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Intellectual history is an intriguing field because it is by its very nature cross-disciplinary. While these books may be in arguably different fields (History of Sex, History of Religion, Legal History, History of Technology, Political History, etc.) they are all, at their core, deeply concerned with the history of ideas. Intellectual history is not the history of old, white philosophers stroking their beards behind mahogany desks.
One of the books on this list, '''''The Metaphysical Club''''', has already appeared on one of our lists in the past because not only is an outstanding book exploring the philosophical concept of pragmatism, but it helped illuminate the history of the Gilded Age. Nathan Hatch's book '''''The Democratization of Christianity''''' looks at the Second Great Awakening and is a preeminent book of American Religious History. Still, the Second Great Awakening was not just a religious movement because contained important intellectual ideas that changed the course of American history. Each of these books, in their own way, accomplish this delicate balancing act.
As with all of our lists, if you disagree with the lists feel free to change it.
#Louis Menand, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/metaphysical-club-a-story-of-ideas-in-america-9780374528492?partnerid=41307&p_ti The Metaphysical Club''']'' (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2002)#Irving H. Bartlett, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/american-mind-in-the-mid-nineteenth-century-9780882958095?partnerid=41307&p_ti The American Mind in the Mid-Nineteenth Century''']'' (Wiley-Blackwell, 1982)#Anne C. Rose, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/voices-of-the-marketplace-american-thought-and-culture-1830-1860-9780742532632?partnerid=41307&p_ti Voices of the Marketplace: American Thought and Culture, 1830-1860''']'' (Rowman & Littlefield, 2004)#Kenneth Cmiel, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/democratic-eloquence-the-fight-over-popu-9780520074859?partnerid=41307&p_ti Democratic Eloquence: The Fight over Over Popular Speech in Nineteenth-19th Century America''']'' (University of California Press, 1991)#Nancy Isenberg, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/sex-citizenship-in-antebellum-america-9780807847466?partnerid=41307&p_ti Sex and Citizenship in Antebellum America''']'' (UNC Press, 1998)#Lewis Perry, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/boats-against-the-current-american-culture-between-revolution-modernity-1820-1860-american-culture-between-revolution-modernity-1820-1860-9780742522503?partnerid=41307&p_ti Boats Against the Current: American Culture Between Revolution and Modernity, 1820-1860''']'' (Oxford University Press, 1993)#Rosalind Rosenberg, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/beyond-separate-spheres-intellectual-roots-of-modern-feminism-9780300030921?partnerid=41307&p_ti Beyond Separate Spheres: Intellectual Roots of Modern Feminism''']'' (Yale University Press, 1983)#Leo Marx, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/machine-in-the-garden-technology-the-pastoral-ideal-in-america-9780195133516?partnerid=41307&p_ti The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America''']'' (Oxford University Press, 2000 - 35th Anniversary Edition)#Nathan O. Hatch, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/democratization-of-american-christianity-9780300050608?partnerid=41307&p_ti The Democratization of American Christianity''']'' (Yale University Press, 1989)#Jeffrey Sklansky, '''''[http://www.powells.com/book/souls-economy-market-society-and-selfhood-in-american-thought-1820-1920-9780807827253?partnerid=41307&p_ti The Soul's Economy: Market Society and Selfhood in American Thought, 1820-1920''']'' (UNC Press, 2002)
[[Category:Booklists]]
[[Category:Intellectual History]]
[[Category:History Booklists]]
[[Category:Expert Booklists]]
