Essential Books on the American Revolution and America’s Founders

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” We all know the famous line from the Declaration of Independence — but who deserves the credit for creating it? While Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin worked together to craft the final phrase, the essay that inspired them was written by James Wilson, a key but often overlooked Founding Father. Wilson was a young lawyer who fiercely advocated for American independence, drafted the first version of the Constitution, and presaged the country’s democratic future by arguing for policies that placed the government’s power in the hands of the people. Wilson’s legacy, though, was ultimately buried under scandal, his contributions to the development of American democracy all but forgotten. That is, until now. New York Times journalist Jesse Wegman tells Wilson’s story in his fascinating new book, The Lost Founder. “With insight and eloquence, Jesse Wegman has done heroic work in bringing a vital but obscure architect of America back into the popular conversation” (Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer).

Pulitzer Prize–winner Ron Chernow delivers a quintessential biography in Alexander Hamilton. The Founding Father, known for his charisma and writing skills, played an essential role in shaping American politics and the economy. Chernow traces his subject’s life with insight and depth — from Hamilton’s early years and education, to his close relationships and romantic entanglements, to his political rivalries and major contributions to the country, including The Federalist Papers and the founding of the Bank of New York. The result is a vivid portrait of the revolutionary figure and the founding of America. 

In 1776, acclaimed historian David McCullough delves into the crucial year America gained its independence, bringing the war to life in a sweeping, singular narrative. Covering both sides of the American Revolution, from the men following General George Washington as they marched into battle for their fledgling nation to the King’s redcoats under the command of William Howe, fighting to thwart the rebels, McCullough’s telling is rich with compassion and historical detail.

We’ve celebrated and studied the Founding Fathers since the signing of the Declaration of Independence — but their achievements were far from solo endeavors. The women of the Revolution, the mothers, sisters, and wives of the men we all know of, are often left out of history books. Cokie Roberts gives these remarkable women the attention they’re due in Founding Mothers, drawing from letters and journals to detail the challenges they overcame and the victories they helped secure as America fought for independence.

In Benjamin Franklin, bestselling journalist and biographer Walter Isaacson provides a detailed account of the intriguing Founding Father — celebrated as one of early America’s most brilliant writers, inventors, and political leaders. From Boston to Paris and back, from writing Poor Richard’s Almanac to the Declaration of Independence, from a printing apprenticeship to being a political savant who shaped a fledgling nation, Franklin’s life is marked by fascinating twists and turns. Isaacson chronicles it all in compelling detail in this engrossing narrative.

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Rick Atkinson leverages his impeccable research skills and narrative talent to chronicle the first 21 months of America’s fight for independence. The first volume of his Revolution Trilogy, The British Are Coming begins with the 1775 springtime battles at Lexington and Concord and continues through those at Trenton and Princeton in the winter of 1777. Studded with fascinating historical characters that bring the American Revolution to life, Atkinson’s celebrated account is “an exquisite masterpiece of history” (Citation, 2020 George Washington Book Prize).

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Founding Brothers offers an in-depth look at Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison as they strived to forge a nation founded on democratic principles. Anchored by six major events from America’s earliest years, Ellis’s acclaimed account offers vibrant portraits of the country’s visionary yet flawed early leaders — framed here as Founding Brothers — as they grappled with the challenges of establishing a new government.

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Woody Holt breathes new life into the story of the American Revolution by highlighting the vital roles of Americans long overlooked — including Native Americans, women, African Americans, and religious dissenters. Drawing on hundreds of eyewitness records and historical documents, Holt reveals in Liberty Is Sweet that the men and women who shaped America were far from monolithic. Indeed, they were a rich patchwork of patriots with distinct visions of freedom, whose ideals both influenced and conflicted with one another. “[A] deeply researched and bracing retelling of the origins of the American Revolution” (Pulitzer Prize–winning author Annette Gordon-Reed).  

Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow delivers a fascinating account of the first President of the United States in Washington. Excellently researched and skillfully written, Chernow’s chronicle of George Washington begins with the stories of his youth, continues through his time leading the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and then moves on to his role as a political leader during the Constitutional Convention and his terms as President. Though Washington is often depicted as a stoic and serious historical figure, Chernow’s nuanced narrative brings the Founding Father to life in this “magnificently fair, full-scale biography” (The Economist).

Alan Taylor deepens our understanding of the American Revolution in this authoritative account, bringing his in-depth research and strong narrative voice to bear as he chronicles how the Revolutionary War unfolded on a global stage. While America’s fight for independence is most often discussed as a war between the British and the Continental Army, Taylor addresses the many nations involved in the conflict, as well as the frontier violence and internal clashing that shaped America in its earliest years. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, American Revolutions is essential historical reading.

In Revolutionary Characters, Gordon S. Wood creates a fascinating group portrait of seven iconic Founding Fathers — Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison, and Paine — examining them on both historical and personal levels. Wood explores what made each Founding Father great, arguing that both character and impact helped cement their legacies. A New York Times bestseller, Revolutionary Characters offers readers a closer look at the distinct personalities who were lauded as leaders of the American Revolution.