American Tapas

History is a popular browsing area in the library. However, a 751 page biography of John Adams by David McCullough or a 1,029 page biography of Adolf Hitler by Ian Kershaw can be overwhelming. No need to leave the 900's, look for the authors whose books contain little history "appetizers".

Kenneth Davis has long been known for his Don't Know Much About... series. These books are written in a question and answer format and usually focus on one historical era or major event. This format allows the reader to either search the book for a topic or read it straight through. His two most recent books, America's Hidden History and A Nation Rising concentrate on exposing the truth behind famous and infamous people and events in American history. They could be described as "myth-busting" books for the history lover.

Another series (written by several different authors) is the Politically Incorrect Guides. This series targets social issues (The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex, and Feminism) and history. With titles such as The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South: and why it will rise again, the history lesson is often delivered from an unfamiliar point of view. There are further reading suggestions listed throughout the books along with quotes and little nuggets of information that you're "not supposed to know". More fun than a text book, this series is a little bit like going on a historical treasure hunt.

If you've ever wondered why Rhode Island is tiny and Texas is enormous, books like Mark Stein's How the States Got Their Shapes will make it clear. One of the best aspects of this title is that it briefly explains the history and geography of the different boundaries assigned to each state and it provides a cross-reference to the other boundary disputes which affected them. For example, Michigan acquired the Upper Peninsula after a border dispute with the state of Ohio. Wisconsin went through several years of separation anxiety as it was passed from one territory to another. Gerrymandering (and $2,000 in gold) changed the borders of Idaho forever. There is a plethora of information about each state packed into a few pages.

Looking for more? Check out J. Stephen Lang's Big Book of American Trivia, James Noles' A Pocketful of History, Thomas Woods' 33 Questions about American History You're not Supposed to Ask or American History Revised by Seymour Morris.