The Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era | 
pickI've definitely nerded out on the Civil War since a kid & am happy to have set aside the time to read McPherson's seminal tome on the subject. Yes, the book is dense but his writing flows so elegantly and he tells events in a narrative-like format, which contributes highly to its readability. This book isn't just battles either! There is plenty on the politics and political posturing of both the Confederacy and the Lincoln admin. Awesome read!
pickI‘ve not finished this yet (probably won‘t for several months. It‘s HUGE and very dense) but I‘m really enjoying it. It‘s incredibly interesting and very well written. Historians are pretty much unanimous in their opinion that this is the best 1 volume account of the Civil War and I can see why. Read this, and you‘ll immediately know more about the war than 99% of people. Just be prepared for the long haul!
The view from my bedroom window. A good morning to stay in and see who ended up winning The Civil War. (Go North!)
Sometimes you are reading about the Civil War and you suddenly become very interested in the minor battle at Prairie Grove because it happens to be the anniversary of the battle on the day you read that chapter.
