jill lepore these truths a history of the united states

These books were sold by salespeople who would knock on your door and give a sales pitch. In many homes throughout the 1900s, there was a bookshelf stocked with multiple books called encyclopedias. That meant if a student was working on a paper for class, that student often had to log some after-school library hours to research. It may seem hard to believe, but until the mid-1990s, the only way to look up a historical fact was through books, unless you could actually track down someone who could give you a firsthand account. When children see that learning history can be fun, they’re more likely to continue to want to research as they grow into adults. Also look for text that’s engaging, rather than the more serious approach usually seen in textbooks. Many children’s history books will use compelling photos, charts, maps and other imagery to both illustrate points and keep things interesting. Do you want to learn more about the political climate of America throughout history, or do wars and foreign relations interest you more? Are you interested in exploring a particular theme, or would you prefer to simply read the events in chronological order, pulled together with an interesting narrative?įor younger readers, images can be a great way to break up pages of text.

So before you start looking for a good book, think about what interests you most. Most American history books will focus on a certain theme. Some start with Columbus’s arrival, while others include the history of Native Americans before settlers arrived.

The key is to find one that covers the timeframe you’re interested in studying.

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of history books, especially if you want to study a particular event or era in depth.īut what if you just want a full telling of the history of America? There are books for that, as well. Even children may find school textbooks inadequate if they’re really interested in learning history. It likely had a condensed history of America, covering wars, important political figures and big events.įor those interested in history, though, the thirst for information continues long after graduation. In school, you were handed a history textbook and told to read it.

Jill lepore these truths a history of the united states