Read the Revolution

A curated collection of thought-provoking books about the American Revolution.

Featured Books

Misinformation Nation

Read an excerpt from Jordan E. Taylor's book, Misinformation Nation: Foreign News and the Politics of Truth in Revolutionary America.

The Pattern

Read an excerpt from Robbie MacNiven's book, The Pattern: The 33rd Regiment and the British Infantry Experience During the American Revolution, 1770-1783.

The Public Universal Friend

Read an excerpt from Paul Moyer's book, The Public Universal Friend: Jemima Wilkinson and Religious Enthusiasm in Revolutionary America.

Reading List: Native Americans in the American Revolution

View a list of six recommended Read the Revolution book selections to read for Native American Heritage Month this November.

Making the Presidency

Read an excerpt from Lindsay M. Chervinsky's book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic.

This image shows the book cover for Misinformation Nation with the title of the book in large text in a gray box centered on the page with an engraving of a city port scene in the background.

This book cover features a figure study of a British Army soldier wearing a red coat with white lining holding a long firearm and wearing a black tri-corner hat.

This image shows the cover of the book The Public Universal Friend with the title in white font overlaid atop dark orange, black, and gold religious paintings.

This image shows a vertical graphic with four book covers in a grid including Liberty's Exiles in the top left, Memory Wars top right, The Cutting-Off Way bottom right, and The Forgotten Allies bottom left.

This image shows the book cover for Making the Presidency by Lindsay Chervinsky featuring a portrait of John Adams.

About

Curated by Museum staff since 2013, Read the Revolution features excerpts from thought-provoking books about the American Revolution. Read the Revolution was created with thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Subscribe to get the biweekly Read the Revolution featured excerpts emailed right to your inbox for free.

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Speaker Series

Inspired by the Read the Revolution featured excerpts, the Read the Revolution Speaker Series brings celebrated authors and historians to the Museum for lively, facilitated discussions of their work. Each Read the Revolution Speaker Series program, hosted by Museum President & CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, includes a special talk and audience Q&A.

About the Series

All Books

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History

True for the Cause of Liberty

Posted: January 10, 2024

Read an excerpt from Oscar E. Gilbert and Catherine R. Gilbert's book, True for the Cause of Liberty: The Second Spartan Regiment in the American Revolution.

History

Washington's Crossing

Posted: December 27, 2023

Read an excerpt from David Hackett Fischer's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Washington's Crossing.

History

Freedom's Prophet

Posted: November 22, 2023

Read an excerpt from Richard S. Newman's book, Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers.

History

Give Me a Fast Ship

Posted: November 08, 2023

Read an excerpt from Tim McGrath's book, Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea.

History

Prisoners of Congress

Posted: October 25, 2023

Read an excerpt from Norman E. Donoghue II's book, Prisoners of Congress: Philadelphia’s Quakers in Exile, 1777-1778.

Image 100223 Rtr251 Overflowing Of Friendship Godbeer Cover

History

The Overflowing of Friendship

Posted: October 11, 2023

Read an excerpt from Richard Godbeer's book, The Overflowing of Friendship: Love Between Men and the Creation of the American Republic.

History

The Cutting-Off Way

Posted: September 27, 2023

Read an excerpt from Wayne E. Lee's new book, The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500–1800.

History

The Words That Made Us

Posted: September 13, 2023

Read an excerpt from Akhil Reed Amar's book, The Words That Made Us: America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840.

History

Black Founders

Posted: August 23, 2023

Read an excerpt from the Museum of the American Revolution's exhibit book, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.

History

Captives of Liberty

Posted: August 09, 2023

Read an excerpt from T. Cole Jones's book, Captives of Liberty: Prisoners of War and the Politics of Vengeance in the American Revolution.

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