Ben Stein
Ben Stein, host of the Emmy-winning game show Win Ben Stein’s Money (weeknights on Comedy Central) and author of Tommy and Me: The Making of a Dad (out of print), chooses six of his favorite books about the Civil War.
John Brown’s Body by Stephen Vincent Benét (Buccaneer Books, $27.95). An epic poem about the war, its leaders, its battles, causes, and lessons. Told largely through the stories of 12 main characters, it is hauntingly well-written and startlingly racist in places, but dripping with its love of place and people and way of life.
Lee’s Lieutenants by Douglas Southall Freeman (Simon & Schuster, $28). About one million words long, this book has astonishingly detailed accounts of the great battles and leaders under Robert E. Lee. Its color and telling of conversations of total gentility among generals as catastrophe emerged at Gettysburg is worth the months spent reading it.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
R.E. Lee also by Freeman (Simon Publications, $29.95). Though a bit hagiographic—it cannot say a single bad word about Lee, who made terrible mistakes at Pickett’s Charge, Malvern Hill, and elsewhere—this million-word portrait of the man whom many Americans still consider the model of what a gentleman should be inspires to this day.
Judah P. Benjamin, The Jewish Confederate by Eli Evans (out of print). A thoughtful, well-documented story of the first Jew in America to reach cabinet rank, as Secretary of War, Attorney General, and Secretary of State-all for the Confederacy. Benjamin’s amazing rise, fall, and stunning recovery as one of England’s leading barristers is a breathtaking tale of resourcefulness and brilliance.
Lee, The Last Years by Charles Flood (Houghton Mifflin Company $13.50). When Lee surrendered at Appomattox, he was not arrested, imprisoned, or executed. He went home, took a long nap, and awoke to use his prestige to reintegrate the South into the union. His kindness, strength, and good humor—and the forbearance with which the victorious Union treated this dangerous Rebel—are beacons of the American character.
Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson (Ballantine, $16.20). Generally considered the best one-volume history of the war. Unlike Freeman, McPherson gets at the unfortunate truth that much of the South’s behavior was motivated by serious and cruel antipathy toward blacks, and extreme fear of what they would do if freed.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
My two favorite books not about the Civil War are Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, the greatest novel ever written, and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, which is about the evil of the rich and the charm of ambition and longing.
-
Spaniards seeing red over bullfighting
Under the Radar Shock resignation of top matador is latest blow in culture war over tradition that increasingly divides Spain
-
Bailouts: Why Trump is rescuing Argentina
Feature The White House approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina
-
James indictment: Trump’s retribution
Feature Trump pursues charges against Letitia James in revenge for her civil fraud lawsuit
-
Nathan Harris’ 6 favorite books that turn adventures into revelations
Feature The author recommends works by Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McGuire, and more
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetime
Feature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytelling
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
-
Elizabeth Gilbert’s favorite books about women overcoming difficulties
Feature The author recommends works by Tove Jansson, Lauren Groff, and more
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imagination
Feature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is more
Feature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more
-
Keith McNally's 6 favorite books that have ambitious characters
Feature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
-
Garrett Graff's 6 favorite books that shine new light on World War II
Feature The author recommends works by James D. Hornfischer, Craig L. Symonds, and more