Russell Shorto Books In Order – Russell Shorto has written over forty books and earned widespread acclaim for his engaging narrative history. For example, in Revolution Song, he offers a bold new view of the American Revolution, which The New York Times called “a remarkable achievement,” while The Chicago Tribune praised its narrative skill. Furthermore, he gained international recognition with The Island at the Center of the World. In addition, Shorto has authored eight major history books and plans to release his latest, Taking Manhattan, in 2025.
Russell Shorto Books In Order
Publication Order of Children’s Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Cinderella/Cinderella: The Untold Story | (1990) | Buy Now |
| How To Fly The Space Shuttle | (1992) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Jefferson and the American Ideal | (1988) | Buy Now |
| J.R.R. Tolkien: Man of Fantasy | (1989) | Buy Now |
| Edgar Allan Poe: Creator of Dreams | (1989) | Buy Now |
| Geronimo and the Struggle for Apache Freedom | (1989) | Buy Now |
| Tecumseh and the Dream of an American Indian Nation | (1989) | Buy Now |
| Abraham Lincoln and the End of Slavery | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Jane Fonda: Political Activism | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Jackie Robinson | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Abraham Lincoln: To Preserve the Union | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Careers for the Curious | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Careers for Foreign Language Experts | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Careers for Hands-On Types | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Careers for Animal Lovers(With: Edward Keating) | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Careers for People Who Like to Perform | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Careers for People Who Like People | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Saints and Madmen: How Pioneering Psychiatrists Are Creating a New Science of the Soul | (1999) | Buy Now |
| The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America | (2004) | Buy Now |
| Descartes’ Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason | (2008) | Buy Now |
| Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City | (2013) | Buy Now |
| Revolution Song: The Story of America’s Founding in Six Remarkable Lives | (2018) | Buy Now |
| Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob | (2021) | Buy Now |
| Taking Manhattan | (2025) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Russell Shorto Religion Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel Truth | (1997) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of History of the Civil War Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson: Rebuilding the Union(By: Cathy East Dubowski) | (1990) | Buy Now |
| Robert E. Lee and the Rise of the South(By: Cathy East Dubowski) | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Clara Barton: Healing the Wounds(By: Cathy East Dubowski) | (1991) | Buy Now |
| David Farragut and the Great Naval Blockade | (1991) | Buy Now |
| Abraham Lincoln: To Preserve the Union | (1991) | Buy Now |
Russell Shorto Biography
Russell Shorto has written over forty books and earned widespread acclaim for his engaging contributions to narrative history. In Revolution Song, he presents a bold new perspective on the American Revolution. The New York Times called it a “remarkable achievement,” and The Chicago Tribune praised it as an “engaging piece of historical detective work and narrative craft.” Shorto gained international recognition with The Island at the Center of the World, a bestselling account of the Dutch founding of New York. He has authored eight major narrative history books and plans to release his latest, Taking Manhattan, in 2025.
In addition to his writing, Shorto actively advances historical scholarship. He serves as a senior scholar at the New Netherland Institute, previously directed the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam, and now leads the New Amsterdam Project at the New-York Historical Society, where he deepens research into Dutch-American history.
In 2009, the Dutch government awarded him a knighthood for his exceptional efforts in strengthening historical ties between the Netherlands and the United States. Throughout his career, Shorto has brought the past to life with clarity, insight, and a commitment to uncovering overlooked narratives.
Short Notes on Russell Shorto Books
1. Taking Manhattan – 2025
In 1664, England launched an invasion of the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Driven by dreams of empire, Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, viewed the Dutch as a major obstacle. However, when military officer Richard Nicolls met Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland’s shrewd director general, he shifted his strategy from destruction to negotiation.
In Taking Manhattan, Russell Shorto brings this pivotal moment to life, uncovering how creative deals forged New York’s pluralistic, capitalistic identity. Drawing on newly translated sources, he highlights overlooked stories—of Indigenous peoples, religious refugees, and enslaved Africans—revealing America’s founding paradox.
2. Smalltime – 2021
Best-selling author Russell Shorto, known for his powerful narrative histories, never planned to explore his own past—until an elderly relative challenged him: “You’re a writer—what are you gonna do about the story?” Shorto had long known his grandfather and namesake ran a small-town mob operation, but family silence kept the story buried.
In Smalltime, Shorto uncovers a hidden world of small-town organized crime stretching from Schenectady to Fresno. He brings to life postwar Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where his grandfather Russ and “Little Joe” ran a gambling empire from a storefront near City Hall. The story traces roots back to Sicily, following his great-grandfather’s immigration to America. As Shorto investigates, he partners with his ailing father, Tony, uncovering family secrets while exploring three generations of immigrant life. Smalltime offers a gripping, humorous, and moving portrait of family, crime, and identity.
3. Revolution Song – 2018
As debates over America’s founding principles intensify, Russell Shorto turns to the era when those ideals first took shape. In Revolution Song, he weaves the lives of six diverse individuals into a powerful, unified narrative that reveals the wide range of experiences in colonial America on the brink of revolution. Through their stories, Shorto reexamines the meaning of freedom, equality, and justice. He delivers a brilliant, timely defense of American values and argues that the revolution’s core ideals—still contested today—remain essential. With sharp insight and vivid storytelling, Shorto reminds readers why those principles are worth protecting.
FAQ on Russell Shorto Books
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Who is Russell Shorto?
Russell Shorto is an acclaimed American author and historian known for his narrative non-fiction books, especially those exploring early American and Dutch colonial history.
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Which is the Russell Shorto’s most famous book?
The Island at the Center of the World is widely considered his most famous work. It examines the Dutch founding of New York and offers a fresh view of American origins.
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How many books has Russell Shorto written?
He has written over forty books, including eight major works of narrative history.
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What is Revolution Song about?
Revolution Song tells the story of the American Revolution through the lives of six diverse individuals, offering a ground-level view of a nation being born.
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What is his latest book?
Taking Manhattan, published in March 2025 and explores further elements of New York’s early history.
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