If you are interested in gaming, you will enjoy this read. History lover? Yes, you are going to like this one. Enjoy history AND gaming? You will be in heaven.

I have never thought about pairing history and gaming, but the author showed it could be done. While most games are not true to history (and in many cases, this game is not always true to history), Red Dead's History does a fantastic job of linking the game and history together.

While the game focuses on one area, history shows it actually happened sooner - however, it also gives a glimpse into the past, and shares in a way that keeps viewers engaged, and perhaps learning a bit as they go.

Interesting read, with some very slow spots (not slow enough to make me stop reading), but enjoyable all around. I will have to think about sharing this pairing with my students in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I'll start off by saying I have never played RDR2 on story mode, but my cat and I thoroughly enjoyed watching my husband play and I love all things western, so I was pumped that this book was coming out!
I started this book with no expectations, but I was hooked quickly by all of the early America history that I never learned in school and how it was changed and incorporated in to the game. It is a well written and well researched book by a college professor who has a passion for gaming. The author seems to have a bias against the white race in some areas of the book and how whites took over many of the areas owned by the Indians. But people of all races have taken over areas and made the population assimilate to their customs all throughout history- it's not just white people. So that was something I wasn't really impressed by with this book. That is my only complaint though. I truly learned so much about American history and inspired me to do even more learning about it. I really enjoyed this book and I've already recommended it to all our friends who enjoy the game!

I am a 69 year old man and not a big video game player; However, my daughter and her partner both were "totally in" to this game and I heard about it, pretty much nonstop, from each of them before having the opportunity to read this fabulous book which helped me put into context what "all the fuss was about". A fabulous book for a general reader but I would think this is a MUST READ for all the many fans who play this . . . 5 Stars

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S RED DEAD'S HISTORY ABOUT?
Like so many people around the world, the author got back into video games in 2020 as a way to fill the hours he wasn't interacting with people in real life. Like so many others, one of the games that captured his attention was Red Dead Redemption II. Unlike so many people Tore C. Olsson is an American History professor, so while he was fun doing whatever it is exactly that you do in the game*, part of his brain was looking at the history and time being depicted in the game. Because if there's one thing the game is known for, is being the most popular and influential game set in American History since The Oregon Trail from the 80s.

* It should be obvious that I don't play video games at all, not even the one in question.

Olsson went on to make headlines—and pack lecture halls—by teaching a history course based on the games, and he's now turned it into a book.

This is not a book about the game (although he talks about it a lot), it is not a point-by-point examination of the historical details (but it comes up a little), it's primarily using the game, and the things shown/talked about/alluded to in it as a launching pad to discuss themes, movements, and particulars from post-Civil War America.

The focus for the book is Red Dead Redemption II, but Red Dead Redemption comes up from time to time—but not any of the other games in the franchise. Olsson's discussion follows the geographic order and proportions of the game—starting with adventures in the West, moving to the Deep South (for the majority of the book), and then wrapping things up in Southern Appalachia.

HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF THE GAME
From the start, Olsson is clear, he's not going to get into slicing and dicing the historical accuracy of Red Dead Redemption 2, but...he can't help talking about it every now and then. He has a lot of good things to say about the history of the game (really, he wouldn't have taught a class or written a book inspired by it without that), but the biggest note seems to be—if the game had been set 20-30 years earlier than it was, it would've been better.

There are particular points here and there where he will offer specific critiques and commendations—but that's essentially the point he keeps coming back to.

Now, I don't know enough about the storylines of Red Dead Redemption or Red Dead Redemption II to know why the developers insisted that the game takes place when it does—and it certainly seems like they did have an eye for historical detail—they just missed it. It might be a game continuity thing, there might be all sorts of explanations for it. I don't know.

Now, Olsson isn't sitting there like Neil de Grasse Tyson tweeting about the scientific inaccuracies in movies, the point of the book isn't to critique the depictions of the era. But while he's talking about the various topics, he will mention them briefly. It doesn't take anything away from the game for him.

THE WEST
The first section focused on is the one that the game is best known for (and, I'll be honest, the only thing I thought the game had)—a strong take on the West. I'd like to say that I'd read a book about the subject of each chapter were Olsson to expand them, and that's true in a perfect world, but I'm not sure I really would. But I'd be willing to.

