Best Selling Books by Kenneth C. Davis

“Highly informative and entertaining…propels the reader light years beyond dull textbooks and Gone with the Wind.” —San Francisco Chronicle It has been 150 years since the opening salvo of America’s War Between the States. New York Times bestselling author Ken Davis tells us everything we never knew about our nation’s bloodiest conflict in Don’t Know Much About ® the Civil War—another fascinating and fun installment in his acclaimed series.

Who really discovered America? What was "the shot heard ''round the world"? Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: Did he or didn''t he? From the arrival of Columbus through the bizarre election of 2000 and beyond, Davis carries readers on a rollicking ride through more than 500 years of American history. In this updated edition of the classic anti-textbook, he debunks, recounts, and serves up the real story behind the myths and fallacies of American history.

Presents, in question and answer format, a history of the United States from the exploration of Christopher Columbus to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

A latest edition to a popular series is a treasury of general knowledge on everything from famous personalities to historical myths, in a volume that is presented in the author''s irreverent question-and-answer style. Simultaneous.

Which president broke the law to prevent enslaved people from being freed? Who said, "When the president does it,that means it''s not illegal"? Why does America have a president? From the heated debates among the framers of the Constitution in 1787 over an "elected king," to the creation of the presidency, and on through rich profiles of each man who has held the office, New York Times bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis takes readers on a guided tour of American history. Examining each chief executive, from the low lights to the bright lights, the memorable to the forgettable and the forgotten, Davis tells all the stories, offering rich anecdotes about real people. He also charts the history of the presidency itself, debunking myths and grading the presidents from A+ to F. For history buffs and history-phobes alike, this entertaining book may change your understanding of the highest office in the land throughout more than two hundred years of history.

From the bestselling author of the Don’t Know Much About® books comes a dramatic account of the origins of democracy, the history of authoritarianism, and the reigns of five of history''s deadliest dictators. A Washington Post Best Book of the Year!A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year! A YALSA 2021 Nonfiction Award Nominee! What makes a country fall to a dictator? How do authoritarian leaders—strongmen—capable of killing millions acquire their power? How are they able to defeat the ideal of democracy? And what can we do to make sure it doesn’t happen again? By profiling five of the most notoriously ruthless dictators in history—Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Saddam Hussein—Kenneth C. Davis seeks to answer these questions, examining the forces in these strongmen’s personal lives and historical periods that shaped the leaders they’d become. Meticulously researched and complete with photographs, Strongman provides insight into the lives of five leaders who callously transformed the world and serves as an invaluable resource in an era when democracy itself seems in peril. * "A fascinating, highly readable portrayal of infamous men that provides urgent lessons for democracy now." —Publishers Weekly, starred review "Strongman is a book that is both deeply researched and deeply felt, both an alarming warning and a galvanizing call to action, both daunting and necessary to read and discuss." —Cynthia Levinson, author of Fault Lines in the Constitution

Which president was also a movie star? What happened five days after the Union won the Civil War? What food did Americans think was poisonous until Thomas Jefferson ate some? Hail to the chief! Here''s your chance to learn all about the presidents'' important political achievements, their nicknames, hobbies -- even what kind of foods they ate. Best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis packs fun facts and cool quotes into his signature question-and-answer format. Who knows? After you learn so much about the presidents, maybe you will want to run for office someday, too!

An “entertaining [and] eminently readable” exploration of our home planet from the New York Times–bestselling author of Don’t Know Much About History(Publishers Weekly). Geography is much more than naming countries on a map or memorizing state capitals. It’s the hub from which other disciplines radiate: meteorology, ecology, geology, oceanography, demographics, cartography, agricultural studies, economics, and political science. Yet many of us don’t know much about it. This fun and fascinating guide can change that! In addition to presenting plenty of geographical trivia to impress your friends, Kenneth C. Davis explores 21st-century topics of global concern, including the role of the Internet and technology in transforming the lives of people around the world, how so-called developing nations develop, sustainability, and debates over climate change and evolutionary science. This completely revised and updated version of Don''t Know Much About Geography is an illuminating grand tour of planet Earth. “Reading [Kenneth C. Davis] is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had.” —People A School Library Journal “Must-Read”

Multi-million-copy bestselling historian Kenneth C. Davis sets his sights on war stories in The Hidden History of America at War. In prose that will remind you of "the best teacher you ever had" (People Magazine), Davis brings to life six emblematic battles, revealing untold tales that span our nation''s history, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq. Along the way, he illuminates why we go to war, who fights, the grunt''s-eye view of combat, and how these conflicts reshaped our military and national identity. From the Battle of Yorktown (1781), where a fledgling America learned hard lessons about what kind of military it would need to survive, to Fallujah (2004), which epitomized the dawn of the privatization of war, Hidden History of America at War takes readers inside the battlefield, introducing them to key characters and events that will shatter myths, misconceptions, and romanticism, replacing them with rich insight.

Davis has brought his groundbreaking work up to the present, including the history of an "Era of Broken Trust," from the end of the Clinton administration through the recent Great Recession. This additional material covers the horrific events of 9/11 andthe rise of conspiracy theorists, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees, the global financial meltdown, the election of Barack Obama, and the national controversy of same-sex marriage.

