The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past by Alan Axelrod

The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past Reviews

• 
  Jake

  Sort of a pop-up video version of a college textbook. In a good way.
  
  Axelrod took some shit for some of his 'speculation', where he pointed out ways the war COULD have ended if this general did that, or that general moved faster, etc. I actually think that those 'what-if' scenarios added a little to the history, and proved that Axelrod actually thought about his info rather than just regurgitating the record.
  
  All that said, there WERE sections that seemed to lack a little detail. Maybe it's because I read 1776 right before I dug into this, but important turning points of the war, like the battle of Trenton, seemed kinda...inconsequential here. Or maybe McCullough was just full of shit.
  
  Things I learned on my Revolutionary War reading spree:
  -Powdered wigs are the SHIT.
  -George Washington was a fuck up on a GW Bush-level. Until he wasn't.
  -John Paul Jones had the baddest pimp hand in naval history.
  
  Now back to comic books and crime fiction. Learning wears me out.
  
  
• 
  Amy

  I started reading this many years ago but halfway through it, it fell by the wayside. Inspired by watching the History Channel mini-series Sons of Liberty (which only had a passing acquaintance with real history) and reading Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan, I picked it up again. It's a great overview of the war for American independence. Doesn't go into great depth on any one thing but that's ok. There are other books for that. I loved the sidebars and the visuals.
• 
  Darin Lory

  On balance, a very well researched work and written in a manner to bring this most important time in our nation's history to life.
• 
  Jerry Kolwinska

  This is a very good general history of the American Revolution. Axelrod brings out several interesting, but often forgotten elements of the times that were critical to the success of the revolution.
  
  The most interesting point that he makes is that the Americans won their independence not because they were victorious on the battlefield, but rather that they outlasted the patience of Parliament. Of course, the intervention of France didn’t hurt the cause.
  
  Four stars because you really have to be interested in history to plow through the details.
• 
  Scott

  Simply a fun read. It's a good introduction for people who know little or nothing about American history, but is also a handily organized, something that you'll keep at arms' length for whenever you need to check a fact really quick. Not only does it go into detail about the important events, it also gives you little details that you probably didn't know that are somehow related and will stick in your mind. There were one or two inaccuracies, but compared to the amount of information available, it's to be expected.
• 
  Kevin Colby

  
  
  I had some issues with his history concerning Benedict Arnold. He just seems to recite the old tried and true " He was a greedy opportunist" lines of past historians. That is not the true picture of the man. It is an unfair assessment. He also continuously calls King Louis of France "Emperor". When you are talking about France and refer to "the Emperor" you are talking about Napoleon and no one else. Otherwise I like the book. He explains the beginnings and reasons for the war quite well.
  
• 
  Professor Digory Kirke

  Being well versed in the history and study of the Revolution even I learned somethings I had never known or come across before in all my studies on this subject. That in and of its self is a hard thing to do. An excellent book and worthy of one and all who love and or study the Revolution, should have as part of their own library.
• 
  Al Bokolor

  Outstanding read! Book read like a novel with lots of interesting side tidbits about the war battles, participants, and non-participants. Battles were explained with routes taken, strategies employed, and alternate outcomes suggested as well. I highly recommend this book to all American History buffs!
• 
  Shaun

  This book is excellent. From the minute I began reading I couldn't put it down... my only issue with the book is that it leaves out details on a few key events and people and it merely brushes over them... but other than that it is a very good book and I recommend this to everyone.
• 
  Michael Wilson

  A very good pop history about the U.S. War for Independence. I believe a better editor could have helped. Too much repetition
• 
  Doug Hauser

  This is a good history book for a novice history reader.
• 
  Kelly

  This was terrific. A history text that reads more like a good novel.
• 
  Vince

  Pretty good read. I didn't find much new information here. The book would make an excellent textbook for high school seniors as the author has a great ability to organize information.
• 
  Jeff

  Book had great content, but a crappy binding that was destined to fall appart before I even read it once.
• 
  Teresa Sogard robarge

  I thought this book was fantastic.
• 
  Jim

  A fast-moving history of the American Revolution that flows effortlessly throughout, primarily due to the author's ability to create a birds-eye view of events and how they played into the bigger picture. It doesn't get bogged down in any one place, yet there is enough context to help the reader understand certain events beyond the mere mechanics. I recommend this for anyone looking for better understanding of the Revolution as a singular event or to get a better idea of the chronology of events. The latter was most beneficial to me.