Great books about the Old West

1.
Empire of the Summer Moon
Empire of the Summer Moon 4.24 avg rating — 64,211 ratings
2.
Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West
Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West 4.29 avg rating — 19,126 ratings
3.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
by: Dee Brown
4.26 avg rating — 99,680 ratings
4.
The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral--And How It Changed The American West
The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral--And How It Changed The American West 3.97 avg rating — 2,791 ratings
5.
Lasso the Wind: Away to the New West
Lasso the Wind: Away to the New West 4.17 avg rating — 1,085 ratings
6.
The Gentle Tamers: Women of the Old Wild West
The Gentle Tamers: Women of the Old Wild West
by: Dee Brown
3.78 avg rating — 664 ratings
7.
The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend
The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend
by: Bob Drury
4.14 avg rating — 6,290 ratings
8.
We Pointed Them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher
We Pointed Them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher 4.26 avg rating — 481 ratings
9.
Mining Frontiers of the Far West, 1848-1880
Mining Frontiers of the Far West, 1848-1880 3.95 avg rating — 21 ratings
10.
Saloons of the Old West
Saloons of the Old West 4.15 avg rating — 41 ratings
11.
A Dynasty of Western Outlaws
A Dynasty of Western Outlaws 3.92 avg rating — 53 ratings
11.
By Ox Team to California: A Narrative of Crossing the Plains in 1860
By Ox Team to California: A Narrative of Crossing the Plains in 1860 4.24 avg rating — 878 ratings
13.
The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn 4.04 avg rating — 11,913 ratings
13.
Six Years With the Texas Rangers: 1875-1881
Six Years With the Texas Rangers: 1875-1881 4.14 avg rating — 1,129 ratings
15.
A Texas Pioneer
A Texas Pioneer 3.71 avg rating — 150 ratings
16.
Come An’ Get It: The Story of the Old Cowboy Cook
Come An’ Get It: The Story of the Old Cowboy Cook 4.36 avg rating — 22 ratings
17.
The Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace: The Texas Ranger and Hunter
The Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace: The Texas Ranger and Hunter 3.84 avg rating — 847 ratings
18.
Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard
Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard 3.96 avg rating — 920 ratings
19.
Thirty Years on the Frontier
Thirty Years on the Frontier 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings
20.
Doc Holliday: The Life And Legend
Doc Holliday: The Life And Legend 3.98 avg rating — 753 ratings
21.
I Married a Soldier
I Married a Soldier 3.84 avg rating — 19 ratings
22.
Plains Indian Raiders
Plains Indian Raiders
by: Nye
3.91 avg rating — 11 ratings
23.
The Look of the Old West: A Fully Illustrated Guide
The Look of the Old West: A Fully Illustrated Guide 4.21 avg rating — 47 ratings
23.
Paper medicine man. John Gregory Bourke and his American West.
Paper medicine man. John Gregory Bourke and his American West. 3.88 avg rating — 8 ratings
23.
The Mustangs
The Mustangs 4.06 avg rating — 88 ratings
23.
Vanished Arizona: Recollections of the Army Life of a New England Woman
Vanished Arizona: Recollections of the Army Life of a New England Woman 4.06 avg rating — 421 ratings
23.
America's First Great Eclipse: How Scientists, Tourists, and the Rocky Mountain Eclipse of 1878 Changed Astronomy Forever
America's First Great Eclipse: How Scientists, Tourists, and the Rocky Mountain Eclipse of 1878 Changed Astronomy Forever 3.97 avg rating — 96 ratings
23.
On the Border with Crook
On the Border with Crook 4.17 avg rating — 526 ratings
23.
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West 4.05 avg rating — 4,163 ratings
23.
The Longest Trail: Writings on American Indian History, Culture, and Politics
The Longest Trail: Writings on American Indian History, Culture, and Politics 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings
23.
Left by the Indians
Left by the Indians 3.76 avg rating — 896 ratings
23.
My Sixty Years on the Plains: Trapping, Trading, and Indian Fighting
My Sixty Years on the Plains: Trapping, Trading, and Indian Fighting 4.19 avg rating — 2,647 ratings
23.
Freedom: The Enduring Importance of the American Revolution
Freedom: The Enduring Importance of the American Revolution 4.68 avg rating — 19 ratings
34.
This Is the West
This Is the West it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
34.
A Victorian Gentlewoman in the Far West: The Reminiscences of Mary Hallock Foote
A Victorian Gentlewoman in the Far West: The Reminiscences of Mary Hallock Foote 3.64 avg rating — 78 ratings
34.
Westering Man: The Life of Joseph Walker
Westering Man: The Life of Joseph Walker 4.33 avg rating — 49 ratings
34.
