At heart, I’m a historian.
My love of books, of words, of learning, is lifelong and prompted me to create For the Love of History. Moreover, current and historical events, and learning inspire me. Thus, as a former American history teacher and lifelong learner, I try to pass that love forward.
In approaching the study and teaching of history, context, open-mindedness, critical thinking, and most importantly, my faith in God’s guidance and wisdom have been and remain my core values.
History is inspiring!
One of the most inspiring things about learning and teaching history is the stories. Stories that speak to us from across the ages.
History is inspiring in other ways, as well. First, it gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who lived, loved, struggled, learned, and died long before we were born. Indeed, history tells the stories of ordinary people, extraordinary events, turbulent times, ground-breaking discoveries, life-changing inventions, and remarkable creations. In addition, those stories impart wisdom, often hard-won, that we learn and grow from.
History is the story of humanity.
Humanity’s story is just that, the story of human beings across the centuries. Human beings are capable of both good and evil. Exploring it reveals our evolution. Not just as human beings, but also as citizens and a nation.
Therefore, I firmly believe that to fully understand history, we have to be willing to explore both the good and the bad it contains. We cannot exclude one to focus on just the other because it’s more palatable or because it reinforces our own prejudices. We have to remain open to the whole story it reveals.
More importantly, we have to be willing to receive the knowledge those stories impart and to allow that knowledge to guide us down new paths of discovery and to inform any conclusions we draw.
When it comes to the history of our country, this is most vital. For if we don’t learn from the past, we are certainly doomed to repeat it.
Teaching history is a privilege and a responsibility.
I’m grateful to all my former students. They continually motivated me to dig deeper and push harder on their behalf. I learned from them as we journeyed together through the past. Along with my daughters and all my nieces and nephews, they are my greatest inspiration. The articles I write are dedicated to them. For they are the future.
To that end, my greatest desire is that I dutifully fulfill my responsibility to impart the lessons history provides and the wisdom it offers with humility, gratitude, temperance, and most of all with God at the forefront.
Historical writers and authors recommended by JN Fenwick
Below, I’ve added a list of some of my favorite authors and their works. Books that have inspired and enlightened me. At times, they’ve caused me to take a step back to reassess my understanding and to question the conclusions I’ve drawn. For which I’m grateful. After all, isn’t that what knowledge and wisdom are? An opportunity to grow. One that is earned and that requires open-mindedness, a desire to seek truth, and a willingness to do the work necessary to find it.
I credit the wonderful teachers, professors, historians, and gifted historical authors who have influenced my learning and love of history.
Many of these books were included in my classroom library. They’re not listed in any particular order; however, they’re all highly recommended. I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve read many of them more than once and that each time I’ve learned something new. I pray that never stops!
SOME OF MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL WRITERS AND AUTHORS
Shelby Foote, The Civil War: A Narrative (In my classroom library.)
William J. Bennett, America: the Last Best Hope (In my classroom library.)
Victor Davis Hanson, The Dying Citizen (One of many of his works I’ve enjoyed.)
James D. Best, Tempest at Dawn (In my classroom library.)
David McCullough, John Adams, and 1776 (You can’t go wrong with any of his books.)
Bill O’Reilly, Killing Lincoln (Really, any of the books in the Killing series are worth reading.)
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals (Worth reading even if you have seen the movie.)
Erik Larson, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania (Brought America into WWI.)
Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried (Compelling, first-hand account of the Vietnam War.)
Barbara W. Tuchman, The Guns of August (In my classroom library.)
Erik Larson, Isaac’s Storm (Story of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, compelling read.)
James Bradley and Ron Powers, Flags of Our Fathers (Epic Look at the Greatest Generation.)
Joseph J. Ellis, Founding Brothers (In my classroom library.)
Doris Kearns Goodwin, The Bully Pulpit (Beautifully captures the turmoil of the Progressive Era.)
Larry Schweikart, A Patriot’s History of the United States (In my classroom library.)
Dee Brown, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (In my classroom library.)
David W. Blight, A Slave No More (First-hand account of two men moving from slavery to freedom.)
Eric Foner, The Fiery Trial (Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation. Excellent read.)
Edwin C. Bearss, Fields of Honor (A rich look at some of the Civil War’s pivotal battles.)
Michael Kammen, Origins of the American Constitution (In my classroom library.)
For the Love of History articles by JN Fenwick
The importance of studying history:
- HISTORY: THE STORY OF HUMANITY
- HISTORY, WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
- REWRITING HISTORY: A DANGEROUS PURSUIT
- THE LOST ART OF CRITICAL THINKING
- HOW CAN THEY DEFEND WHAT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND?
- THE MISEDUCATION OF AMERICA’S CHILDREN
- TO OUR OWN DETRIMENT
America’s beginning:
- IN THEIR OWN WORDS: THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND THE BIBLE
- GOVERNMENT OF, BY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE
- ONE NATION UNDER GOD
- A MORE PERFECT UNION
Current events:
- AMERICAN DREAM. AMERICA, JUST A DREAM.
- BETWEEN FREEDOM AND TYRANNY
- OUR SHARED EQUALITY
- EQUAL TREATMENT NOT EQUAL THINGS
- THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Honoring those who’ve gone before:
Inspired by my love of reading and the past:
- OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE
- BY THE DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT
- THE CAGED BIRD STILL SINGS
- THE CLOCKS WERE STRIKING 13
- OH, THE LESSONS PIGS TAUGHT US!
Disclaimer: Although the articles I write are the result of research and based on the wealth of historical documentation available, my interpretation of them and my opinions are just that, my own. They have been formed across decades of studying and teaching history and civics, and from participation in our system of self-government.
I’ve done my best to credit the many historians, scholars, experts, authors, and internet sources included in my writings. Some of those are now part of the public domain, while others are the works of individuals I greatly admire.
© 2026 | All rights reserved.
JN Fenwick is a Florida-based former American history teacher and writer. She is the author/editor of In the Eye of the Storm.
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