Confused and Concerned

[War Horse]

Since I have joined this forum I have endeavored to read and contribute to the forums. I have for the most part tremendously enjoyed my experiences and am in no way stating dissatisfaction with the site. I just would like someone to post a list of approved authors. I get dejected when I learn that I have been reading an author that is discredited as far as our membership feel. This is directed at no one in particular but suggested as a guide. Our members are the most knowledgeable on the subject and books are so time consuming only to find that our members do not respect the authors perspective. Please don't take this as negative I just would like to discuss this.

 

[favedave]

There is, thank God, no "Approved Authors" list on this site of which I'm aware. There are, as there should be, a wide variety of view points as to the events and people during the Civil War. These we discuss at length. Now just because somebody here says "So and so is wrong" and cites a bunch of evidence that seems to support that opinion, doesn't mean you won't get anything worthwhile out of reading that author, particularly if you are forewarned. The history of this cataclysmic war is by geography and tradition extremely partisan. At this juncture in time we should be taking the long view, which takes truly understanding both sides from their own perspective. I see by your profile picture you're a fan of James Longstreet, Lee's War Horse. I'm also a big fan of this great American combat leader and post war politician. Others will not be. They buy into Jubal Early's bitter post war characterization of Longstreet's failure to execute Lee's orders in a timely fashion at Gettysburg and his "traitorous Actions" as a Republican and Scallywag during reconstruction.

 

[huskerblitz]

Since I have joined this forum I have endeavored to read and contribute to the forums. I have for the most part tremendously enjoyed my experiences and am in no way stating dissatisfaction with the site. I just would like someone to post a list of approved authors. I get dejected when I learn that I have been reading an author that is discredited as far as our membership feel. This is directed at no one in particular but suggested as a guide. Our members are the most knowledgeable on the subject and books are so time consuming only to find that our members do not respect the authors perspective. Please don't take this as negative I just would like to discuss this.

You're never going to find an author where everyone will agree on. And everyone has an opinion. Read the books you want to and form your own opinion. Everyone starts somewhere.

 

[War Horse]

There is, thank God, no "Approved Authors" list on this site of which I'm aware. There are, as there should be, a wide variety of view points as to the events and people during the Civil War. These we discuss at length. Now just because somebody here says "So and so is wrong" and cites a bunch of evidence that seems to support that opinion, doesn't mean you won't get anything worthwhile out of reading that author, particularly if you are forewarned. The history of this cataclysmic war is by geography and tradition extremely partisan. At this juncture in time we should be taking the long view, which takes truly understanding both sides from their own perspective. I see by your profile picture you're a fan of James Longstreet, Lee's War Horse. I'm also a big fan of this great American combat leader and post war politician. Others will not be. They buy into Jubal Early's bitter post war characterization of Longstreet's failure to execute Lee's orders in a timely fashion at Gettysburg and his "traitorous Actions" as a Republican and Scallywag during reconstruction.

Yes, I agree and as far as Longstreet is concerned I have taken adequate time and research to safeguard my defense of this great man. Thank you.

 

[War Horse]

You're never going to find an author where everyone will agree on. And everyone has an opinion. Read the books you want to and form your own opinion. Everyone starts somewhere.

I agree and disagree with this. I have read Foote and a number of other Authors that frankly I never quote. Somehow I feel it was a tremendous waste of time.

 

[huskerblitz]

I agree and disagree with this. I have read Foote and a number of other Authors that frankly I never quote. Somehow I feel it was a tremendous waste of time.

Reading is never a waste of time. Foote has his place. No, you may not want to cite him as a source but doesn't mean the work is completely useless.

 

[Pat Answer]

We all have Narratives.
Read what interests you. Comment if you feel led to. Learn something every day - if you choose.
But be neither confused nor concerned. We're Americans. Arguing has kept us honest and creative for centuries.

 

[AndyHall]

There is, thank God, no "Approved Authors" list on this site of which I'm aware.