A New York Times bestseller - More than 1.6 Million Copies Sold! "Reading Davis is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had!" --People magazine From the arrival of Columbus through the historic election of Barack Obama and beyond, Kenneth C. Davis carries readers on a rollicking ride through more than five hundred years of American history. In this revised, expanded, and updated edition of the classic anti-textbook, he debunks, recounts, and serves up the real story behind the myths and fallacies of American history. --Dallas News

"An entertaining guide to some of the best short novels of all time looks at works from the eighteenth century to the present day, spanning multiple genres, cultures, and countries"--

In this fascinating installment of the New York Times bestselling Don’t Know Much About® series, Kenneth C. Davis explores the great myths of the world and their implications for art, science, religion and culture throughout history. What is an Egyptian pyramid doing on the U. S. dollar bill? • Did a pharaoh inspire Moses to worship one God? • What’s a Canaanite demoness doing at a rock concert? Since the beginning of time, people have been insatiably curious. They’ve asked questions about where we come from, why the stars shine and the seasons change, and what constitutes evil. The imaginative answers crafted by our ancestors have served as religion, science, philosophy, and popular literature. In an engaging and delightfully irreverent question-and-answer style, Davis tackles the epic of Gilgamesh; Achilles and the Trojan War; Stonehenge and the Druids; Odin, Thor, and the entire Norse pantheon; Native American myths, and much more, including the dramatic life and times of the man who would be Buddha. From Mount Olympus to Machu Picchu, here is an insightful, lively look at the greatest stories ever told.

Relates historical events that significantly impacted the development of the United States in the years prior to Washington''s inauguration, considering such subjects as the nation''s real first pilgrims and the lesser-known aspects of the first Thanksgiving.

A New York Times bestseller · More than 1.7 Million Copies Sold! “Reading Davis is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had!” —People magazine From the arrival of Columbus through the historic election of Barack Obama and beyond, Kenneth C. Davis carries readers on a rollicking ride through more than five hundred years of American history. In this 30th anniversary edition of the classic anti-textbook—which includes a new preface by Davis—he debunks, recounts, and serves up the real story behind the myths and fallacies of American history.

A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Month, More Deadly Than War from New York Times bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis explores the hidden history of the Spanish influenza pandemic during World War I. 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the worst disease outbreak in modern times: the Spanish flu, a story even more relevant today. This dramatic narrative, told through the stories and voices of the people caught in the deadly maelstrom, explores how this vast, global epidemic was intertwined with the horrors of World War I—and how it could happen again. Complete with photographs, period documents, modern research, and firsthand reports by medical professionals and survivors, More Deadly Than War provides captivating insight into a catastrophe that transformed America in the early twentieth century. A Junior Library Guild Selection! “An important history—and an important reminder that we could very well face such a threat again.”—Deborah Blum, New York Times bestselling author of The Poison Guide: One Chemist’s Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century “In an age of Ebola and Zika, this vivid account is a cautionary tale that will have you rushing to wash your hands for protection.”—Karen Blumenthal, award-winning author of Jane Against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights

Learn about the life of the great civil rights leader.

If Earth is round, why don''t people on the other side of the world fall off? (see page 26) Is Mars red because it''s embarrassed? (see page 49) If black holes are invisible, how do we know they''re there? (see page 86) /h3 Using the popular style that has won millions of readers, best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis blasts off for the stars! With an entertaining question-and-answer format, amusing anecdotes, and fact-filled sidebars, he sets his sights on the mysteries of space. Humorous illustrations, along with NASA photographs, add fun and excitement to this fascinating and comprehensive book. Davis takes you back to the time when the Babylonians first charted the stars -- over three thousand years ago! You''ll uncover amazing facts about the planets and stars, read how people were once convinced that Earth was the center of the universe, and discover how the experience of moonwalking astronauts may someday lead us to become pioneers on other planets. This book is the perfect companion to Don''t Know Much About® The Universe -- and all the other books in the New York Times best-selling Don''t Know Much About® series.

Forty-four presidents One White House And hundreds of grand facts about our country’s leaders Which president was also a movie star? (see page 56) What happened five days after the Union won the Civil War? (see page 28) What food did Americans think was poisonous until Thomas Jefferson ate some? (see page 12) Hail to the chief! Here’s your chance to learn all about the presidents’ important political achievements, their nicknames, hobbies—even what kind of foods they ate. Bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis packs fun facts and cool quotes into his signature question-and-answer format. Who knows? After you learn so much about the presidents, maybe you will want to run for office someday, too!

