What’s the best history book covering the history of the USA?
I have:
A Patriot’s History of the United States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen
*The Oxford History of the American People * by Samuel Eliot Morison
The American Pageant Seventh Edition by Thomas A. Bailey and David M. Kennedy
Encyclopedia of American History by Richard B.Morris
Almanac of American History by James Miller and John Thompson
A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn.
You’re kidding, right? Whatever merit it might have, it is a very skewed view of things. One worth reading—possibly—only after one has a good foundation.
And I’d counter that with the less biased A History of The American People, by Paul Johnson.
Though narrow in scope, I can also highly recommend First Salute, by Barbara Tuchman.
At least A People’s History of the United States would give you a good counterpoint to A Patriot’s History of the United States.
It’s useful to see other aspects, other points of view.
That was kind of my point (though I am not familiar with “A Patriots.…”. I think it’s al fine and well to check out alternate views, but only after the foundation is laid.
Another book that I thought was quite good chronicled the relations with the Native Americans: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown.
A Patriot’s History of the United States is a partisan work written in response to A People’s History of the United States. He may as well see both sides.
Personally I’d skip both of them.
Paul Johnson’s history is interesting, though I noticed a great many factual errors. Johnson’s Modern Times, however, is an absolute must-read.
Although very worthwhile is Daniel Boorstin’s The Americans trilogy.
Oh, god. The problem here is I really can’t think of a good overall history. They leave out far too much. How about starting with Redcoats and Rebels… and the not-a-companion, Rebels and Redcoats?
Six Frigates is also really enlightening.
Oooh. And a really good one for the entire period of the Revolution to the War of 1812: Jay Winik’s The Great Upheaval. Really puts everything in place.
Considering, for example, that the history books I’d read in high school never even mentioned the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 (instead only touching on Rutherford Hayes banning alcohol in the White House), or the reaction of the Virginia elite to Bacon’s Rebellion which laid the foundations for racial segregation in the US, I’d argue that Zinn’s book is a vital contribution to any foundational knowledge of US history. Zinn doesn’t pretend to be impartial or non-partisan because history isn’t.
It is by no means comprehensive, but one I thoroughly enjoyed is A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki. It’s a good general overview of the immigrant experience in the U.S. – from the Irish to the Afghan. My favorite thing about this book is that he tells the story in the words of those who lived it. A great portion of the book is composed of quotations, songs and poetry from people reacting to the times in which they lived. I felt it gave a very intimate view of things, and it also gave me a tremendous sense of pride and gratitude for the country in which I live. It definitely addresses the hardships faced by immigrants but it praises the hard work and sense of unity that ultimately built this country. It left me feeling good and strong and hopeful about the future.
Actually my 8th Grade US History textbook does mention the Railroad Strike of 1877 and a other labour incidents such as the Haymarket Incident. I think that aspect of history is different from when you went to school.
It’s so biased as to almost be useless—as an initial review of U.S. history. Reading it is fine, but only after one has a good broad foundation, IMO anyway. Fact is that a high school history book is going to give you just a top level exposure to lots of grand themes and major occurrences and NOT be able to flesh out all sides leading up to every issue.
Horrible, horrible suggestion for a horrible, horrible book.
It can be. Zinn doesn’t even attempt it.
Uh, how about America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction?
Or, Our Dumb Century? 
The above is more on American government then history. 
Yeah, but it’s AWESOME American government!
(And the second is American history.)
Were you in high school after 1988, then?
And good on him for it, I say.
Afterthought: magellan, bias is only a problem if it either ignores relevant material or comes to factually unsupported conclusions. Which does Zinn do, and where?