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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 books run 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.

Our October Nonfiction Pick - Espionage, Betrayal, and a Dark Family Secret - Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn - Shop Now
Our October Nonfiction Pick - Espionage, Betrayal, and a Dark Family Secret - Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn - 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
The Spy Who Stopped Armageddon - Redwood by Ben Macintyre - Shop Now
The Spy Who Stopped Armageddon - Redwood by Ben Macintyre - Shop Now
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

The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore | Pulitzer Prize-winning author explores technology's impact of politics | Shop Now
The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore | Pulitzer Prize-winning author explores technology's impact of politics | Shop Now

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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Inside the Lives of Humanity's Most Influential Leaders = Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings by Jared Diamond - Shop Now
Inside the Lives of Humanity's Most Influential Leaders = Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings by Jared Diamond - Shop Now

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.

$21.99
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History Coming Soon

See All
The Call of Freedom: Portraits of Political Prisoners and Dissidents
The Call of Freedom: Portraits of Political Prisoners and Dissidents
George W. Bush
Hardcover
$37.00
$42.00

History

Must-Read History Books

Explore the best selection of history books on thousands of subjects at Barnes & Noble. History books play an important role in helping us remember and learn from the past as perspectives change and we ourselves grow and evolve. From nonfiction historical narratives and biographies about historical figures to fascinating stories that delve into various historical periods, find must-read history books here.

The best history books are the ones that offer fresh insight into historical places, events, people and topics. You can re-examine ancient history in Mary Beard’s Emperor of Rome or revisit ancient Greece in Emily Hauser’s Penelope’s Bones. Trace the intersections and conflicts of European history in Andrew Roberts' Napoleon or discover how a race across Europe changed the world as we know it in Kassia St. Clair’s The Race to the Future.

The Civil War continues to be a source of captivating historical narratives such as Ron Chernow’s Grant or Nathaniel Philbrick’s The Rush. You’ll find something about any U.S. President, from new lenses on widely covered presidents like Abraham Lincoln in 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 A Resistance History of the United States or Dinner with King Tut.

Whether you’re a history lover, history teacher or looking for the perfect gift for a history buff, our wide selection of nonfiction history books is here to please. From popular favorites like A People's History of the United States to modern history books like The Cauldron, there are so many good books about history.

Explore today’s history bestsellers or check out our list of the best history books of 2026. Looking for a history book to start reading immediately? Download history eBooks to your smartphone, tablet, or NOOK device and start reading today.

Discover Great History Books to Read Today