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In 2014, the New York Times published [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/books/review/james-m-mcpherson-by-the-book.html?_r=0 a brief interview] with noted Civil War historian James McPherson, The George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History at Princeton University. McPherson is considered to be the dean of Civil War historians. He is best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning book [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/019516895X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=019516895X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bb691159be05abe1852f41d2bed7c494 Battle Cry of Freedom] which is the best overview of the Civil War. In the interview, McPherson stated who he believes are America's top historians, the best book on the Civil War, military history, African American history, the book most responsible for shaping his career, and even the most overrated history book ever. It's a biggie.
All of the historians and books cited by McPherson are outstanding, but they are representative of his generation. Not surprisingly, this was pointed out by several younger scholars. Most of his preferences were predominantly from historians of either his generation of scholars. In many ways books are like music, people like the music of their formative years better than anything that came before it or after. His choices are certainly understandable, but open to debate.
In the interview, McPherson often referred to an author, but failed to specify which books he preferred. In a number of cases, we extrapolated some of the best books written by his favorite historians. There are certainly other books from these authors that are also outstanding.
===Best Books on the Civil War===
[[File: Inhuman_Bondage.jpeg|thumbnail|275px|[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195339444/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0195339444&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=065dffdb06bd5774d918d2a61f00cddd ''Inhuman Bondage'']]]
Allan Nevins, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VZZO3M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000VZZO3M&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6ef4167b8ee4cc21d3c75d2b33882c75 Eight Volume Set on the Civil War]
Stephen W. Sears, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039587744X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=039587744X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6893374e795d46edb3fa605f0812961a Chancellorsville]
[[File:The_Confederate_War.jpg|thumbnail|275px|''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674160568/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674160568&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ec1f1a1a27fa5cf7f30395e3ffde923a The Confederate War]'']]
Gordon C. Rhea, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807118737/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807118737&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4dd5c6be8ae7e6b39e277d75437750e5 The Battle of the Wilderness, May 5--6, 1864]
Gary W. Gallagher, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/02532226640674160568/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=02532226640674160568&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bfc9171b392c44695a045e5661ad8293 ec1f1a1a27fa5cf7f30395e3ffde923a The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil Confederate War History]
Joseph T. Glatthaar, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807125601/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807125601&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=86bee3742d517160a30b6cab925954b0 Forged in Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers]
===Most Important Book for His Career===
[[File: Alexander_Hamilton.jpeg|thumbnail|200px|''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143034758/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143034758&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1966c356d5dc8895f516f9212fd47f9d Alexander Hamilton]'']]
C. Vann Woodward, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807100390/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807100390&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6e17c1eb0e4acb6ce5c6567e02b26d1d Origins of the New South, 1877-1913]
===His Next Book===
Ron Chernow, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143034758/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143034758&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1966c356d5dc8895f516f9212fd47f9d Alexander Hamilton]
[[Category:Booklists]] [[Category:Greek United States History]] [[Category:Ancient Civil War]][[Category:HistoryBooklists]][[Category:African American History Booklists]][[Category:Expert Booklists]]{{Contributors}}<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==*[[Thomas Jefferson, the Founding Fathers and Christianity: Interview with Sam Haselby]]*[[Social History of American Medicine Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Gilded Age/Progressive Era History Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Hodges' Scout: Interview with Len Travers]]*[[Engineering Victory during the Civil War: Interview with Thomas F. Army, Jr.]]</div>
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