Synopses & Reviews
Multi-million-copy bestselling historian Kenneth C. Davis sets his sights on war stories in
The Hidden History of America at War. In prose that will remind you of "the best teacher you ever had" (
People Magazine), Davis brings to life six emblematic battles, revealing untold tales that span our nation's history, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq. Along the way, he illuminates why we go to war, who fights, the grunt's-eye view of combat, and how these conflicts reshaped our military and national identity.
From the Battle of Yorktown (1781), where a fledgling America learned hard lessons about what kind of military it would need to survive, to Fallujah (2004), which epitomized the dawn of the privatization of war, The Hidden History of America at War takes readers inside the battlefield, introducing them to key characters and events that will shatter myths, misconceptions, and romanticism, replacing them with rich insight.
Review
"Don't Know Much About History puts the zest back in history."--Washington Post Book World
Review
"Fun, engrossing, and significant.... History in Davis's hands is loud, course, painful, funny, irreverent--and memorable."--San Francisco Chronicle
Review
"Reading him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had."--People Magazine
Review
"A fascinating exploration of war and the myths of war. Kenneth C. Davis shows how interesting the truth can be."
--Evan Thomas, New York Times-bestselling author of Sea of Thunder and John Paul Jones
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"[M]errily removes the whitewash from an oft-bland concept of the past."--Associated Press
Review
"With his trademark storytelling flair, Kenneth C. Davis illuminates six critical, but often overlooked battles that helped define America's character and its evolving response to conflict. This fascinating and strikingly insightful book is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand our nation's bloody history of war."--Eric Jay Dolin, author of Leviathan and When America First Met China
About the Author
Kenneth C. Davis is the author of the Don't Know Much About® series with more than four million copies in print worldwide. Davis is a frequent media guest on national television and radio; he has written for the Op-Ed page of the New York Times, and been a commentator on NPR's All Things Considered. He posts regularly at DontKnowMuch.com and makes "virtual visits" to schools, libraries, and other audiences.