The Longhorns
The Longhorns 4.17 avg rating — 119 ratings
34.
The Time It Never Rained
The Time It Never Rained 4.32 avg rating — 2,155 ratings
34.
Wah-to-yah and the Taos Trail
Wah-to-yah and the Taos Trail 4.16 avg rating — 177 ratings
34.
The Year of Decision 1846
The Year of Decision 1846 4.13 avg rating — 424 ratings
34.
As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock
As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock 4.37 avg rating — 2,195 ratings
34.
A Distant Ridge: A Novel of of the Northern Plains in the 1870s
A Distant Ridge: A Novel of of the Northern Plains in the 1870s 4.21 avg rating — 58 ratings
34.
The Border Outlaws: An Authentic and Thrilling History of the Most Noted Bandits of Ancient Or Modern Times: The Younger Brothers, Jesse and Frank James, and Their Comrades In Crime
The Border Outlaws: An Authentic and Thrilling History of the Most Noted Bandits of Ancient Or Modern Times: The Younger Brothers, Jesse and Frank James, and Their Comrades In Crime 3.95 avg rating — 362 ratings
44.
Story of the Great American West
Story of the Great American West 3.93 avg rating — 28 ratings
44.
The Gray Fox: George Crook and the Indian Wars
The Gray Fox: George Crook and the Indian Wars 3.91 avg rating — 11 ratings
44.
Of Dust & Blood: The Battle at Little Big Horn
Of Dust & Blood: The Battle at Little Big Horn
by: Jim Berry
3.64 avg rating — 39 ratings
44.
The White Indian Boy: The Story of Uncle Nick Among the Shoshones
The White Indian Boy: The Story of Uncle Nick Among the Shoshones 4.17 avg rating — 767 ratings
48.
Book Of The American West
Book Of The American West 4.10 avg rating — 10 ratings
48.
George Crook: From the Redwoods to Appomattox
George Crook: From the Redwoods to Appomattox really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings
48.
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America 4.24 avg rating — 17,335 ratings
48.
Old Deadwood Days
Old Deadwood Days 3.94 avg rating — 65 ratings
48.
Old West Showdown: Two Authors Wrangle over the Truth about the Mythic Old West
Old West Showdown: Two Authors Wrangle over the Truth about the Mythic Old West 4.15 avg rating — 13 ratings
48.
Across The Plains In 1844
Across The Plains In 1844 3.82 avg rating — 1,268 ratings
48.
Dakota Dawn: The Decisive First Week of the Sioux Uprising, August 17-24, 1862
Dakota Dawn: The Decisive First Week of the Sioux Uprising, August 17-24, 1862 4.07 avg rating — 29 ratings
55.
America Moves West
America Moves West really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
55.
Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver
Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver 3.99 avg rating — 207 ratings
55.
Western Mining
Western Mining 4.12 avg rating — 8 ratings
55.
Westward Vision: The Story of the Oregon Trail (Bison Book)
Westward Vision: The Story of the Oregon Trail (Bison Book) 3.71 avg rating — 31 ratings
55.
The Golden Elixir of the West: Whiskey and the Shaping of America
The Golden Elixir of the West: Whiskey and the Shaping of America 3.38 avg rating — 24 ratings
55.
Three Years Among the Comanches
Three Years Among the Comanches 4.05 avg rating — 1,156 ratings
55.
The Three Battles of Sand Creek: In Blood, in Court, and as the End of History
The Three Battles of Sand Creek: In Blood, in Court, and as the End of History 3.32 avg rating — 19 ratings
62.
The New Country: A Social History of the American Frontier 1776-1890
The New Country: A Social History of the American Frontier 1776-1890 3.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
62.
Kearny's March: The Epic Creation of the American West, 1846-1847
Kearny's March: The Epic Creation of the American West, 1846-1847 4.01 avg rating — 393 ratings
62.
What Should a Clever Moose Eat?: Natural History, Ecology, and the North Woods
What Should a Clever Moose Eat?: Natural History, Ecology, and the North Woods 4.25 avg rating — 56 ratings
62.
Enchantment and Exploitation: The Life and Hard Times of a New Mexico Mountain Range
Enchantment and Exploitation: The Life and Hard Times of a New Mexico Mountain Range 4.25 avg rating — 111 ratings
62.
Spin a Silver Dollar
Spin a Silver Dollar 4.35 avg rating — 26 ratings
62.
Frontier Teachers: Stories Of Heroic Women Of The Old West, First Edition
Frontier Teachers: Stories Of Heroic Women Of The Old West, First Edition 3.77 avg rating — 102 ratings
62.
Seven Years with the Indians (Expanded, Annotated)
Seven Years with the Indians (Expanded, Annotated) 3.86 avg rating — 463 ratings
62.
