I came across this thread and it got me thinking about a list tailored to understand the US and its history. I've also been reading [i]Lies MY Teacher Told me[/i] and, while I don't know its accuracy, it introduced me to the concept of history not being a "fact" but a "discussion" that changes as new evidence for different theories pops up. I'm new to history in general, so I've decided that it would be helpful to get a general understanding of US and world history.

That being said, I would like to compile a list of 12 books similar to the last thread that cover US history. Given that the United States is a (relatively) new country, if a book is about the West in general or the pre-US West that you feel applies, I'm all ears.

Please post your suggestions and why you like the book. Thank you!