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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 fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

The Spy Who Stopped Armageddon - Redwood by Ben Macintyre - Shop Now
The Spy Who Stopped Armageddon - Redwood by Ben Macintyre - Shop Now

United States History

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
1776
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
The Witches: Salem, 1692

Military History

The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
Hiroshima
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

European History

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors
Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Napoleon: A Life

World History

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World
Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings
How California's Gold Rush Paved the Way for Change - The Rus by Nathaniel Philbrick - Shop Now
How California's Gold Rush Paved the Way for Change - The Rus by Nathaniel Philbrick - Shop Now
The True Story of the Unlikely Ally Against the Nazis: The Italian Mob - Shop Now - Ghosts of Sicily by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr.
The True Story of the Unlikely Ally Against the Nazis: The Italian Mob - Shop Now - Ghosts of Sicily by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr.
American Struggle by Jon Meecham - SHOP NOW
American Struggle by Jon Meecham - SHOP NOW

Ancient History

African History

Asian History

Middle Eastern History

The Crash That Shattered the American Dream

1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation

1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation

By Andrew Ross Sorkin

Sorkin returns with an exacting look at the 1929 Wall Street collapse, outlining how and why such a catastrophe happened.

$32.00
$35.00
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U.S. Presidents

U.S. Civil War

The American Revolution

American Colonial History

World War II

World War I

The Cold War

Inside the 8,000-Mile Race Across Two Continents

The Race to the Future: 8,000 Miles to Paris - The Adventure That Accelerated the Twentieth Century

The Race to the Future: 8,000 Miles to Paris - The Adventure That Accelerated the Twentieth Century

By Kassia St. Clair

The gripping true story of the real racers who set off on an 8,000-mile journey across Asia and Europe, which helped pave the way for technological advancements at the turn of the century.

$19.99
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British History

French History

German History

Italian History

A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

By David Grann

This seamless slam-dunk of epic history-telling from the author of the bestselling Killers of the Flower Moon is an 18th-century puzzle of high seas intrigue, a fateful shipwreck, mutiny, and a real-life Lord of the Flies descent into mayhem

$18.00
$21.00
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The Final Voyage of a Great Lakes Legend

The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald

The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald

By John U. Bacon

Bacon tells the harrowing true story of the “Mighty Fitz,” a 729-foot-long ship that perished in November 1975, and the lasting impact of the tragic maritime disaster.

$35.00
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Road Trip Through America, One Stop at a Time - Shop Now - This Land Is Your Land by Beverly Gage
Road Trip Through America, One Stop at a Time - Shop Now - This Land Is Your Land by Beverly Gage

History

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