I should note that it's probably very easy to read several books on the topics of each chapter right now. And you never know, I just might.

This section covers things as nebulous as the concept of "The American West"—and when did it start dying/disappearing (if ever). Controversial topics like The Indian Wars, the amount of violence in the West (and some of the notable persons behind it), how Justice/Laws were enforced, and so on. Olsson also covers things you'd expect (especially if you actually know the game)—the construction of and use of the railways; cowboys; The Pinkertons; Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.

I learned so much about all of these things—and I'm very tempted to go out in search of some of the books footnoted here.

THE DEEP SOUTH
As anyone who teaches American History—particularly in a place like Tennessee—is aware, talking about the Deep South in a post-Civil War era is a daunting task. But as that's where the bulk of the gameplay takes place, the bulk of the book gets that treatment as well.

As with the rest of the book, Olsson talks about the game's portrayal of this area and the topics, how media culture(s) depict of this area and the topics, and finally looking at the history of the area itself.

In this Part of the book, Olsson talked about such non-controversial topics as: The Paradox of Race; From Old South to New South; The White-Hooded Menace; The Tragedy of Lynching; In the Fields (largely post-War); Working on the Chain Gang; Mr. Jim Crow; The Lause Cause; New Orleans, 1899; and Votes for Women.

Obviously, there's far, far too much to say about any of these topics than he has time for in a book of this size and scope—but what's there is provocative (in a good way), thoughtful, and well-footnoted so curious readers (and there will be many after these chapters) can do some follow-up reading. Yes, that's a sentence that applies to the book as a whole, but it seems apt to emphasize it here.

SOUTHERN APPALACHIA
This part feels very timely considering how much Appalachia, Appalachia, and portrayals of the area/its residents in the media have been in the last few weeks.

Olsson only gives three chapters to this part of the book (about 11%) as much as he might be kicking himself for that now. Like with Part I: The West, he starts by discussing "The Appalachian Myth." Just what makes up this part of the country? Why has it captured the imagination the way it has? How much of what we think of when we think "Appalachia" is true now or ever was?

He then looks at the race to claim parts of it after the Civil War and how that shaped the culture and history of it. Then he spends a chapter looking at Blood Fueds—obviously focusing on the Hatfield/McCoy feud, what lies at its root—and the surprising ways it actually broke along family lines.

I was a little too tired while reading this section to get as much out of it as I think I ordinarily would've—and really should revisit it once the book is released, I think I missed some good stuff.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT RED DEAD'S HISTORY?
I had some really good history professors and teachers over the years, so I really don't want to say that Olsson is the professor I wish I had—but really, I don't imagine many will read this book and not want to take a class or two from Olsson.

The writing is engaging, witty, and insightful. He has a real knack for making you care about something you really didn't care about just a few pages earlier—for that matter, you may not have been aware it was a thing you could care about/be interested in just a few pages earlier. I'm not going to suggest you'll agree with him all of the time, because you won't. But you'll almost certainly enjoy his perspective as well as his presentation of the facts.

I'm not really the target audience for this book—I figure that's game players who want to dive in to get more depth about the context of the game. To learn the stories behind the game's stories. Or those who now have an interest in American History and don't know where to go get more information outside a stuffy-looking textbook. Given that, I think it says a lot when I tell you that I had a great time reading this, and am more curious the game than I had been before. Not so curious to actually play it (or buy the game, a console to play it on, etc.)—but enough to talk to my son who has played through it—and has spent a lot of time doing sidequests and whatnot, and maybe even to watch some gameplay videos online. And that's more than I typically am interested in doing.

This is a great way to approach American History; it's a good way to approach this type of media (games or otherwise); and it's just an entertaining read regardless. It moves a little slower than a novel—but not much (for those who are daunted by non-fiction reads). Really, there's not much to not commend about this book. You really should check it out.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley—thanks to both for this.

For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

Red Dead’s History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America’s Violent Past by Tore C. Olsson looks at American history using the award-winning video game as a starting point. Mr. Olsson is a history professor who discovered the game during COVID, and is now using it as a gaming tool.

