Customer Reviews

The History Buff's Guide to the Civil War

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Seinfeld character George Costanza asked the question "I wonder what it takes to be a Civil War buff?" This book is the answer. If you are new to Civil War studies, this book will help you make sense of all the information out there. Key figures, battles and social phenomena are explained in language that a novice can understand (after reading it, you'll finally know what a "flanking maneuver" is). He also approaches the topic with a touch of humor (his list of "ways to be a successfull re-enactor" is required reading as much for re-enactors as for those of us who question the sanity of wearing a wool tunic on a July afternoon). For those who've already earned their stripes as a "buff" this book is still essential reading. A fellow buff of mine and I have already had many lively debates about Flagel's ranking of the best and worst generals--George McClellan the second worst general in the war? Flagel makes his case, and whether you agree, disagree, or wish to drop a twelve-pounder on his toe, it gets the juices flowing.

The History Buff's Guide to the Civil War by Thomas R. Flagel was very informative and provided this individual with many bits of information that haven't been seen before.

As an individual who reads twenty or more civil war books each year I would strongly recommend this read to those who desire those little bits and pieces that are not usually found in more well known publications.

The book is well written and presented in very readable fashion.

Well done!

The writing in this book is eloquent, evocative, and brings the Civil War to life. I've given copies of this book to my daughters who are in middle school and high school as well as to my older daughter to share with my Granddaughter (they live in the south and this book contains truth rather than historical fiction). I would recommend this book for every student who thinks history is boring - so they can find out it's not.

There have been more books written about the Civil War -- or the War Between the States, or the Rebellion, or the War for Southern Independence, whichever you prefer -- than about any event in U.S. history. It's both a key subject for academic historians and a point of fascination for amateur readers of history. That being the case, it's difficult to come up with an entirely new approach, but Flagel comes close. He's one of the academics but also obviously a "buff," and he takes the approach here of collecting more than thirty "Ten Best" and "Ten Worst" lists about all aspects of the War and its preliminaries and aftermath. The result is a large number of short, often anecdotal, well-written articles and sketches which the reader will have difficulty putting down. The "Top Ten Surgical Tools and Medicines," for instance, will take you into discussions of mercury poisoning, the fact that the Confederate Army ran its own distilleries, and the procedure of amputation. The "Ten Most Significant Battles" are selected in terms of their consequences, and while any list like this one will start arguments, Flagel does a good job of defending his choices. Nor does he restrict himself to the military side of the War; the "Top Ten Acts of Government" allows him to show the relevance of the Homestead Act, Lincoln's suspension of habeus corpus, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Thirteenth Amendment. Small factoids are scattered throughout and nearly every statement or assertion is sourced -- though mostly to other secondary sources. This is exactly the sort of book that is likely to have you jotting down subjects and books for further perusal.

If you're just getting started studying the Civil War, this is a good book for you. The best part of the book includes the lists for best movies, and best books on the Civil War, as well as the best and worst generals. It's a great way to get started analyzing the Civil War. If you're already knowledgeable about the Civil War, except for the occasional list, most of the stuff you've covered already, or already read, or was already familiar with. I enjoyed the lists of best books, best movies, and best and worst generals, but I learned nothing new from this book.

American Civil War expert and history teacher Thomas R. Flagel wrote The History Buff's Guide To The Civil War as a guide to the most critical people, places, and events of the Civil War. Meticulously organized under over thirty headings to spotlight key facts and topics in an easy-to-lookup manner, The History Buff's Guide To The Civil War is accessibly divided into the main subjects of Antebellum, Politics, Military Life, The Home Front, In Retrospect, and Pursuing the War, with each section deftly and succinctly exploring issues with heavily researched, matter-of-fact directness. An excellent introductory guide and consultation reference for readers of all backgrounds, The History Buff's Guide To The Civil War is a welcome addition to personal, school, and community library Civil War Studies reference collections.

I enjoyed reading this book of lists on the Civil War. I used the Kindle version and all the links etc work fine. There is an active TOC which is great. This is an easy read and a good quick reference. I did not learn anything new nor did I encounter any new analyses or theories about the war. My favorite lists were the 'top ten best and worst generals'. I was surprised to see Hood listed as one of the top ten worst generals. My guess is this book will be very popular for those who just want a quick review of the civil war.

If you want an excellent and a meatier introduction to the Civil War I would go with McPherson's "Battle Cry Freedom".

I have always found history to be extremely interesting. I can't believe how much I learned from The History Buff's Guide. Anyone who likes to learn about what happened in the past will appreciate this book. I give it five stars.

I used this A LOT when I was taking a class in college about the Civil War! GREAT BOOK!!!

I have read a large number of books on the Civil War. This was the "best of the best" book that I have read.

It is meant for a reader who already knows the basics about the Civil War. It takes you to another level of understanding in a concise and easy readable book by it's "Top 10 Format" - top ten reasons for the cause of the Civil War, top ten best generals and the top 10 worst generals (with reasons why they were so rated) and so forth.