Not "ha ha" funny, but just amusing, but I was at the library the other day and noticed that back in the American history section they had four books - 1774: The Long Year of Revolution by Mary Beth Norton, 1775: A Good Year for a Revolution by Kevin Phillips, 1776 by David McCullough, and 1777: Tipping Point at Saratoga by Dean R. Snow. The fact that four separate people covered a four year period of American history in a sequence independently of one another amused me.
I've developed an interest in American history recently, so these four books will help. I can't tell you exactly why I have this interest, but I think it might be a combination of two things: 1. Right-wingers going on and on about how the "commies", "leftists", or whatever the current boogie man is is trying to "cancel" history or some such nonsense. 2. Realizing that my own knowledge of American history, especially early American history, is spotty. I have a general knowledge of people and events, but I've never much cared about delved into it until now. Given that the right-wing is setting its sights on "patriotic" historical revisionism, I figured I better get to reading before it's too late.
With that in mind, I'm going to start with Norton's book, then work my way forward. I also started reading another book called Autumn of the Black Snake by William Hogeland. The book is about the events that led to the founding of the United States Army, the behind the scenes political maneuvering required for its formation, and its first campaign: an invasion of the Northwest to defeat a coalition of Native American tribes. The Black Snake in the title is a nickname bestowed by those very same natives on the general commanding this new army, "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Should be interesting.
I just hope I can get through all of these books!
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