Amen.

 

[War Horse]

We all have Narratives.
Read what interests you. Comment if you feel led to. Learn something every day - if you choose.
But be neither confused nor concerned. We're Americans. Arguing has kept us honest and creative for centuries.

I love that! Thank you

 

[cash]

Well, I think the major thing is to be able to evaluate the author. What do they know about the subject? How have they handled the evidence? Do they have a track record? What are their qualifications? Has the book been reviewed by someone who knows what they're talking about? What do they say about it?

 

[Stony]

Chances are if you like a particular person in the civil war and someone else doesn't then they are going to discredit your source. Didn't take me long to figure that out. Don't let it get to you.

 

[Pat Young]

Well, I think the major thing is to be able to evaluate the author. What do they know about the subject? How have they handled the evidence? Do they have a track record? What are their qualifications? Has the book been reviewed by someone who knows what they're talking about? What do they say about it?

You can also do what I do and post requests here for the best books on a subject. I recently ask for the best books on the Union navy, and I got dozens of recommendations. I asked some questions and narrowed the list down and bought four books based on the recommendations.

Use the folks here as a resource.

 

[War Horse]

You can also do what I do and post requests here for the best books on a subject. I recently ask for the best books on the Union navy, and I got dozens of recommendations. I asked some questions and narrowed the list down and bought four books based on the recommendations.

Use the folks here as a resource.

I agree Pat and have done this in the past and will return to it.

 

[peteanddelmar]

There is, thank God, no "Approved Authors" list on this site of which I'm aware.

I can only partially agree FD. Certain of our members definitely have a list of approved and not. It just isn't posted. I don't mean CWT, just members. But they'll get over it.
I read what I want and am also open to suggestion. I don't worry about it as most authors contribute something.
Some of the disapproved authors actually have correct history, but disapproved or frowned on history.

My own son hates all Confederates because they were fighting for a bad cause. The current Missouri public education is slanted so heavily that no redeeming quality is allowed for any ex-Confederate including Longstreet. Sad and narrow minded. People change.

 

[War Horse]

I can only partially agree FD. Certain of our members definitely have a list of approved and not. It just isn't posted. I don't mean CWT, just members. But they'll get over it.
I read what I want and am also open to suggestion. I don't worry about it as most authors contribute something.
Some of the disapproved authors actually have correct history, but disapproved or frowned on history.

My own son hates all Confederates because they were fighting for a bad cause. The current Missouri public education is slanted so heavily that no redeeming quality is allowed for any ex-Confederate including Longstreet. Sad and narrow minded. People change.

The Hel* you say

 

[War Horse]

Well, I think the major thing is to be able to evaluate the author. What do they know about the subject? How have they handled the evidence? Do they have a track record? What are their qualifications? Has the book been reviewed by someone who knows what they're talking about? What do they say about it?

Every book I read had decent reviews, but then again don't they all

 

[ami]

opinions are like something everyone else has too, and sometimes they stink

read what you like!

 

[cash]

Every book I read had decent reviews, but then again don't they all

Every publisher is going to publicize good reviews. I'd go with the reviews of experts in the field.

 

[peteanddelmar]

The Hel* you say

If Lincoln, Grant, Sherman(mostly, supposedly), and half a dozen other famous Union folks "changed with the war" and became emancipationist, why couldn't Longstreet change? Or a little for Nathan Bedford Forrest?

I think the premise is wrong because of postwar writings. IMO the Union men's position on race sometimes didn't change as much as the accepted history purports. It's easy to write after the fact and say you changed 180 degrees. Some did, many didn't. Union officers sometimes took side with ex-confederates to keep the freedmen in virtual bondage.
So I call BS on a lot of intellectually arrogant "accepted authors". History was what happened. Not our interpretation of what happened. Many can't keep their current mindset out of historical events.

 

[War Horse]

Every publisher is going to publicize good reviews. I'd go with the reviews of experts in the field.

I agree