American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857
American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857 4.05 avg rating — 675 ratings
70.
The Old-Time Cowhand
The Old-Time Cowhand 4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings
70.
Heroes without Glory: Some Good Men of the Old West
Heroes without Glory: Some Good Men of the Old West 4.41 avg rating — 32 ratings
70.
Once They Moved Like The Wind : Cochise, Geronimo, And The Apache Wars
Once They Moved Like The Wind : Cochise, Geronimo, And The Apache Wars 4.17 avg rating — 507 ratings
70.
Vigilante Days and Ways (Sweetgrass Books Reprint Series)
Vigilante Days and Ways (Sweetgrass Books Reprint Series) 4.03 avg rating — 92 ratings
70.
Soldier, Sister, Spy, Scout: Women Soldiers and Patriots on the Western Frontier
Soldier, Sister, Spy, Scout: Women Soldiers and Patriots on the Western Frontier 3.75 avg rating — 8 ratings
70.
Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians
Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians 4.17 avg rating — 4,961 ratings
76.
Trail Dust and Saddle Leather
Trail Dust and Saddle Leather
by: Jo Mora
4.55 avg rating — 11 ratings
76.
A Majority of Scoundrels: An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company
A Majority of Scoundrels: An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company
by: Don Berry
4.10 avg rating — 59 ratings
76.
In the Days of Victorio; Recollections of a Warm Springs Apache
In the Days of Victorio; Recollections of a Warm Springs Apache 4.41 avg rating — 110 ratings
76.
Indian Creek Massacre and Captivity of Hall Girls (1915)
Indian Creek Massacre and Captivity of Hall Girls (1915) 4.14 avg rating — 21 ratings
76.
Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West
Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West 4.12 avg rating — 1,161 ratings
81.
The Book of Cowboys
The Book of Cowboys 4.41 avg rating — 46 ratings
81.
Men To Match My Mountains: The Opening of the Far West 1840-1900
Men To Match My Mountains: The Opening of the Far West 1840-1900 4.11 avg rating — 1,278 ratings
81.
Mickey Free, manhunter,
Mickey Free, manhunter, 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings
81.
Lady Was a Gambler: True Stories of Notorious Women of the Old West
Lady Was a Gambler: True Stories of Notorious Women of the Old West 3.74 avg rating — 35 ratings
81.
A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison
A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison 3.72 avg rating — 900 ratings
81.
Devil's Gate: Brigham Young and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy
Devil's Gate: Brigham Young and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy 4.04 avg rating — 511 ratings
87.
The Cowboy Encyclopedia: The Old and the New West from the Open Range to the Dude Ranch
The Cowboy Encyclopedia: The Old and the New West from the Open Range to the Dude Ranch really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
87.
Gold: Firsthand Accounts From The Rush That Made The West
Gold: Firsthand Accounts From The Rush That Made The West 4.22 avg rating — 9 ratings
87.
White Squaw: The True Story of Jennie Wiley
White Squaw: The True Story of Jennie Wiley 4.33 avg rating — 556 ratings
90.
Voices of the Buffalo Soldier: Records, Reports, and Recollections of Military Life and Service in the West
Voices of the Buffalo Soldier: Records, Reports, and Recollections of Military Life and Service in the West really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings
90.
The Captives: The Story of Wasser Thomas
The Captives: The Story of Wasser Thomas 4.29 avg rating — 363 ratings
92.
To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West
To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West 3.78 avg rating — 1,721 ratings
92.
The Comanche Captivity of Sarah Ann Horn
The Comanche Captivity of Sarah Ann Horn 3.72 avg rating — 383 ratings
94.
Growing Up with the Country: Childhood on the Far Western Frontier (Histories of the American Frontier Series)
Growing Up with the Country: Childhood on the Far Western Frontier (Histories of the American Frontier Series) 4.10 avg rating — 48 ratings
94.
Wicked Women: Notorious, Mischievous, and Wayward Ladies from the Old West
Wicked Women: Notorious, Mischievous, and Wayward Ladies from the Old West 3.63 avg rating — 583 ratings
94.
First Girl in the West
First Girl in the West 3.95 avg rating — 519 ratings
94.
Boots and Saddles or, Life in Dakota with General Custer
Boots and Saddles or, Life in Dakota with General Custer 3.86 avg rating — 385 ratings
98.
The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the American Old West
The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the American Old West 4.01 avg rating — 1,029 ratings
98.
Slave of the Sioux- The Fanny Kelly Captivity Narrative, 1864
Slave of the Sioux- The Fanny Kelly Captivity Narrative, 1864 3.88 avg rating — 1,855 ratings
98.
A Bride Goes West
A Bride Goes West 4.01 avg rating — 315 ratings
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