Description To many people, a diary is like a trusted friend and somewhere secretive to share their true thoughts and feelings. In this book, readers explore more than 200 years of American history through the eyes of real people who lived through it and chronicled their experience. Readers learn what makes diaries and autobiographies different, why they matter, and how to think critically to read them like a historian. From the American Revolution to the 21st century, we'll get personal with history and notable Americans in their own words.