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Nonfiction Book Recommendations

There’s one place where every history buff feels at home—with their nose buried in a compelling nonfiction book, of course. It’s the best resource to turn to when you want the most comprehensive account of the past possible.

As book lovers ourselves, we’ve curated a space to round up all the best nonfiction books out there. Searching for a biography of the Founding Fathers? We’ve got you covered. Want to learn what wartime was really like? Check out the best books by people who lived through various conflicts and experienced them firsthand. Craving an in-depth account of one of the many turbulent events of the 20th century, from the sinking of the Titanic to the rise of Nazi Germany? Peruse a book by esteemed historian Martin Gilbert, or try an accessible pop history book by Walter Lord on for size. Whenever your bookshelves are looking a little bare, you can trust us to have the best recommendations in store for you.

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The 15 Most Fascinating Biographies of the Last 25 Years

Discover the unusual lives of leaders, revolutionaries, and eccentrics alike.

Escape from Holzminden: The Greatest POW Camp Break of WWI

Neal Bascomb tells the Allied pilots’ little-known story in his new book, The Escape Artists.

7 Fun and Informative History Books for Kids

Your tiny history buff will love these books about life in the past.

Fly Girls: The Daring Women Who Competed in Airplane Races During the Early 1900s 

Amelia Earhart, Ruth Elder, and Louise Thaden were among the incredible women who fought for a chance to race against men…and won. 

“The Banality of Evil”: The Take-Down of Holocaust Mastermind Adolf Eichmann

Secret agent Peter Malkin opens up about the capture that inspired the film Operation Finale.

[CLOSED] GIVEAWAY: Explore History Through the Ages with These Books!

Enter for your chance to win five nonfiction books that focus on different points in history. 

Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho—and That Famous Shower Scene

Screenwriter and journalist Stephen Rebello unpacks the controversies surrounding the iconic film.

The Forgotten Treasure: 7 Books by Emily Hahn

The little-known author and journalist captured England and China like few others have.

The Deadly Collision Between SS Andrea Doria and MS Stockholm

Like the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the 1956 shipwreck was one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century. 

Ulysses S. Grant: The Man Who Secured the Union’s Victory in the Civil War

Grant Moves South explores the legendary general’s pivotal successes and military strategies.

Charlie Wilson's War: The Man Behind the CIA's Biggest Covert Operation

Congressman Charlie Wilson was a champion for the covert op that affected the outcome of the Soviet-Afghan War.

7 of the Best American History Books

Celebrate the red, white, and blue by remembering the history of those who came before us.

365 Days: Ronald Glasser’s Moving Account of the Vietnam War

The American doctor was a beacon of hope for the soldiers he treated during his tour of duty.

The Earliest-Born American to Be Photographed Is Also a Veteran

In 1852, at age 103, Revolutionary War veteran Conrad Heyer sat down to have his picture taken. 

Discover Emma Goldman's Life of Anarchy in To the Barricades

Goldman was a revolutionary from the start. Her work in the U.S. and Russia shook up governments and oligarchs.

The Dawn's Early Light: Francis Scott Key and the Birth of “The Star-Spangled Banner”

As the Battle of Baltimore drew to a close, an American flag was raised—and the national anthem was born.

Anne Frank and Her Life in the Secret Annex

A book published by the Anne Frank House profiles the Secret Annex—the Frank family's two-year hideout—and the famous diarist's life inside.

George Washington Was Nearly Impossible to Kill

Diseases, brutal weather, and enemy fire all failed to take him down.

The Night Robert F. Kennedy Died 

The year 1968 was marked by turbulence in America.