I recently started playing Red Dead Redemption, several years behind everyone, I know. I enjoy the game very much and like historical-based games like Assassin’s Creed, and a fan of Westerns so this game seemed like the was made for me.

Red Dead’s History by Tore C. Olsson is not only fascinating but very readable as well. One doesn’t have to be familiar with the game, to enjoy the book immensely. I am in the middle of part I, but I already bought the bundle of both games.

Prof. Olsson doesn’t set out to prove the game wrong, he’s a fan after all. However, he’s not afraid to call out historical mistakes and use those as a launching point for educational purposes. That being said, the game gets a lot of things right, and many other aspects are erred on the side of gameplay.

The author provides context within and outside the game. It includes not simply raw history, but political and social constructs and implications at the time to give the reader and gamer a better understanding of the history, the game, and sometimes what the developers alluded to.

The time the game takes place, 1890s, is one that Prof. Olsson considers critical to the United States, and he makes a very valid case as to why. Formative years after the Civil War where African Americans got their freedom, but not equality, immigrants arrived, Native Americans were massacred at Wounded Knee, the land runs in the West, women’s right to vote was a hot issue(an enlightening discussion in the book), and let’s not forget the Robber Barons’ era, among others.

I’m glad I read this book before playing Red Dead Redemption II. I feel it will enhance my immersive experience and give me a sense of time and place I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Have you ever started a book thinking it was one thing, and then finding out its completely different? Yep, that just happened to me.

To be fair, I had no idea that Red Dead [Revolver, Redeption, and Redemption 2] was a video game [as I don't play video games and never have], so I'm actually not really sure what I thought this book was about, but a book about a video game and its historically accurate narrative was not it.

Thankfully, this is a compulsively readable [and amazing] book, just what a history-nerd like me loves - a book filled with history that is also played out within the game of Red Dead Redemption 2 and how they work together [which was fascinating]. And it is some amazing history. The author breaks down each section of the game and what the history that is presented means. Much of the history talked about I already knew [thogh a refresher is always a good thing], but there were definitely thing I did NOT know [the Southern Appalachians part was fascinating, eye-opening and VERY illuminating and I learned a lot], and I reveled in the learning.

A truly excellent, well-written and researched book, that I truly enjoyed every second of [wellllll, maybe not the video game parts that I just didn't understand - I am just so clueless there], and even though it was not what I expected, it was a very worthwhile read.

Roger Clark gives voice to a major character in the game [Arthur I think?] and he now narrated this book, and does an excellent job at it. He truly brings the history to life, and helps to engage the listener to the very history he is speaking. For the full experience [whether you play the game or not], I highly recommend the audiobook and his excellent performance.

I was asked to read/review this book by the publisher St. Martin's Press, and I would like to thank them, Tore C. Olsson, Roger Clark - Narrator, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Red Dead’s History by Tore C. Olsson has a fantastic premise and was inspired by the author’s college history class that he taught. It covered the Red Dead Redemption games and history and drew upon years of gaming experience, research, and reflections on how video games can interest individuals in serious history. The book focused on the game set in 1899 that has been touted for its realism and attention to detail. The author looks at the game and the actual U.S. history and evaluates where the game shines and where it falls short as he explores events in the West, the Deep South, and southern Appalachia that the game introduces.

While I enjoy history, I found this book somewhat slow-paced, which is not what I expected. If you are familiar with the late 19th century U.S. history, you probably won’t learn anything new. However, it did flesh out a couple of items in more detail than I had studied. I appreciated that the author covered the social, cultural, economic, and political atmosphere, as well as the violence, of the time. There are also many footnotes with sources listed.

Overall, this is a creative, well-researched, and well-organized book that ended up a little too slow for my tastes. I was expecting history to come alive and to learn something new, but that didn’t happen. However, it may work to get someone who doesn’t already like history to engage with it; especially if they enjoy the video game.

St. Martin’s Press and Tore C. Olsson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 06, 2024.

I think many readers are turned off to historical nonfiction based on the assumption that it is dense and not fun to read. However, if you have any interest in American history, gunslinging outlaws and cattle drives, and RDR, this book is honestly thrilling. Turning a popular game into a syllabus was a brilliant idea and well executed.