In the dramatic period from 1800 through 1850, the United States went from a tiny newborn nation on the Atlantic seaboard to a near-empire that spanned the continent. But America''s path to nationhood was vastly more complex than the tidily packaged national myth of a destiny made manifest by visionary political leaders and fearless pioneers. In A Nation Rising, bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis offers fascinating, intertwining stories about historical episodes whose great issues—ambition, power, territorial expansion, slavery, intolerance, civil rights, freedom of the press—reverberate to this day, including: Aaron Burr''s 1807 trial, culminating in one of our nation''s first media circuses The 1813 Indian uprising and ensuing massacre, exposing the powerful conflicts at the heart of America''s expansion The mutiny aboard the slave ship Creole, illustrating how the institution of slavery both destroyed lives and warped our nation''s founding The bloody "Bible Riots" in Philadelphia, erupting in an early episode of deadly anti-immigrant sentiment Eye-opening history and riveting storytelling, A Nation Rising is a powerful reminder of the ways in which our past continues to shape our present.

With fascinating anecdotes about the world''s most unusual places, the author answers intriguing questions and shows readers the longest river, coldest desert, tallest waterfall, and many more features about the Earth. Illustrations.

Discover amazing facts about planet Earth.

Charts the course of each U.S. president''s term, presenting biographical information, administration milestones, and an analysis of each leader''s legacy as commander-in-chief.

"From ancient times to the present day, The World in Books offers a wide-ranging historical education through pleasure reading-and a fantastic introduction to some of the most thought-provoking, profound, and interesting nonfiction works of all time. From Sun Tzu''s The Art of War to bell hooks''s All About Love, as well as such recent classics as Barbara Ehrenreich''s Nickel and Dimed and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie''s We Should All Be Feminists, Davis''s guide suggests a world of nonfiction books and explains just why they''re so historically meaningful and culturally relevant today"--

“Reading [Davis] is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had.”— People For years, Kenneth C. Davis has enlightened and enthralled us, opening our minds and tickling our fancies with his wonderfully irreverent, fun, and factual Don''t Know Much About® series. He has carried readers on wild and edifying rides through history, mythology, geography, the Bible, the Civil War, even across the universe. Now, following on the heels of his triumphant New York Times bestseller Don''t Know Much About® Anything, comes Don''t Know Much About® Anything Else, a one-stop potpourri of intriguing information. Chock-full of delightful historical snippets and fascinating people, remarkable milestones and boneheaded blunders, and eye-opening, brain-boggling facts about simply anything and everything in the world, here is the ideal companion for those long car rides, plane flights, quality family hours, or relaxing downtime.

Why did the Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh search for eternal youth? (see page 21) What is the Chinese recipe for creating the universe? (see page 67) How did the Blackfoot maiden Feather Woman turn the world upside down? (see page 122) Whether it''s the adventures of Greek gods and goddesses or Norse trickster tales, we all love to hear a good story. Best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis gives readers a taste of these enchanting myths and the diverse people who tell them. In his trademark question-and-answer style peppered with entertaining sidebars and quotes, he also shows how almost every civilization''s mythology shares common themes. Some stories celebrate the creation of the earth and the arrival of the first humans; others mourn a massive flood of destruction. Our wide world is linked together by the stories we tell. A wealth of photographs and art reproductions, along with clever black-and-white illustrations by Sergio Ruzzier, helps convey the vitality of these amazing myths.

From Homer to Harry Potter, from Chaucer to Charlotte''s Web, acompelling book of quizzes on history''s most influential literary worksand writers Did a whale named "Mocha Dick" inspire Melville''s masterpiece? Who was the first poet to speak at a presidential inauguration? Which French-speaking high school football star shook up the literary world? Do you freeze when someone mentions Faulkner? When the conversation turns to the Odyssey, do you want to take a hike? Have no fear. For years, Kenneth C. Davis''s New York Times bestselling Don''t Know Much About® books have enlightened and enthralled us with a winning blend of fascinating facts and wonderfully irreverent fun. Now he sets his sights on our literary IQ in Don''t Know Much About® Literature. With this rich treasure trove of knowledge and intriguing information about the world''s great books and authors, Kenneth Davis and his daughter, Jenny, demystify Dracula, capture Kafka, and help you brush up on your Brontë in the inimitable and endlessly entertaining Don''t Know Much About® style.

Biography of the civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, well-known for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.

Thirteen stripes- Fifty stars- And hundreds of AMAZING facts about the U.S.A.! Can you guess the names of the ten states below? 1. I have the highest waterfalls in North America. 2. I am the smallest state. 3. I am the largest state. 4. I have produced the most presidents of the United States. 5. I was the first to become a state. 6. I was the last to become a state. 7. I have the "Gateway to America." 8. I have the most kids under age ten. 9. I have the most tornadoes. 10. I am home to America''s most popular vacation spot. See page 6 for answers.

An examination of American slavery through the true stories of five enslaved people who were considered the property of some of our best-known presidents.

Everything you need to know about the Good Book but never learned.

Do you feel totally in the dark when it comes to the basic facts about the universe? Ken Davis steps into that void with a lively guide to the discoveries, theories, & real people who have shed light on the mysteries & wonders of the cosmos. With the engaging question-&-answer format that has appealed to the millions of readers of his best-selling Don''t Know Much About” series, you''ll be taking off on an exciting armchair exploration of the solar system, the Milky Way, & beyond! This handy reference book contains a slew of good information & a host of age-old questions, intelligently arranged & amusingly addressed. Reading him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher.” Illustrations.