10 Books That Changed American History

What causes turning points in history? The flow of history often is shaped by the actions of people in positions of power such as government leaders.

Is it possible, however, that some people, seemingly with little power or in fluence, can shape a nation's future? Can something as humble as a book or pamphlet lead to changes in direction for a country and its people? My study of the past convinces me that certain books have indeed helped cause identifiable turning points in American history.

Over the years, I have compiled an extensive list of those influential books, from which I have chosen the 10 most important titles. All had either long-term effects on public opinion or behavior, or they informed the thinking and actions of people in positions of authority.

My list is completely subjective, but the books on it have one or more of the following characteristics: All were authored and published in Colonial America or the United States. They were not necessarily best-sellers nor do they all qualify as great literature. Nevertheless, each has a powerful, sometimes volatile, message imbedded in its words. The list includes both fiction and non-fiction books.

The latest titles on my list appeared nearly 50 years ago, allowing the test of time to measure their significance.

My top 10 are:

(1) Common Sense (1776) by Thomas Paine.

In straightforward but powerful language, this pamphlet called for American independence from Great Britain. With half a million copies in circulation, it helped sway many undecided Colonists to join the Patriot cause.

(2) The Federalist (1787) by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

These 85 essays played a crucial role in influencing state officials, especially in Virginia, to abandon the ineffective Articles of Confederation and adopt the U.S. Constitution, a system of government that has survived for more than two centuries.

(3) The Eclectic Reader (1836) by William Holmes McGuffey.

Professor of moral philosophy at the University of Virginia, McGuffey was deeply interested in education and teaching. He was particularly concerned with the poor quality and inconsistency of textbooks used in American schools. For more than a century, his Readers served as the only standardized literature text in the country, and one that had a uniquely American perspective.

(4) Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Considered by many scholars as the most influential book in American history, this compelling story about a slave family stirred the Northern public to sympathize with the enslaved. An overnight best-seller, the novel was translated into 20 languages, but was banned from distribution in the South. Stowe's work is often cited as a factor in dividing the nation and eventually leading to the Civil War.

(5) The Influence of Sea Power on History (1890) by Alfred Thayer Mahan.

This little-known book by the president of the Naval War College influenced the worldwide buildup of naval forces prior to World War I. Mahan argued that mighty nations have mighty navies and far-flung strategic outposts.

(6) The Jungle (1906) by Upton Sinclair.

The novel describes in lurid detail the lives of immigrants working in filthy conditions in the Chicago stockyards and meat packing factories. It helped lead to congressional investigations and the passage of the Meat Inspection Act, the first significant consumer protection legislation.

(7) Invisible Man (1953) by Ralph Ellison.

Ellison's story of an educated black man describes the contrast between Northern and Southern racism. This groundbreaking novel won the National Book Award and is often regarded as the first widely circulated book to tackle head-on the issue of race relations in post World War II America.

(8) Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson.

Carson's bestseller described in elegant prose the devastating effects of chemicals on the natural world. The book led to unprecedented public awareness of the environment and man's impact on it. Carson has been called the Mother of the Environmental Movement.

(9) The Feminine Mystique (1963) by Betty Friedan.

Reading this book was an epiphany for many women who felt trapped as housewives. Friedan argued that women are as capable as men to do any kind of work or pursue any career. The book was a bestseller among women and helped inspire a generation of women to change the status quo.

(10) The Conscience of a Conservative (1963) by Barry Goldwater (and ghost written by L. Brent Bozell Jr.).

For many Americans, this book also was an epiphany. Published the year before he ran for the presidency, the Arizonan's book made a strong case for embracing limited government, tight fiscal policies, and a less idealistic foreign policy. It helped push the Republican Party to the right and inspired large numbers of young conservatives, many of whom eventually entered politics. Ronald Reagan cited it as one of the most influential books he ever read. Some scholars argue that it was the opening salvo in the dismantling of Roosevelt's New Deal government.

That is my list as of today, but if I were to write this column next week, the entries would probably change.

My "runner up" list is long, and I find myself frequently moving books in and out of my top 10.

What books would you choose? With a wide variety of media now capable of changing the course of history, will books continue to have the influence they have had in the past? Somehow I think they will.

As James Russell Lowell wrote more than a century ago: "Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." Call me old-fashioned, but I just don't think of television, computers, and other forms of electronic information delivery as being constant friends, wise counselors, or patient teachers.

Charles F. Bryan Jr. is president and CEO emeritus of the Virginia Historical Society and is co-partner with Daniel P. Jordan of Bryan & Jordan Consulting LLC. Contact him at cbryan69@comcast.net.