The History Reader

01/06/2026

In 1776, Tom Paine's words—and the determination of American patriots—allowed our nation to survive its first crisis. A tribute to the Revolution’s 250th anniversary, Jack Kelly's book, Tom Paine’s War, is a riveting exploration of our nation’s birth. It reveals how the power of words—and the power of belief—both speak as well to America’s current crisis.

Read on for a featured excerpt: https://www.thehistoryreader.com/historical-figures/featured-excerpt-tom-paines-war/

01/01/2026

It's a new year and time to set your reading goals! Check out these new history books publishing this month from Jack Kelly and Jane Zielgelman to kick your reading off: https://www.thehistoryreader.com/us-history/new-books-to-read-january-2026/

12/17/2025

J. Randy Taraborrelli shares with The History Reader an excerpt from his instant New York Times bestselling book, JFK: Public, Private, Secret.

Read on to discover how Jackie’s parents and John’s parents felt about their budding relationship as well as early details on how John’s family supported his early political career: https://www.thehistoryreader.com/us-history/featured-excerpt-jfk-public-private-secret/

12/11/2025

In The Sea Captain’s Wife, New York Times bestselling author Tilar J. Mazzeo reveals the true story of the first female captain of a merchant ship and her treacherous navigation of Antarctica’s deadly waters.

Read on for a featured excerpt: https://www.thehistoryreader.com/historical-figures/featured-excerpt-the-sea-captains-wife/

12/10/2025

In his book Rope, author Tim Queeney takes readers on a unique and compelling adventure through the history of rope and its impact on civilization. In the article below, Queeney takes a look at the Nuremberg executions during WWII, which rope played a critical role in as the men were executed by hangings.

https://www.thehistoryreader.com/world-history/the-curious-case-of-nurembergs-hangman/

12/09/2025

Named by TIME as one of the most anticipated books of fall 2025, Gemini by Jeffrey Kluger reveals the thrilling, untold story of the pioneering Gemini program that was instrumental in getting Americans on the moon.

Start reading or listening to an introductory excerpt of this exciting read: https://www.thehistoryreader.com/us-history/featured-excerpt-gemini/

12/05/2025

Congratulations to our author Eliot Stein for his book, Custodian of Wonder, being chosen as a Scientific American staff favorite book of 2025!

Check out the full list of picks here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-scientific-american-staffs-favorite-books-of-2025/

12/04/2025

Congratulations to Siddharth Kara whose book, The Zorg, was just chosen as one of the most "essential reads" of the year by editors and critics at The New Yorker.

View the full list of essential reads at: https://www.newyorker.com/best-books-2025

12/03/2025

In Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy it, author Samuel Miller McDonald offers a bold, provocative, wide-ranging argument about the human idea of progress that offers a new vision of our future. Check out the excerpt below to see how McDonald deconstructs a letter written by former president Thomas Jefferson to show the idea of progress.

Progress by Samuel Miller McDonald's is a bold, provocative argument about the human idea of progress that offers a new vision of our future.

12/01/2025

This December, we’re taking a look back at the many fascinating history books that published this year. From axe murderers to the history of rope, from the biography of Mt. Rushmore to a diverse array of WWII stories, the 2025 Holiday Gift Guide has a book recommendation for every history lover. Organized by general topic, don’t blame us if you find yourself adding both gifts and books to keep to your shopping cart!

From axe murders to the history of rope to WWII stories, The 2025 Holiday Gift Guide has a gift idea for every history lover.

11/18/2025

Barnes & Noble has released their list of Best History Books of 2025. We love seeing that Tom Clavin's RUNNING DEEP, Siddharth Kara's THE ZORG, and Kostya Kennedy's THE RIDE all made the list. What are your favorite history reads of 2025?

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/history/_/N-29Z8q8Z11km

11/17/2025

Samuel Miller McDonald’s book, Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It, offers a bold, provocative, wide-ranging argument about the human idea of progress.

Check out The History Reader article below in which McDonald discusses progress during the rise of “civilization” on earth (the Holocene period) and its subsequent effects on the planet.

Samuel Miller McDonald's Progress is a bold and wide-ranging argument about the idea of progress that offers a new vision of our future.