🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Russell Shorto
Russell Shorto is a published author. He is known for writing many books, over forty in total. He has written books such as Revolution Song, which served as a new narrative of the American Revolution. The New York Times called it a remarkable achievement. The Chicago Tribune described it as an ‘engaging piece of historical detective work and narrative craft’. He is also known for writing The Island at the Center of the World, which proved to be a national and international bookseller that was written about the Dutch founding of New York. He has written eight books of narrative historical books. One of his newer books to come out is the 2025 book Taking Manhattan. Shorto has proven to be a senior scholar at the New Netherland Institute.
All Book Series by Russell Shorto
Cinderella/Cinderella: The Untold Story
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 1990
How To Fly The Space Shuttle
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1992
Thomas Jefferson and the American Ideal
Series opener · book 1 of 22 · published 1988
Tecumseh and the Dream of an American Indian Nation
Book 5 of 22 · published 1989
Careers for Animal Lovers
Book 13 of 22 · published 1992 Co-authored · Edward Keating
Saints and Madmen: How Pioneering Psychiatrists Are Creating a New Science of the Soul
Book 16 of 22 · published 1999
The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America
Book 17 of 22 · published 2004
Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason
Book 18 of 22 · published 2008
Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City
Book 19 of 22 · published 2013
Revolution Song: The Story of America's Founding in Six Remarkable Lives
Book 20 of 22 · published 2018
Andrew Johnson: Rebuilding the Union
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1990 Anthology · Cathy East Dubowski
Robert E. Lee and the Rise of the South
Book 2 of 5 · published 1991 Anthology · Cathy East Dubowski
Clara Barton: Healing the Wounds
Book 3 of 5 · published 1991 Anthology · Cathy East Dubowski
Abraham Lincoln: To Preserve the Union
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 1991
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Russell Shorto?
Russell Shorto is a published author. He is known for writing many books, over forty in total. He has written books such as Revolution Song, which served as a new narrative of the American Revolution.
Which Russell Shorto series should I start with?
The best place to start is the History of the Civil War series, the earliest of Russell Shorto's multi-book series: it opens with Andrew Johnson: Rebuilding the Union (1990) and runs to 5 books across 1990–1991, ending with Abraham Lincoln: To Preserve the Union (1991).
How many books has Russell Shorto written?
Russell Shorto has 30 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1988 and 2025. 6 of them belong to 2 named series — the largest being the History of the Civil War series with 5 books — and 24 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Russell Shorto's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Russell Shorto's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are History of the Civil War (1990–1991, 5 books) and Russell Shorto Religion (1997, 1 book).
How are Russell Shorto's books organised into series?
This guide splits Russell Shorto's 30 books into 2 named series and 24 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: History of the Civil War (5 books, 1990–1991); Russell Shorto Religion (1 book, 1997).