There are a number of overviews of modern conspiracy thinking. David Aaronovitch's Voodoo Histories offers the perspective of a British journalist and writer. He looks at many of the traditional conspiracy theories prevalent in U.S. society, including the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Communism, and JFK. The value of Aaronovitch's work, I think, is … Continue reading Brief Review of David Aaronovitch, Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History
Holiday Readings, 2011 Edition: Conspiracy and Politics
I've presented myself with quite the hefty reading list for the holiday break. Most of these books are either ones I've assigned for Spring 2012 courses or ones that are helping me prepare historical background for those courses. The exception is Kentucky Rising: Democracy, Slavery, and Culture from the Early Republic to the Civil War, by James … Continue reading Holiday Readings, 2011 Edition: Conspiracy and Politics
Books for Spring 2012 Courses
I think I've identified most of the books I'll be assigning for my Spring 2012 courses. I may amend this list a bit, but here's what I have so far. History of the U.S. II Robert H. Abzug, America Views the Holocaust, 1933-1945 (Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999) ISBN 978-0-312-13393-1 I've had success with Abzug's book in … Continue reading Books for Spring 2012 Courses
Books for Fall 2011 Early U.S. Survey Course
I'm using three new books in my Early U.S. survey courses this fall. I like to assign books that cover a mixture of topics and usually use two that include primary sources. Richard Godbeer, The Salem Witch Trials: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford/St. Martin's 2011) I've been waiting for a short B/SM book on the … Continue reading Books for Fall 2011 Early U.S. Survey Course
Book Recommendation: Sam Haynes, Unfinished Revolution: The Early American Republic in a British World
I picked up Sam Haynes' new book, Unfinished Revolution: The Early American Republic in a British World, at last fall's Southern. His short biography of James K. Polk is a great introduction to Young Hickory, one that I've used previously in upper-division courses. Unfinished Revolution examines Americans' relationship with Great Britain during the antebellum period. Not surprisingly, … Continue reading Book Recommendation: Sam Haynes, Unfinished Revolution: The Early American Republic in a British World
New Jacksonian Books: Feb. 2011 Edition
The year 2011 is off to a strong start in the field of Jacksonian studies. I'm currently reading Haynes' book and hope to get a chance to review it and the others in the near future. (All book descriptions are excerpted from History Book Club.) Patricia Brady, A Being So Gentle: The Frontier Love Story of Rachel … Continue reading New Jacksonian Books: Feb. 2011 Edition
My Fall 2010 Reading List
Stealing an idea from Kevin Levin, here are books that I recently acquired and have finished, have started reading, or intend to read* before the end of the fall semester: Eric Burin, Slavery and the Peculiar Solution: A History of the American Colonization Society (University Press of Florida, 2005) Lacy K. Ford, Deliver Us from Evil: The … Continue reading My Fall 2010 Reading List
Books for Old South Class–Spring 2011
I've just completed selecting my books for the Southern U.S. History course that I'm teaching in the spring semester. This course is basically an Old South course, running chronologically from 1607-1860. I tried to select books that will give students brief overviews of important topics, as well different authorial perspectives. Charles Dew, Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession … Continue reading Books for Old South Class–Spring 2011
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 