US History on DVD?

[Soriak]

Are there any good DVDs about US History? Lately I've realized that I don't know nearly as much about it as I'd like to - we only learned the basics here. I picked up a PBS Special "The Civil War" by Ken Burns, but it's 5 DVDs about the civil war only - preferably I'd look for something that goes into less detail and shows history from early colonialization to modern times.

Yeah, I could read a book - heck even Wikipedia has good articles... but DVDs are more fun and after watching the history channel, I'm really starting to appreciate visuals to go along with history.

I've found some DVDs on specific events, but that's not very practical. To quote Sam from The West Wing: "Do we have some sort of condensed... Reader's Digest index... of, well... all human knowledge?"

[Phoenix]

Wikipedia is about the best source of information on the planet, but as far as DVDs go, you might want to check out what the history channel has. They have truck loads of DVDs that you can buy that cover all aspects of US history.

[Nikkohung You]

Wikipedia is the best place to start. I would suggest following the links under the title "Sources" for whatever you are teaching yourself about.

[Kiroy]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Wikipedia is about the best source of information on the planet, but as far as DVDs go, you might want to check out what the history channel has. They have truck loads of DVDs that you can buy that cover all aspects of US history.

It would probably be cheaper going to college - there shit is way overpriced.

[Kevincheese]

Or just buy a textbook?

[McCheese]

Just watch The History Channel religiously. It's a great channel to keep on in the background while you're doing other things. Plus it's free!

Sure, you could buy their shows on DVD, but it's kind of pointless since they tend to replay things several times over the course of the week.

The History Channel is my go-to channel when there is nothing else on (i.e anytime other than Monday and Wednesdays at 9).

If you really want to buy a DVD, The History Channel did a great series on the American Revolutionary War that I think would be worth buying. I saw a few episodes of it and it was fantastic, I might actually be asking for that as a Christmas gift this year.

[Bralkan]

Originally Posted by Kevincheese

Or just buy a textbook?

Do what he said. Wikipedia is hearsay. And visuals are nice, but...most of it isn't "real" visuals and in many ways are misleading / distracting.

[AngryGerbil]

Originally Posted by Kevincheese

Or just buy a textbook?

Yeah. I still have my American history textbook from college floating around here somewhere and it is probably the best overall full history of the US I've personally seen. There are a ton of books that cover in fanatical detail one aspect and/or period of American hsitory, but only textbooks seem to cover it all at once. Of course textbooks are far more concise, but they get the job done.

As far as DVDs go, I dunno man. I've been a fairly regular History Channel watcher for a good number of years and cannot recall any show they did that covers all of American history. The closest thing I can think of is the one about the 20th century hosted by Peter Jennings before he died called "America's Century" (I think), it was series of probably 10ish episodes. But as you might guess, it only covers 1900 and beyond, nothing before. Regardless it's still a good show, but yeah, it's limited.

I can't recall ever seeing a show on History Channel that covers all of American history. And it seems to me that if the DVD you are looking for exists, the History Channel probably produced it. Although, History Channel probably HAS done a series on each of the major periods (read: wars) of American History, including obscure shit most people don't know much about like maybe the war of 1812. So you could just buy a bunch of shit from History Channel and go that way.

But really, go with books. If you are willing to read at least one good book on each major peiod in our history, you'll learn alot more than some DVD, or even an all-inclusive textbook. Specifically, I learn more about the then-current economics, morality, and local politics than I ever would from a History Channel show. And it's really incredible how much influence some of these "smaller" issues had on the "big" issues. It gives you insight into current trends.

I'm rambling. Conclusion: Fuck DVD's, read some books.