America's Hidden History: events in history that are often forgotten

America’s Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation by Kenneth C Davis is a collection of stories, episodes in the nation’s history. According to Mr Davis, these episodes helped shape the nation’s destiny and character. He sets out to set the record straight, dispelling myths and shining a light on fascinating and yet little known facts. From the first permanent colonies (hint: it wasn’t Jamestown) to when the first slaves arrived in America (hint: it wasn’t 1619) to events that influenced George Washington as a general and as president. Mr Davis continues to reveal that history is more than cut and dry dates and events to the real people of the day who shaped the land, the culture and the nation. America’s Hidden History shows that history is a complex, interconnected and interwoven series of events, ideas and people that influence and affect one another. 

Kenneth C Davis is a bestselling author who brings history alive in unique ways. Best known for his Don’t Know Much About History series, he makes history fun, interesting and deeper than the often overlooked and sanitized history we often get in school. While I enjoyed reading these untold stories, I rather disliked that Mr Davis was simply taking chunks of paragraphs from other academic books and placing them into his book with a little commentary of his own. Rather than smoothly merge the academic information with his own, the book was chunky to read. I failed to see the connections. I read each chapter as if it was it’s own book rather than looking for an overall connection between the six events he discusses. Overall, it was an interesting look into the events that don’t make it into history textbooks. If you enjoy history, you will enjoy America’s Hidden History. 

America’s Hidden History is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook