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George Washington served as an American political leader, military general and one of the founding fathers. He’s known as a patriot for leading forces to victory in America’s war for independence. As one of the most pivotal figures in American history, his leadership and character have been studied over generations.
What are the Best George Washington Books to read?
If you’ve ever been interested in the life of George Washington and you would like to read more about his life and story, you should consider a number of top books that are available about his life. With someone as well known as George Washington it can be difficult to narrow down the right types of books that you should pick up.
Luckily there have been a number of recent works about George Washington that you can check out on you’re e reader, phone or tablet. They’re all readily available on Amazon and you can pick them up in paper format or read them online.
Best Books on George Washington: Our Top 19 Picks
Here is our definitive guide of some of the best books on George Washington for your own curiosity and research:
1. George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution
This book by Ron Chernow is a complete biography of George Washington. The book carries a portrait of George Washington as a boy through his exports in the French and Indian war as well as his time with the Continental Army.
There are vast details including his involvement with the Constitutional convention and notable stories from his time as America’s first president. If you are seeking a true biological retelling of George Washington’s life, this is a wonderful and celebrated background about the man himself. Chernow completed a massive amount of research to establish one of the most complete portraits of George Washington we have ever seen.
- Authors: Brian Kilmeade (Author), Don Yaeger (Author)
- Publisher: Sentinel; Reprint Edition (October 18, 2016)
- Pages: 320 pages
2. Washington: A Life
In this biography published by Joseph J. Ellis, we gain another biographical retelling of George Washington’s political career. Focusing on Washington’s impact on the nation as well as his thoughts on imperial power, this is a novel that looks more into George Washington’s motivations and his true energy throughout politics.
We learn more about George Washington’s stories of battle, his struggles with land ownership as well as an indispensable understanding of his impact on America today. His Excellency is a biography that can give you true appreciation for it the way the George Washington shaped America as a nation.
- Authors: Ron Chernow (Author)
- Publisher: Penguin Press (October 5, 2010)
- Pages: 904 pages
3. The First Conspiracy (Young Reader’s Edition)
This book is far different than other novels on George Washington in the sense that it was written by George Washington himself. This book was adapted from the notebooks of George Washington and in established 110 rules to live. By getting this insight into his past and the way that he saw the world, these pages are designed to help anyone that is interested in discovering the path towards living more like George Washington.
If you are interested in following some of his teachings and discoving the way that George Washington truly lived, this is a book that you should highly consider. George Washington’s rules set includes a number of subjects and was inspired by a set of rules composed by French just so it’s in the year 1595. It includes a list of etiquette on how to walk, eat in public, address one superiors, dress and more.
- Authors: Brad Meltzer (Author), Josh Mensch (Author)
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; Young Reader’s ed. Edition (January 7, 2020)
- Pages: 368 pages
4. Being George Washington: The Indispensable Man, as You’ve Never Seen Him
With a riveting tale from Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch we learn about a previously untold aspect of American history in which George Washington was the target of a counterintelligence case. Elite soldiers were picked to serve as George Washington’s bodyguards in the year 1776.
This would serve as some of the original secret service members but without Washington’s knowledge, there were a series of these men that were part of a plan to eliminate George Washington before the Revolutionary war. The Cedar plot was revealed, but in this dramatic retelling we learn just how close America came to losing the Revolutionary war and one of its greatest military leaders.
- Authors: Glenn Beck (Author)
- Publisher: Threshold Editions; First Edition/First Printing (November 22, 2011)
- Pages: 304 pages
5. His Excellency: George Washington
Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger delivers a historically accurate retelling of Washington’s recovery after a retreat from New York City in 1776. This book includes information on the Culper Spy Ring which was part of the plan to defeat the British in a sophisticated intelligence ring.
The two authors spent extensive time researching the spires including the back story of a mysterious woman, a Long Island bachelor, a young longshoremen, a tavern keeper, a coffee shop owner, and a Quaker merchant. The secret six are true American heroes and this is a story of George Washington and this group of incredible spies.
- Authors: Joseph J. Ellis (Author)
- Publisher: Vintage; Illustrated Edition (November 8, 2005)
- Pages: 352 pages
6. The Return of George Washington: 1783-1789
Hourly history published a short read guide on the history of George Washington. The goal of this hourly history biography is to take an in-depth look at the life of George Washington with a distilled research focus. This is the perfect guide to pick up before coming to Washington DC or exploring sites associated with George Washington.
Gaining an appreciation for his life and impact on America can be easy after examining this distilled experience. With comprehensive back story and a full memoir concerning George Washington, this is an easy read that can bring you up to speed on the life of a great man.
- Authors: Edward J. Larson (Author)
- Publisher: William Morrow; 1st Edition (October 7, 2014)
- Pages: 384 pages
7. The Real George Washington (American Classic Series)
Janice T. Connell shares the story of the brilliant leadership of the first and only unanimously elected president of the United States. With an improved picture of his past and modern circumstances to his self-taught education, this is an intensive look at his life and past.
This biography relates his leadership towards some of the events in his past that shaped his lifestyle. Seeing this great leader rise to power after the boyhood trauma of losing his father is a story that will give you a completely unique perspective on Washington and his past.
- Authors: Jay A. Parry (Author), Andrew M. Allison (Author)
- Publisher: National Center for Constitutional Studies; Illustrated Edition (December 1, 1991)
- Pages: 928 pages
8. George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation (Little Books of Wisdom)
Nathaniel Pilbrick shares a historical account of the Naval Battle from 1780. In the Hurricanes Eye tells the story of making the impossible happen and how George Washington was able to orchestrate one of the most important naval engagements in the history of the world.
Culminating with the battle of Chesapeake, this wide-ranging story explains the lead up to the battle including every unexpected turn at sea and while coordinating the vessels involved. In the hurricanes eye explains the true fate of this battle and how it impacted the American Revolution. This book is the perfect window into Washington’s mind as a strategist.
- Authors: George Washington (Author)
- Publisher: Applewood Books; Here are the 110 rules which George Washington copied into his early notebooks a Edition (August 1, 1989)
- Pages: 36 pages
9. In the Hurricane’s Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown (The American Revolution Series)
This historical novel reveals one of the most overlooked chapters of George Washington’s life. Pulitzer Prize winning author Edward Larson writes unique details on this timespan. Detailing the way the George Washington say the United States by coming out of retirement to lead the constitutional convention and the decisions made during this time, this is a unique perspective on this specific aspect of Washington’s life.
After retiring in December of 1783, George Washington stepped down and was called upon once again in this unique chapter of his life. Learn how his direct involvement was able to reach new national policy that affected the United States permanently. This chapter is just one of the many times that George Washington was able to save the nation.
- Authors: Nathaniel Philbrick (Author)
- Publisher: Viking; Illustrated Edition (October 16, 2018)
- Pages: 384 pages
10. Washington: The Indispensable Man
Written by Jay A Parry and Andrew M. Allison, this story details the impact that George Washington had on mankind and the story of his life. Told as a biographical approach, this novel details the founding of America as well as more on the dominant personality that was George Washington.
Details include a focus on the Constitutional convention, and the Revolutionary war as was the first national administration. The story and the impact of George Washington is highlighted throughout and the biography showcases many of the ways that Washington became one of the most into sensible people in American history. This is a novel that is regularly highlighted amongst some of the best classic books on George Washington’s life.
- Authors: James Thomas Flexner (Author)
- Publisher: Back Bay Books; Back Bay Books Edition (February 22, 1994)
- Pages: 448 pages
11. George Washington: A Life From Beginning to End (Biographies of US Presidents Book 1)
Hourly history published a short read guide on the history of George Washington. The goal of this hourly history biography is to take an in-depth look at the life of George Washington with a distilled research focus. This is the perfect guide to pick up before coming to Washington DC or exploring sites associated with George Washington.
Gaining an appreciation for his life and impact on America can be easy after examining this distilled experience. With comprehensive back story and a full memoir concerning George Washington, this is an easy read that can bring you up to speed on the life of a great man.
- Authors: Hourly History (Author)
- Publisher: Independently published (May 13, 2019)
- Pages: 46 pages
12. Ascent of George Washington
As one of the most revered Americans in history, George Washington is widely considered to be a stoic leader. In John Ferling’s telling of the political journey of George Washington, we learn more about the way Washington was as a politician and as a true leader.
We can discover more about his involvement with the Army, how his political savvy enabled him to out maneuver British forces and how he was able to manage uniting the nation. This ‘s detailed account showcases Washington’s ability to out maneuver rival generals, utilize his political prowess and more. If you are interested in learning more about George Washington as a political leader, this is an excellent starting point.
- Authors: John Ferling (Author)
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Press; Illustrated Edition (June 2, 2009)
- Pages: 464 pages
13. The Spiritual Journey of George Washington
Janice T. Connell shares the story of the brilliant leadership of the first and only unanimously elected president of the United States. With an improved picture of his past and modern circumstances to his self-taught education, this is an intensive look at his life and past.
This biography relates his leadership towards some of the events in his past that shaped his lifestyle. Seeing this great leader rise to power after the boyhood trauma of losing his father is a story that will give you a completely unique perspective on Washington and his past.
- Authors: Janice T. Connell (Author)
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 8/31/13 Edition (September 30, 2013)
- Pages: 246 pages
14. The Bulletproof George Washington
The bulletproof George Washington is a novel from David Barton detailing his experiences in the French and Indian war. Many of these dramatic retellings of Washington’s time in this era do not detail the peril that he faced.
This action-packed retelling showcases that Washington truly was bulletproof as one of the only officers on horseback to avoid being shot down. His Dracula’s escape as well as the stories of adventure that he faced give a newfound appreciation of Washington at war and the brilliant tactician that he was.
- Authors: David Barton (Author)
- Publisher: WallBuilder Press; 3rd Edition (December 19, 2002)
- Pages: 62 pages
15. George Washington, Spymaster
This award-winning National Geographic book presents the untold story of the war that occurred throughout the American Revolution between spies and counter spies. George Washington created one of America’s first spy rings and this National Geographic detailed look delivers an entertaining and unique account on some of the most important individuals in the history of the nation.
This is a quite compelling narrative that details the roles played by George Washington as well as each one of the spies in his spy ring. With an interesting look into covert operations, codes and ciphers, double agents and more this is a detailed historical account filled with intrigue and suspense. Learn how the nation was won with spies in this Thomas B. Allen novel.
- Authors: Thomas B. Allen (Author)
- Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books; Illustrated Edition (January 9, 2007)
- Pages: 184 pages
16. George Washington’s Secret Six (Young Readers Adaptation)
George Washington’s secret six adapted for young readers is a Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger novel detailing more on the spies that saved America. Throughout the American Revolution, Gen.
George Washington produced his own spy ring. In this young adult series, youth readers can learn more about the unique group of spies that were conscripted by George Washington and how they were able to infiltrate the British Army. As an accessible novel for young readers, this is one of the best ways to learn more about one of the most crucial times in American history. Written as a historical thriller, this is a book that can keep you on the edge of your seat as it details an influential time in group Washington’s life as a tactician.
- Authors: Brian Kilmeade (Author), Don Yaeger (Author)
- Publisher: Puffin Books; Illustrated Edition (January 28, 2020)
- Pages: 176 pages
17. George Washington: The Wonder of the Age
The wonder of the age is an award-winning library of America collection of George Washington’s best writings. John Rhodehamel curated a wide range of Washington’s papers. Including detailed descriptions of the correspondence, this is the perfect way to learn more about George Washington’s unique writing style and see some of his most interesting works.
With writing that dates all the way back to his early 20s to correspondence published later on in his life, these are works that can put you further in touch with the man that George Washington was in his day-to-day life and with his closest correspondence.
- Authors: John Rhodehamel (Author)
- Publisher: Yale University Press; 1st Edition (February 22, 2017)
- Pages: 368 pages
18. George Washington: Writings (Library of America)
The George Washington writings from the Library of America includes a volume of his writing edited by John H. Rhodehamel. This is one of the most extensive collections of over five decades of Washington’s life work.
In this series of volumes we can learn more about the over 440 letters, orders and addresses the George Washington published throughout his life. Many of the early writings include details from George Washington’s Journal that he was publishing at the age of 16 as well as future correspondence. Gain a detailed insight into the world of George Washington by reading some of his most important writing through this volume.
- Authors: George Washington (Author), John H. Rhodehamel (Editor)
- Publisher: Library of America (February 22, 1997)
- Pages: 1184 pages
19. National Geographic Readers: George Washington (Readers Bios)
In this volume of historical articles published by National Geographic, the contents have been edited and designed for children of all ages to learn. Based at a level to reading level, Caroline Crosson Gilpin dipped into National Geographic’s extensive archives to pull unique articles and artifacts from George Washington to presented a historical format for kids.
This carefully levelled reader is written in a manner that any young historian can follow and there are a wealth of interesting fax throughout George Washington’s life from his a time in war, to his retirement and more.
- Authors: Caroline Crosson Gilpin (Author)
- Publisher: National Geographic Kids (January 7, 2014)
- Pages: 32 pages
Choosing the Best George Washington Books
If you would like to learn more about George Washington any of these top books could be a great start. With many perspectives on this great man, you can further your knowledge while gaining a more in-depth appreciation on how he lived his life.
