Independence Day

By Domenica Di Piazza, Editorial Director, TFCB

July 4. Fireworks. Brats on the Grill. Corn on the Cob. Boston Pops. Federal Holiday. Day off Work. Swimming, Boating, Fun.

Behind it all is the struggle for the nation’s independence 234 years ago, and TFCB has a number of books on the subject to provide good background reading.

The American Revolution (by Lisa Frederiksen Bohannon) in our Chronicle of America’s Wars series offers the story of what led to the revolution and describes the battles of the war and the major figures in the struggle for freedom.

Through a wealth of primary source material pulled from soldiers’ diaries and letters home, author Susan Provost Beller brings the daily struggles of Revolutionary War soldiers to life in Yankee Doodle and the Redcoats, complete with first-person accounts of battles, camp life, weather, food, and equipment.

In the People’s History series, Brandon Marie Miller’s Declaring Independence looks at what it was like for the average American to be alive during the tumultuous revolutionary period.

I don’t always think long and hard about what it means to be an American—except when I’m traveling outside the country. And then it all comes into focus pretty quickly. Generally speaking, being an American means that I lead a very comfortable, privileged life in comparison to most of the rest of the world.

So this year, on July 4, along with my serving of fireworks, brats, and water fun, and the celebration of national independence, I’m marking my gratitude for:

Indoor Plumbing. Access to Advanced Medical Technologies. Plenty of Good Food. Electricity. My New Furnace. Well Stocked and Well Equipped Libraries. Freedom from Civil Strife. Options. Options. More Options.

Make your own list of things to celebrate on Independence Day, and check in next week for more from TFCB!