Best Books About Texas

A sweeping saga of power and violence in the American west, tracing the legacy of one Texas family from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the oil booms of the 20th century. A twelve-year-old boy, captured by the Comanche after they murder his mother and sister, adapts to their way of life and fights in their wars against both other Native Americans and white men. The story follows Eli, his son, and great-granddaughter, exploring the ruthlessness and outsider status that has shaped their family’s rise to become one of the wealthiest in Texas. A harrowing and unforgettable masterwork of the American canon, The Son combines the storytelling prowess of Larry McMurtry with the sharpness of Cormac McCarthy.

This award-winning memoir takes you on a hilarious yet heartbreaking journey through Mary Karr's childhood in an east Texas oil town, filled with darkly comedic characters and family secrets that threaten to tear them apart. Considered a masterpiece of the memoir genre, this book will leave you both deeply moved and unable to put it down.

Explore the vibrant history of Texas with an insider's perspective on the people, politics, and events that have shaped the Lone Star State. Follow the story from prehistory to the present day and discover the emergence of Texas as a republic, the Civil War, and the impact of oil on the state's economy. This lively and engaging account offers a fresh look at the distinct culture and mindset of Texans.

This book is about a man's farewell canoe voyage on the Brazos River in Texas, where he reflects on the proposed dams that would change the surrounding countryside and people's lives. He delves into the region's old blood feuds, violent skirmishes with native tribes, and courageous and deceitful stories that shaped the river's people and the land's frontier history. Goodbye to a River is a true American classic, a powerful tribute to a vanishing way of life and its ever-changing natural environment.

Discover the captivating saga of Texas oil tycoons with The Big Rich. Author Bryan Burrough weaves together the multigenerational stories of the industry's wealthiest families, including Roy Cullen, H. L. Hunt, Clint Murchison, and Sid Richardson. Burrough expertly chronicles their rise and fall, complete with monstrous egos, unimaginable sums of money, and Hollywood connections. With phenomenal reviews and sales, The Big Rich is a spellbinding account that only a writer with Burrough's abilities and Texas upbringing could have created.

Experience the majestic beauty of the American wilderness through a captivating love story and epic adventure in Lonesome Dove. Follow a cast of unforgettable characters - including heroes, outlaws, and ladies - as they journey through the last wild frontier in Texas. With rich authenticity and masterful writing, this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic is a timeless masterpiece that will make you laugh, weep, and remember.

A gripping and meticulously researched historical account of the 40-year battle between the all-powerful Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West. Spanning Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, and the destruction of the buffalo herds, this fascinating narrative centers on Quanah, the greatest Comanche chief of them all, and his pioneer mother Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped at age 9 and grew to love her Comanche captors. S. C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon is a thrilling epic that offers a historical feast for anyone interested in the origins of the United States.

Follow the winningest high-school football team in Texas history, the Permian Panthers of Odessa, and witness how their single-minded devotion to the sport shapes the community and inspires teenagers who wear the Panthers' uniform. H. G. Bissinger shows with frankness and compassion how every Friday night from September to December, this small, divided, and economically fragile town becomes a place where dreams can come true. Discover how football unites, divides, and inspires a community in this timeless account, now with an updated afterword assessing the state of football today.

Explore the diverse and controversial landscape of Texas with this award-nominated book. Covering topics such as politics, technology, and income disparities, God Save Texas presents a vivid portrait of a state that reflects America today and tomorrow. Written by a native Texan, Lawrence Wright, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Lone Star State and its significance in shaping the future of the country.

Experience political drama in the heart of Texas with this novel. It's made up of three unique stories, each following a different character's perspective as they navigate through politics. Meanwhile, the cunning and charming governor, Arthur Fenstemaker, manages to hold the reigns through every twist and turn.