Reddit mentions of That's Not in My American History Book: A Compilation of Little-Known Events and Forgotten Heroes

Since I was lucky enough to grow up all around it and you seem to be interested in the subject I highly suggest looking into the American Revolution more. It's not at all what the white washed "murica!" version you hear so often.

The Boston Tea part was not universally embraced by the revolutionaries. George Washington was burned in effigy after the war. Paul Revere was basically useless. John Adams defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre. (And got them acquitted too) A good portion of the colonies actively fought rebellion. Even King George was not the petty tyrant so often depicted and had a pretty solid reason to want to tax the colonies.

There is tons of history you don't hear about because it's not so clean and tidy. The real truth of the revolution is FAR more interesting than you'd expect. I particularly recommend these two books to get you started. The second one is a collection of letters written by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to each other during and after the Revolution. Reflecting on their purpose and work. So you'll get the real story straight from the horse's mouth.

http://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-American-History-Book/dp/158979107X

http://www.amazon.com/The-Adams-Jefferson-Letters-Correspondence-Jefferson/dp/0807842303

The other information is in the book, "That's Not in My American History Book." https://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-American-History-Book/dp/158979107X

Is it That's Not in My American History Book?

I've got three books that would be pretty good. If you only read one, I would suggest the last one that I've listed. It focuses on US history after WWII. Not gonna lie, but most people in the US don't seem to care about much from events earlier than, oh, Desert Storm. This will give you a good idea of what has lead up to things more recent.

First is "That's Not in My American History Book" http://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-American-History-Book/dp/158979107X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406744669&sr=8-1&keywords=thats+not+in+my+history+book

Second is "Lies my Teachers Told Me"
http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/0743296281/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406744669&sr=8-2&keywords=thats+not+in+my+history+book

Lastly: American Dreams: The United States Since 1945
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143119559/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bonus books:
American Revolution:
http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Revolution-History-Chronicles/dp/0812970411/ref=pd_sim_b_14?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QADK50FADAGE3XG7JGE
Civil War:
http://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Curiosities-Oddities-Coincidences/dp/155853315X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406745439&sr=1-6&keywords=US+Civil+War+books


Edit: This is a monster looking book, but it is visual as well. (Okay it is a monster book) but it touches on nearly everything. I've used it as a reference multiple times during college and Kurin is fairly spot on with his assessments.

http://www.amazon.com/Smithsonians-History-America-101-Objects/dp/1594205299/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406745533&sr=1-1&keywords=a+smithsonian+book+of+history