I'm looking for a good N/F book about the Civil War. I'd like one that is very easy to read and not bogged down with every tiny detail about every single battle. This is for someone who doesn't know much about it, and is not going to read anything too dry.

Any ideas? TIA

Here's a couple of ideas. I haven't read any of them, but I've heard good things about them.

1. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson. This won a Pulitzer. It's also popular amongst the public. But it's almost 1,000 pages.
2. Don't Know Much About the Civil War by Kenneth C. Davis. Written by a journalist, this book is noted for its humor, which seems odd given the topic. But it would suit someone with a sense of humor who wants just an overview.
3. The Civil War by Bruce Catton. ISBN 0618001875 is the 400-page abridged version for young adults. The original is a 3 volume set and each has a different title.

Genie

Hey guess what Valli?  There is actually a Civil War for Dummies book.  I've included a link to it.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0764552449.html

There's a Dummy book for everything now, isn't there?! LOL! Actually, it's probably just what I need, and I'm going to buy it.

Thanks for the rec's!

THIN MOON AND COLD MIST by Kathleen O'Neal Gear is a fictional account of an extraordinary real-life woman who disguised herself as a young boy and infiltrated the Yankee forces, as a spy for the Confederacy.    A good read!