Explore what freedom means to you this summer with our Black Founders exhibit, walking tours, and so much more. Plan Your Visit

Dismiss notification
Open Today 10 am – 5 pm Directions & Parking
Buy Tickets
Search
Suggestions:

Read the Revolution

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

Featured Books

Black Jacks

Read an excerpt from W. Jeffrey Bolster's book, Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail.

Read More

Liberty's Daughters

Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's groundbreaking book, Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800.

Read More

Summer Reading List: 2023 Young Readers Edition

See our summer reading list of Revolutionary books that will encourage young readers to explore the past and the people who shaped it.

Read More

A Gentleman of Color

Read an excerpt from Julie Winch's groundbreaking book, A Gentleman of Color: The Life of James Forten.

Read More

The Grimkes

Read an excerpt from Kerri K. Greenidge's book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family.

Read More
    Cover of W. Jeffrey Bolster's book Black Jacks.
    Image 091520 1776x2652 Libertysdaughters
    A collection of books featured in the Museum's 2023 summer reading list for young readers.
    A Gentleman of Color book cover
    The Grimkes by Kerri Greenidge Book book cover.

    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.

    Subscribe Now

    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

    Showing 51–60 of 240 items
    This image depicts the book cover of Household Gods: The Religious Lives of the Adams Family by Sara Georgini. The cover is a colored photograph inside a church facing the front with wooden pews to the left and right. At the top of the cover are six individual black and white portraits of the Adams family, starting with President John Adams on the left-hand side.
    History

    Household Gods

    Posted: March 24, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Sara Georgini's book, Household Gods: The Religious Lives of the Adams Family.
    Read More
    This image shows the book cover of Founding Friendships: Friendships between Men and Women in the Early American Republic by Cassandra Good. Cassandra’s name is written on the bottom in front of a gold background. The title of the book is written in white text against a blue background. And the top of the cover shows two golden framed portraits: on the left is a man and the right is a woman. The frame for the man’s portrait is square while the woman’s frame is circular.
    History

    Founding Friendships

    Posted: March 05, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Cassandra Good's Founding Friendships to explore how, by forming friendships, women and men challenged social expectations but embraced founding ideals of freedom, choice, and equality in the early United States.
    Read More
    If These Stones Could Talk by Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills
    History

    If These Stones Could Talk

    Posted: February 24, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills's recent book, If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey.
    Read More
    The Dawn of Detroit by Tiya Miles
    History

    The Dawn of Detroit

    Posted: February 10, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Tiya Miles' recent book, The Dawn of Detroit: A Chronicle of Slavery and Freedom in the City of the Straits.
    Read More
    Finding Charity's Folk by Jessica Millward
    History

    Finding Charity's Folk

    Posted: January 27, 2021
    Read two excerpts from Jessica Millward's book, Finding Charity's Folk: Enslaved and Free Black Women in Maryland.
    Read More
    Image 010721 Rtr186 1774 Long Year Revolution Norton Cover
    History

    1774: The Long Year of Revolution

    Posted: January 13, 2021
    Read an excerpt from Mary Beth Norton's book, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution.
    Read More
    Occupied America by Donald Johnson
    History

    Occupied America

    Posted: December 23, 2020
    Read an excerpt from Donald F. Johnson's book, Occupied America: British Military Rule and the Experience of Revolution.
    Read More
    Image 120420 Rtr184 Henry Knox Cannons
    Children & Young Adults

    Double Feature: Henry Knox's Winter Adventure

    Posted: December 09, 2020
    Read excerpts from Don Brown's Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution as well as Phillip Hamilton's The Revolutionary War Lives and Letters of Lucy and Henry Knox.
    Read More
    A Sweet Taste of History by Walter Staib
    History

    A Sweet Taste of History

    Posted: November 25, 2020
    Read an excerpt from Chef Walter Staib's cookbook, A Sweet Taste of History: More than 100 Elegant Dessert Recipes from America's Earliest Days.
    Read More
    Image 110920 Rtr182 Contest Liberty Sculley Cover
    History

    Contest for Liberty

    Posted: November 11, 2020
    Read an excerpt from Seanegan P. Sculley's book, Contest for Liberty: Military Leadership in the Continental Army, 1775-1783.
    Read More
    6 of 24 pages
    Previous page Next page