Summer Reading Recommendations

Summer Reading Recommendations

For as long as I can remember, summer has always been a time to read. I guess it's the warm weather, relaxing mindset and want for escape. To further support the name of my blog, I have ten books that I would recommend to anyone, at any time -- especially summer.

Bonus picks: 1776 -- David McCullough

Want to understand why 1776 was so important in American History. History teachers didn't have these resources or time to tell you these stories. The ingenuity of the Americans is never-ending.

American Lion -- Jon Meacham

How about a complete enigma? There is not a tougher US President that was also so contradictory, as Jackson. Starting from a questionable marriage that led to the first real Presidential election (mud slinging and all), to a man with a brutal Indian removal policy, yet adopts one as a stepson.

10) The Last Lincolns -- Charles Lachman

What happened after Lincoln was killed? We know Tad died shortly thereafter, and Mary went on to an insane asylum as a result of a nasty dispute with her eldest son, Robert-- but what about his children? The line has died out, but how? What about Abraham Lincoln II?

9) Horse Soldiers -- Doug Stanton

We cannot ever forget 9/11, but what did the soldiers have to do when the US sought justice? The ancient world crashes into the most advanced armed forces in the world. Just a stunning revelation.

8) Stealing Lincoln's Body -- Thomas J. Craughwell

Who would've ever thought of holding a Presidential corpse for ransom? Sounds ridiculous? It happened, and on the eve of the Centennial celebration of American independence. This outrageous story reads like a novel and is something that will likely surprise you.

7) When Pride Still Mattered -- David Maraniss

Like him or not, Vince Lombardi is likely the most revered coach of all time. This is the most personal account I ever read of someone's life. I didn't want to finish the book because I knew he died, but I felt like I personally knew him and didn't want to suffer the loss. Amazing writing.

6) On Hallowed Ground -- Robert M. Poole

This is a fantastic explanation of how once revered US General Robert E. Lee has his home sequestered and becomes the most famous and important cemetery of the US -- Arlington National Cemetery.

5) The Sinking of the Eastland -- Jay Bonasinga

Fast paced and brutally graphic, learn about the biggest loss of life since the Titanic, and it happened in the heart of Chicago during a company picnic.

4) Grant's Final Victory -- Charles Bracelen Flood

This thing should be a movie. Bernie Madoff wasn't the first to use a ponzi scheme; and poor retired President U.S. Grant had his fortune wiped out. Terminally ill, Grant races against time to release his memoirs, with Mark Twain as his editor.

3) Operation Mincemeat -- Ben Macintyre

Can a corpse fool Hitler? Did spies like James Bond exist in WWII? The answers are yes and almost. One of the main areas behind this ingenious and critical mission was none other than James Bond creator Ian Flemming. Spy novel of the realest kind -- true.

2) Firestorm at Peshtigo -- Denise Gess & William Lutz

Another great fast paced, novel like book. It was a real page turner and is in my top three favorite books of all time. Everyone remembers Chicago, but that same night, Peshtigo burned and with much worse results.

1) Ghost Soldiers -- Hampton Sides

My favorite book, flat-out. American ingenuity meets WWII in the Pacific Theater. Unreal, exciting and quite frankly I have no idea why it hasn't been made into a movie. This is the first Army Ranger rescue mission and it's fast paced and so well written, you won't be able to put it down.