Civil War Book

[Virginia Dave]

What Civil War book would you recommend to a Newby under the age of 25 for a starter?

 

[Pollaco]

All of these competing interests definitely are dragging down the time available for younger folks to study or read on the war or even American History in general. But, I submit that another (and maybe larger) thing that is lessening interest is the hard efforts of many today to absolutely vilify one side while exalting the other. One thing that made our generation dig into this is that there were heroes on both sides and stories to be told and studied. Now.... with "all things southern" being trodden under foot and the removal of southern monuments, names removed from streets, schools, buildings, etc. etc., it appears cut and dried.... black and white, and it absolutely wasn't that way. I personally think that is the real poison behind canceling out interest in the War Between the States!

Oh, and it isn't stopping there as we see statues and monuments to the founding fathers and other key figures in American history being taken down for some PC reason or another.

Guess I had better stop now or I will get another warning for discussing modern politics..........................

Let's just say that I wholeheartedly agree. I'd like to add a few things but I too had better not.Modern Politics, you know?

 

[Virginia Dave]

So, what think ye @Virginia Dave ? Can you provide any details as to who you have in mind for such a book ? We're trying to help.

I would nominate you.

 

[TallTallMan]

It seemed fairly easy to spark an interest in the Civil War back then afterall there wasn't much competition from video games, cell phones or too many SciFi movies with somekind of superhero.Oh yeah, we knew how to read back then too. Are the youths of today still showing any interest in the ACW?

I play video games and love sci-fi and superheroes, and I got into the CW. I don't own a cellphone though for personal reasons.

 

[TallTallMan]

I don't know anyone under 30 that does

Meanwhile, a twenty-one year old right now argues about Grant all day on a forum...

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Another vote here for Foote's trilogy. A true masterpiece and keeps the reader wanting more. Someone who is new to reading about the CW, you don't want to suggest something that may bore them and thus they have a negative experience.

 

[John Winn]

I would nominate you.

That seems uncalled for. I was just wondering what you thought of the suggestions and thought if we could narrow things down we might be better able to help you. No need to get snippity.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Meanwhile, a twenty-one year old right now argues about Grant all day on a forum...

You are 21? Dope that's one I know. We are getting somewhere

 

[DugGapRob]

Killer Angels , by Michael Shaara . Not too deep and is a good story.

I agree. This was the gateway for a lot of young men back in my day.

I'd also recommend Shelby Foote's Stars in Their Courses and/or The Beleaguered City, they are the Gettysburg and Vicksburg parts of his daunting three-volume Narrative, so they are much more newbie-friendly. Not currently in print, you can find them pretty cheap on the used market. I bought two copies of each for four bucks a piece.

Also, if he has ancestors who fought in the war, a good regimental history of that ancestor's unit is a great place to start. Nothing got me hooked on this wonderful obsession like reading Willams Scaife's Joe Brown's Pets and James Parrish's Wiregrass to Appomattox (histories of the units my direct ancestors fought in).

 

[Virginia Dave]

That seems uncalled for. I was just wondering what you thought of the suggestions and thought if we could narrow things down we might be better able to help you. No need to get snippity.

Didn't mean to offend. I was trying to pay a compliment.

 

[John Winn]

Didn't mean to offend. I was trying to pay a compliment.

Well, thank you then. I misinterpreted your meaning. It sounded to me like what you were saying was that I was the candidate who needed a basic CW text book. That's because when I asked you for a little more detail about who the person was for whom you wanted a starter book you replied "I nominate you" (see post 42). Just wanted to clarify why I got a bit bent.

A minor misunderstanding. Let us move on as friends.

 

[MRB1863]

Perhaps something not a book. There are a ton of videos on YouTube about the Civil War. Many are well done and could be watched with other folks to make the experience more interactive. Once the interest peaks, then decide which book covers the most favored topics of interest by General, Unit, Location....???