.

McPherson provides a much more holistic view of the war, its causes, and the time period.

If the 3000 pages aren't daunting, Foote is probably better for someone who is mostly just interested in the military history.

 

[benmax]

I would say starting with Foote or McPherson depends on the reader's interests.

McPherson provides a much more holistic view of the war, its causes, and the time period.

If the 3000 pages aren't daunting, Foote is probably better for someone who is mostly just interested in the military history.

Good way to put it. Better than my effort.

Thanks Josh.

 

[Library Lady]

Professor Gary Gallagher's The American Civil War (Great Courses as shown above in E-audiobook) may also be available to you on Kanopy, a library digital streaming service. It has 48 segments and runs about 24-1/2 hours.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/11166532?vp=glenellyn