When I got the opportunity to read this as a galley book, I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I have played Red Dead Redemption II but I am not a gamer per se. What I got was a college level course on the history of the 'west' portrayed in the game. I learned a ton about this important, impactful, and misunderstood era in our nations history.

While some of the material in the book might be a little polarizing, depending on your political identity, I feel the author was fair with their approach. Politics, money, and power played an enormous role in the events then, as they do today. As with most historical events, the actual reality is much more complicated than the over simplified version of the story crafted for school age consumption.

Touching on a myriad of important topics, this is a worthwhile read and one most of us would benefit from ... especially in our current political and cultural landscape.

Peanut butter and jelly. Cookies and milk. To these iconic pairings, let's add video games and history. Don't believe me? Then let me introduce you to Tore Olsson and his wonderful book, Red Dead's History.

For the uninitiated, there is a video game franchise with three different games, Red Dead Revolver, Red Dead Redemption, and Red Dead Redemption II. All three are fun, but Olsson wants to focus on the sprawling, intricate, and surprisingly historically accurate Red Dead Redemption II. It follows some outlaws in 1899 on various adventures. Sure, some may ask, "Brendan, I don't play video games so why should I care?" First of all, that's a terrible attitude. Second, you have not yet lived, my friend. Finally, this game let's you be an outlaw and rob banks without the real life risk of death and jail. What more could you possibly want?

Olsson's book is compulsively readable. He calls out the good and bad of the game. For historians, I think most would be shocked how much it gets right. I've played all the games and they are immersive in a way you could only dream of back in the days of the original NES, Playstation, (or if you are super old), Atari. Olsson created a college class out of his idea and you can tell he was able to distill down the most interesting aspects and put them in the book. If you are well-read in this part of history, then you probably won't learn anything new. However, Olsson has written a book targeted at the person who doesn't realize they love history....yet. It's a triumph.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)

Red Dead's History is US History told through the lens of a bestselling video game

Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption II , set in 1911 and 1899, are the most-played American history video games since The Oregon Trail . Beloved by millions, they’ve been widely acclaimed for their realism and attention to detail. But how do they fare as recreations of history? The author, who is a history professor and baded a class on the same idea, uses the storyline and themes of the fame to explore the landscape of American violence . between 1870 and 1920,

I have always loved history. I also love video games though I've never played Red Dead Redemption. I was very excited to pick.up this book for those reasons and because of the unique way of relating US history. This book far exceeded my expectations. It made the history lover in me very happy. I learned so many things I wish I had known before. US history is vast and there is so much to learn. Much of what we have been taught is wrong or incomplete.

This book is exciting to read. The author's writing style.is so good, he makes learning a page turning experience. I wish I could take his class because this idea for Red Dead's History is unique and fun. He also does a good job making you want to play the video game.

Read this book. It's a top read of the year for me.

Given the title of this book, you would think it simply tells the history of the video game Red Dead Redemption II, but it's much more than that. It actually compares the history as it is depicted in the game, which is set in 1899, and the true history of that year. I don't play video games but I do love history, so I was curious to see what the author had to say about this. It turns out that Red Dead Redemption II is more accurate historically than most video games, even though it does slip into stereotypes on the rare occasion. Red Dead's History reads like a history textbook, but much less dry. I learned quite a bit about that time period and enjoyed reading this book very much.

All in all, this was a very interesting read from start to finish, and I highly recommend it.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Tore C. Olsson for the opportunity to read and review Red Dead's History.

This is a must for fans of Red Dead Redemption 2 looking to delver further into the historical context surrounding the game's outlaw gang and their enemies (namely Pinkertons and brutal industrialists.) There were chapters relating to the Indigenous people of the era, post Civil War reconstruction, Appalachia mining towns and more. I loved learning about the reality of "cowboys" - way more likely to be striking for workers' rights than robbing trains and the way capitalism has shaped our country. Olsson has an extremely easygoing, approachable language for such serious topics and kept me engaged. I only wish the audiobook was available for review. Having Roger Clark, the actor behind the game's protagonist, read the audiobook will be a real treat.

