History Books

From the high seas of David Grann’s The Wager to timeless primers like Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, history runs the gamut from the page-turning action of Band of Brothers to the detailed biographies of Ron Chernow. Whether you’re looking to read up on World History in the Roman Empire or American History during the Revolutionary War, you should know that the adage holds true — those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.

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The little-known road that helped build America. The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim's Journey on the Great Wagon Road by James Dodson. Shop Now

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A Little History of the United States

by James West Davidson

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Mark Twain

by Ron Chernow

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The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780

by Rick Atkinson

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Behind the Badge

by Johnny Joey Jones

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Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

by John Green

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A People's History of the United States

by Howard Zinn

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Night

by Elie Wiesel, Marion Wiesel (Translator), Elie Wiesel (Preface by)

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On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

by Timothy Snyder

New From the Author of The British Are Coming: A timely and impeccably researched look into the start of the American Revolution. The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick Atkinson. Shop Now

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A delightfully playful exploration of ancient history. Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations by Sam Kean. Shop Now

Presidential Biography

by Ron Chernow

by Ron Chernow

by Barack Obama

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

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John Adams

by David McCullough

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Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt

by David McCullough

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The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

by Barack Obama

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Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump

by Rick Reilly

The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Explanation

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The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time

by Keith Houston

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The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time

by Keith Houston

Bibliophiles, listen up! From writing to printing to binding and more, this is a comprehensive exploration of one of our favorite things.

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An expansive survey of India's contributions and an ode to a nation too often misunderstood. The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World (B&N Exclusive Edition) by William Dalrymple. Shop Now

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An illuminating history of the world's deadliest disease through the lens of one boy's fight against it. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green. Shop Now

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B&N Reads: The Best History Books of 2025 (So Far) - Read More

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Available 11/11: A richly illustrated history of America's founding struggle—expanding on the six-part PBS series airing November 2025. The American Revolution: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns. Pre-Order

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The Best History Books of 2025 (So Far)

Josh Sippie

Where to Start Reading Rick Atkinson

Isabelle McConville

Recovering the Lost Story of Julie of Saxe-Coburg: A Guest Post by Helen Rappaport

Helen Rappaport

Find new fascination in history books on thousands of subjects and historical events at Barnes & Noble®. History books play an important part in helping us remember and learn from the past. Although plenty of history books have been written, perspectives on history change as we ourselves grow and evolve. Discover the best selection of books about history including nonfiction historical narratives, biographies about historical figures and history textbooks that explore various historical periods.

The best history books are the ones that dive deeply into specific historical events, unearthing new knowledge about the studied topic. You can go way back with ancient history titles like Mary Beard’s ancient Rome collection or revisit the magnificent Cleopatra in Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra: A Life. Trace the various intersections and conflicts of European history in Andrew Roberts' Napoleon or Dan Jones’ extensive coverage of the War of the Roses. The Civil War continues to be a source of captivating historical narratives such as Ron Chernow’s Grant or S. C. Gwynne’s Rebel Yell. You’ll find something about any U.S. President, from new lenses on widely covered presidents like Jon Meacham’s And There Was Light to refreshing looks at presidents you may not know much about, such as CW Goodyear’s President Garfield. And if you’re looking for a fresh perspective on history, try Black AF History or A Man of Two Faces.

Whether you’re a history teacher, history lover or simply want to learn more about history, our wide selection of nonfiction history books is here to please. From classic history books to new releases such as Mark Twain, The Fate of the Day, and Everything Is Tuberculosis, we’re sure to have books about history that interest you. Go back in time today with an illuminating, immersive history book from Barnes & Noble® or check out our list of the best history books of 2025 so far. Looking for a book to start reading immediately? Download history eBooks to your smartphone, tablet, or NOOK device and start reading now!

The 10 Best History Books To Read Now:

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry
The Ride by Kostya Kennedy
The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time by Keith Houston
The Golden Road by William Dalrymple
The Fifteen by William Geroux
An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi
I Seek a Kind Person by Julian Borger
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
The Fate of the Day by Rick Atkinson

History Books

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