If you like history, the Oxford History of the United States series is a must read. I read The Glorious Cause, covering the Revolutionary War and Empire of Liberty which covered the time from 1789-1814. My favorite book in the series is Battle Cry of Freedom, about the Civil War. I was surprised when I got this one and saw it was the longest of them all, but it covered a brief time period between the War of 1812 and the Civil War. What happened here?
A LOT. It is a brilliant book. As the subtitle hints, so much changed in America during this time. Most importantly, the lines that were already drawn between north and south begin to take shape and the Civil War grows more inevitable. Anyone who thinks the Civil War was about anything other than slavery needs to read this book and the first chapter of Battle Cry of Freedom. Also, this book includes the story of Andrew Jackson, perhaps the worst person to occupy the White House in its history.
David Hershey 