(I am writing about this book and have interviewed the author for a forthcoming feature in Den of Geek. When I saw this book existed, I had to be the one to cover it because I'm a big fan of the games)

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press an advance copy of this history book that looks at American history as portrayed through a popular computer game, one that has probably had more influence and taught people more than schools whose books are being sanitized so as not to upset people who don't want to know the truth.

I was blessed with parents who never thought of video games as something that would rot our minds, or make us serial killers. My parents thought of it as a diversion, a reward for when school was done, the yard was mowed, a bed messily made. From Atari I moved up the ranks to the Commodore 64, where the games became a little more thoughtful, setting the way for PC games that included history as part of the gameplay. One never really thought about learning about world history through Sid Meir's Pirates, but there was a little bit of historical accuracy. And a whole lot wrong. Games though have progressed on one of the most popular, violent, controversial, and yet addictively interesting has been Red Dead Redemption II. A game that touts itself as a Western, but is something much more. As historian, educator and writer Tore C. Olsson noticed when he first started playing. In Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America's Violent Past discusses the history of America as presented in the game, how much the game got right, got badly wrong, and explores the importance of many of these moments of gameplay, and how this history still reverberates today.

COVID lockdown has been quite the muse for many books, and the this one is no exception. Left with no college courses to teach Tore C. Olsson bought himself a new PC game system, beginning with the hottest game at the time. Red Dead Redemption II. Olsson was absorbed by the story, but was impressed more by what the game got right about American history, even though the eras might be off. Olsson was so impressed that he began to teach a class on the game as history for his college course. Olsson looks at the game through the adventures of the characters, and writes about what the game presents, what they get right and wrong. Olsson looks at the role of women, especially the question of voting, which makes up a minor adventure. The role of cowboys is discussed, with a little myth breaking here, pointing out that many cowboys were minorities, something omitted in many histories and popular westerns. As the game is a little violent, meaning a lot violent the culture of guns makes up a chapter, how even back than there were lovers of gun porn, and the ease in which a gun could solve problems. What was a surprise was the discussion on the railroads, labor issues, and strike busting Pinkertons, something that is not much discussed in books, as that might be a little to Commie Red for kids to learn about.

One of the best primer's I have read on American history that I have read. Not only does Olsson write well about the game, Olsson has a very nice writing style that makes the real history not only interesting but real. This book is probably better than the books I had in history class, and that was before the plans to take over school boards and make people worker drones of patriotism began. One can learn the real story about the growth of railroads, and the large government subsidies that railroad magnates received, all while cheating workers. Olsson is also quick to point out the wrong things, the era seems off, the racism about the people who dwell in the Appalachians, and many other things.

Fans of the game will enjoy this, and hopefully learn quite a bit. I did not expect such a well written, and presented history, especially based on a shoot-em-up. This book exceeded my expectations, and I will be pushing this on a lot of people. History effects us all, and many of the issues that we are dealing with started about these times. Ignorance solves nothing, nor does one side controlling the issue. A fantastic book for gamers, teachers, parents, and people who love well-written history.

