Books That Shaped America

In the fall of 2023, C-SPAN partnered with the Library of Congress to produce the series, Books That Shaped America. The series explored key works from American history that have had a major impact on society. These books have provoked thought, have been best sellers, have led to significant public policy changes, and are still talked about today. More

The series marked the various eras of American history and featured a diverse mix of stories and authors. They included Thomas Paine's Common Sense, the first autobiography of Frederick Douglass, Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Willa Cather's My Ántonia, Free to Choose by Milton and Rose Friedman and The Words of César Chávez. Programs featured studio guests, viewer comments, and visits to key locations around the country related to these famous books and their authors.

December 18

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

Common Sense
Thomas Paine
(1776)
December 19

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

The Federalist
Publius
(1788)
December 20

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
(1814)
December 21

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
Frederick Douglass
(1845)
December 22

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

The Common Law
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1881)
December 25

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
(1884)
December 26

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

My Ántonia
Willa Cather
(1918)
December 27

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
(1937)
December 28

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

Free to Choose: A Personal Statement by Milton and Rose Friedman
Milton and Rose Friedman
(1980)
December 29

9PM EST | C‑SPAN

The Words of César Chávez
César Chávez
(2002)

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