OT: About books

[Marc]

Bon dia!

Searching for a little advice here:

• My curiosity about American Civil War has grown in these past months and I'm planning to buy a book in Amazon about the matter. I'm looking for a general and neutral picture of the conflict, not a single battle. I'm sure some of you can give me a good suggestions about a good title.
  
• Recently I've searched in Amazon for some of the fictional books recommended in this forum about World War III (not much publications in Spain about the matter). Sadly, some interesting titles are only available as "used". I have no problem about buying used/old books (we have a great specialized market in Barcelona every sunday). But one thing is seeing and touching the product and another very different is to buy it online. How about their Anyone has any experience about buying used books through Amazon Are they in good conditions

Thanks in advance

[kato13]

Bon dia!

Searching for a little advice here:

• My curiosity about American Civil War has grown in these past months and I'm planning to buy a book in Amazon about the matter. I'm looking for a general and neutral picture of the conflict, not a single battle. I'm sure some of you can give me a good suggestions about a good title.
  
• Recently I've searched in Amazon for some of the fictional books recommended in this forum about World War III (not much publications in Spain about the matter). Sadly, some interesting titles are only available as "used". I have no problem about buying used/old books (we have a great specialized market in Barcelona every sunday). But one thing is seeing and touching the product and another very different is to buy it online. How about their Anyone has any experience about buying used books through Amazon Are they in good conditions

Thanks in advance

Answering in reverse.

As long as the book seller has a good rating I would not have problem buying used. I have purchased about 15 books used and have never had an issue with quality.

Regarding the Civil War. I have to be honest and say that for an unbiased overview I feel the best source is the Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War". Rarely do I feel that video can surpass the written word, but here Mr. Burns succeeds.

[Targan]

Regarding the Civil War. I have to be honest and say that for an unbiased overview I feel the best source is the Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War". Rarely do I feel that video can surpass the written word, but here Mr. Burns succeeds.

I've always wanted to learn more about the 'War of Northern Aggression' too. Thanks for the tip, I'm going to try and track that doco down.

[kato13]

It is 11 hours IIRC. It is one of the few things where I will drop everything to watch it.

*** removed**** here is the introduction


https://www.youtube.com/watchv=FN2huQB-DmE found another link to the first ~4 min. This one is from Ken himself so it should stay up.

[Littlearmies]

As a bit of an ACW nut I would recommend the trilogy by Shelby Foote (who charmingly featured in Ken Burns' series)

The Civil War, A Narrative: Fort Sumter to Perryville
The Civil War, A Narrative: Fredericksburg to Meridian
The Civil War, A Narrative: Red River to Appomatox

While these are three chunky books, they are beautifully written and will definately whet your interest. I can pretty much guarantee you will be asking about detailed treatments of individual campaigns in a few months after having read these and watched the TV series.

Malcolm

[Caradhras]

I can only answer re the buying of used books from Amazon (or rather from independant booksellers via Amazon) - I have bought a dozen or so and the quality has always been as described.

[Adm.Lee]

Battle cry of Freedom by McPherson was a great one-volume book of the ACW.

[Raellus]

Battle cry of Freedom by McPherson was a great one-volume book of the ACW.

I second this recommendation. Battle Cry of Freedom is widely considered to be the best single volume history of the American Civil War available to the layman. It's a little dry in places but it's still top notch.

Shelby Foote's three volume narrative history of the war is really good but quite long.

[pmulcahy11b]

I can only answer re the buying of used books from Amazon (or rather from independant booksellers via Amazon) - I have bought a dozen or so and the quality has always been as described.

I make a point of buying myself at least one book from Amazon a month. The used books I've gotten there have almost always been in better condition than the stated quality.

[Raellus]

I make a point of buying myself at least one book from Amazon a month. The used books I've gotten there have almost always been in better condition than the stated quality.

Lucky! I wish I could by a book a month from Amazon.

My experience buying used books through Amazon Marketplace sellers has been mostly good. However, I did just buy two books described as "Like New" that came in decidedly worse condition than advertized.

[jester]

I've always wanted to learn more about the 'War of Northern Aggression' too. Thanks for the tip, I'm going to try and track that doco down.

Sir, I think you are mistaken. You mean the war of the Rebellion.

[Targan]

Sir, I think you are mistaken. You mean the war of the Rebellion.

*Chuckles* I thought my comment might fire up the Yankees a bit

[natehale1971]

Nope... the war of northern aggression is quite accurate. the majority of the northern citizens (and the supreme court for that matter) saw the succession of the southern states as just. since member states of a republic have the right to leave if they decide it is in their best interest to leave... Because the moment you are not able to leave peacefully through succession... You cease being a republic and become an empire.

I'm from North Carolina. The last state to join the confederate states.. succession was something us North Carolinians did NOT favor, right up until Linclon ordered the North Carolina Militia to raise three regiments and ordered them to deploy into South Carolina to 'put down the rebellion'... In fact Zebulon Vance, our US Senator at the time was travelling through the state holding rally's to support remaining in the Union, right up until he got the telegram ordering the militia to mobilize and go into SC. At the same rally, he went from saying that NC will stay in the Union no matter what... To saying, it's time to succeed and here is why.

The states had the right to succeed, and this is why NONE of the leaders of the CSA had been tried for treason. Especially when it would have gone to the Supreme Court who would have classifed the 'Civil War' as a war of aggression against a seperate sovereign state and that the Union would have had to withdraw and pay repreations to the south thanks to Sherman's March through the south....

Besides a Republic only exists when the union that creates it is voluntary, and when that union becomes something that can be enforced, it becomes an Empire. That was one of the under current stories in Star Wars if you look hard enough.

[pmulcahy11b]

Nope... the war of northern aggression is quite accurate. the majority of the northern citizens (and the supreme court for that matter) saw the succession of the southern states as just. since member states of a republic have the right to leave if they decide it is in their best interest to leave...

USED to be legal -- the right of secession was, in fact, written into the US Constitution. A later amendment (after the Civil War) negated that right.

The Civil War is essentially a purely historical issue for me, especially since my BA is in History with a concentration in Military History. I'm a military brat with a Croatian mother and a biological father whose family is from Massachusetts, and a stepmonster from Arkansas. I'm basically a typical mutt American.

[Targan]

My state has come close to trying to secede from the Commonwealth of Australia a couple of times but there is no way the rest of the country would have let it happen - Western Australia's mineral wealth and other resources are just too valuable to be let go.