Are you more interested in social, commercial, cultural, military, political, industrial history or some other area? Do you like to do your own research or mostly read books, papers and articles already published on it? I’m very interested in most areas of American history, with no real specialization. Just wondering how others handle their hunger for knowledge.
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Racial
It shaped a SIGNIFICANT portion of American history and continues to shape our current culture.
I read nonstop. I usually read a few books on a specific topic and time period from a couple angles.
Lately I’ve been studying a lot of WWII Pacific theater.
Prior to that, I was on a motorsports kick…but am wrapping that up shortly.
The same subject can get tiring, but I like being well-rounded.
I’m moving into Korean War and the 20th century history of that region.
I basically like it all but it’s more like what I’m in the mood to learn about at any given time. I’m currently reading books on Oppenheimer, the Comanche, and the Eighth Air Force. So all over the place. I suppose I enjoy reading about our military history the most. I’m constantly coming back to that. Can never get enough of the Civil War or WWII. After that, probably comes political history books.
I like early colonial history, especially when discussing the strained relationships between the settlers and the local tribes.
I’m into the Reconstruction and Industrial Revolution years. The country rose quickly in many ways from a war-torn nation to global power by the First World War. Our cities also grew greatly, yet the presidents are mostly forgettable. It’s hard to find an abundance of documentaries on the time period, though. Who doesn’t love a beautiful Beaux Arts building, too? My love of Vicky games and Anno 1800 helped me get the urge to find out more.
In the past, the Revolution, Civil War, and WWII were easy to find info on. Maybe, I’ll dig more into the Cold War next. I’ve waded near the shallow end on occasion.
Particular event – Lewis and Clark journey. Mostly because I live very close to where they traveled to (they camped basically on the modern US/Alberta border for a winter).
Period – War of Independence
The Civil War and Reconstruction are the most interesting to me personally, and there’s such a wide variety of books, documentaries, podcasts, and other media about it to consume.
I also am fascinated by Watergate because it includes a lot of aspects that are interesting: Elections, executive power, clandestine government affairs, journalism as an agent of change, espionage, and more.
It helps that both of those have a lot of impact on modern American society, so there’s a lot more depths to plumb and connections to make, even though they happened many years ago.
The Cold War era. The building of modern America from both a social and geopolitical standpoint has almost infinite paths to go down.
I am probably most interested in social/cultural history. I’d say 1830 until WWII. I read almost non-fiction exclusively and spend hours pouring through newspapers from the 18th-20th century.
I was a pro-genealogist and now history research consultant and one of the ways I scratch the itch is diving into a subject I run across.
I scratch the need-to-know-more itch through genealogy often. Also I like to debunk/prove old bios, etc. Like controversy over Andrew Jackson’s marriage? Researched the statements of supporters when he was running. (Yeah, it was shady and he ran off with someone else’s wife). I help strangers a lot with their “brick walls”. I’m pretty interested in slavery and the African American experience post slavery so I help a lot with Black genealogy to get better at it and increase my knowledge.
I feel like I’ve learned a lot about people and trauma over the years by just researching documents.
I also like to research fads, fashion, and progressive movements and the motivation of the backlash.
I think it’s neat that there are things from like ww2, Korea, and Vietnam that are still classified. I wouldn’t really think it would matter if they were at this point
I’m a big enough buff of colonial history that I do a podcast on it.
Pretty much all aspects of women’s history.
Ever since I was a kid found myself drawn towards stories (fiction, real, semi-fictional) that where from the perspective of girls and women. Starting with American girl dolls, Little House on the Prairie, and the Dear America books. And when it came to my k-12 experience, I always felt disappointed there seemed to be a lack of focus on women and their involvement in history (both American and just human history). So by the time I was in middle school I was seeking out the information on my own time. I know someone who did their masters thesis on women in the medical feild during American civil war and I have always been a bit jealous lol its such a interesting subject
My Goodreads history is pretty much just books about the most random parts of American history and culture but with a focus on women/women’s involvement
The home front of WWII is always interesting to me.
My grandparents lived it, and I work in engineering/manufacturing so I find it interesting.
Presidental history has been a lifelong interest of mine
Currently I’m fascinated by the economic history of America and how policy has had an effect on the economy. I could unironically drone on about effects of Smoot–Hawley- which were…
Anyone?
[Buller?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhiCFdWeQfA)
Industrialization and the West are an interesting topic when they correlate.
It’s actually anything that I can point out in a long list of shitty things we have done to other people.
Because people need a reminder that we are far from being some kind of utopia. We’re barely better than China.
Labor history, slavery/reconstruction/Jim Crow/race relations/civil rights, and US interference with foreign regimes. I just read books. And I was a history major in college.
I do a lot of reading about old Hollywood – so many interesting characters in that time period. Right now I’m on a Tallulah Bankhead kick. Fun fact – she was childhood friends with Zelda Fitzgerald. Just recently found that out.
The Space Race. I lovevtalking about its orgins to the moon and beyond. I’ve accidentally burned entire class periods because I won’t shut up about NASA.
Social and cultural history by far. I go through phases on which period I’m most interested in but overall I guess I’d say colonial/revolutionary and reconstruction-gilded age. Definitely most interested in the northeast and new England as that’s where I live.
I recommended “a midwifes tale” by laurel thatcher Ulrich to everyone. Fantastic book that delves into history not often discussed and often misunderstood.
I read everything. My UG degree is in history so a lot of what I’ve read is from that. I also do my own research but it’s extremely specialized.
I have an old house and have researched the shit out of that and my town and the surrounding towns. Old newspapers, census information, early histories (written in the 19th/20th c), books, postcards, legal documents (land records, probate documents), vital statistics, militia lists, and tax records have all been consulted in my research. Lots of work with primary sources in this research and I’ve found a lot of really interesting stuff.
The Colonial Period in New England, from 1620 to about 1720, is of great interest to me.
Largely because it sets the stage for so much that happens later.
King Phillips War, the Glorious Revolution, the French and Indian Wars of the early 1700s
1920s through the 1990s. Before 1920, people lived too differently for it to be as relatable. 2000 and on, it hasn’t been long enough to have the proper perspective.
Prohibition. Such a dumb idea that had widespread support from labor unions to the KKK. Nearly every state ratified the amendment. It touched every area of culture and changed drinking forever. It fascinates me.
1950s – 1970s, particularly the civil rights movement and the Warren Court era.
I feel unjustly targeted by that commercial that says only parents read books about submarines
I’ve read a lot of history books. The Civil War still grabs my interest and holds it pretty consistently. I’ve read plenty of books both new and old. Just keep in mind the timeframe of the events and the timeframe of the writings and accept it for what it is.
1990-2009 since I’m too young to have experienced it personally but the events from that time still impact society a lot.
The Prohibition period is probably the one I find most interesting.
Also, in talking with my grandparents, I found the post WWII period very interesting. Granted if you weren’t a WASP okay with old world family structures it wasn’t as great as advertised.
I can really nerd out on military history from a strategic/tactical perspective.