In full disclosure, I'm not a gamer and have never played any iteration of Red Dead. But the person reading this book doesn't really need to be familiar with the game to enjoy the book. And Olsson does write this book with a great deal of passion and enthusiasm. The majority of the book opens with a reference to different events that happen in the game as the beginning of a chapter, and then proceeds to a high-level comparison to real life events and how the game aligns or strays from reality. This serves two valuable purposes. The first is explaining historical events in an easily digestible format for people that don't seek out historical information to give them a primer on life in three different areas of the country in the late nineteenth century. The second is to show that while there's still an excessive amount of violence in Red Dead Redemption II (the game Olsson focuses on in the book) that's unrealistic to reality, there's still much to gain from the efforts the developers made to make the game setting more historically accurate, including not just its portrayal of historical events but the people that populated the areas where the game takes place. This book isn't for someone that is looking for a deep dive of the time period or one of the specific topics he addresses. If you're a history buff with an affinity in particular for this time period you might appreciate the tie-in to a video game, but you won't necessary walk away with a lot of additional knowledge. Olsson also tends to stray into interpretations and opinions throughout the book, and while I don't disagree with him, take it into consideration when reading. Overall it was an enjoyable book and while it didn't dissuade me from reading it or make me feel like I was missing anything crucial to understanding the book, I can see how if someone is familiar with the game or a passionate fan of it, it would add an extra layer of enjoyment to reading it. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I must confess that I am not a gamer by any stretch of the imagination. I hadn’t heard of Red Dead Redemption II prior to reading this book. I was able to see the game through the kindness of my son, who demonstrated it for me. I watched him play and was struck by the beauty and realistic portrayal of the characters and the background scenery. I was fascinated by the action.
After an hour or so of watching, I started to read Red Dead’s History by Tore Olson. This book is fascinating. I like the easy conversational style of the author’s writing, which made me want to learn more about this history of the Old West and the life following the Civil War. The book, however, delves not only into that past, but it connects it to today. The book covers such topics as the the treatment of Blacks following the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, the Suffragist movement, the westward expansion with its displacement of Native Americans and the ensuing conflicts, and ends with the expansion into Appalachia for economic reasons. The author includes insight into such topics as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. All in all, it was all encompassing and very interesting to read.
I am sure few gamers really play and think “I wish I knew more about the history of the subject of this game.” After reading the book, though, I want to go back to the game and see it from the perspective of what I have read. I believe it would greatly enhance the game by doing so.
I am thankful that I had the opportunity to read this book. I will definitely recommend it to people I know enjoy reading histories. I know they would enjoy reading it. It might even change their minds about playing video games.

I have never played Red Dead Redemption, but my son has. So I chose this book to "preview" it for him. And I immediately recommended it to him. However, I think I may have enjoyed it more. I grew up in the West and currently live in the South. The author's discussion of the history of both were spot on. And I learned I few truths that differ from the way my Southern neighbors tell their history. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys history and or RDR.

I had not heard of Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption II, but when I asked my son about them, he raved about how good they were. I was intrigued by a book comparing the accuracy of a video game to real history, and this didn’t disappoint. American history professor Tore Olsson puts his popular class outline in book form. It’s an engaging read with thorough analysis, and it never shys away from discussing the complex and challenging historical events that the video game may not quite capture in its digital world. Highly recommended for anyone who loves history, … and video games. It’s a unique look at the Wild West through the medium of a video game. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author, for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I recently grabbed Red Dead Redemption 2, intrigued by the historical setting. As a history buff, I couldn't pass on giving this book a go either. This book uses the game as a lens for exploring this period of history. The author is a big fan and knows the game, but doesn't hesitate to point out when the game gets something wrong or doesn't include all the context. Or in some cases, events that got left out of the games altogether. This book is perfect for Red Dead fans who want to know more about the history of the game's time period in an accessible way.

This is a very good book aimed at the general reader on the major topics of the American West as told through the perspective of the video game series "Red Dead Redemption." The chapters are largely grouped around themes that make up the history of the West, for example interaction between Natives and Settlers, rail expansion and frequency of violence. The book is amply footnoted and contains an extensive bibliography. I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of books I had used in my studies (which began in the 1970s) as well as a reference to my first college history professor, Richard Maxwell Brown, whose focus of study was violence in American history.

The author does a good job of showing where the gameplay of the video game differs in time and place from the historical record. Some scenarios in the game did not fit with what was going on in the actual history, for example battles with Natives that extended into the early 20th century.

The author makes an effort to praise the developers of the video games for hewing as closely to actual history as they do. It's encouraging in our current video-obsessed world to see this occurring. I recall a visit to the Indianapolis Children's Museum in the 1980s where the computer game "Oregon Trail" was supplementing an exhibit on westward expansion. Those who have played this game will know that whatever the historical shortcomings of the game it often did encourage the players to learn more about the times. I could see that in the groups of children who after a turn on the computer actively entered the rest of the exhibit with enthusiasm.

This book does a good job of doing that as well and expanding a player's knowledge. I would hope that all players of this video game series could have a companion copy of this book to supplement what they experience online. It's also a valuable reference for those wishing to learn more of the actual history of the American West.