We are just days into the 250th year of American independence. While the Founders wrote everything down, few people have time for dry lectures or dense textbooks. Most of us prefer to learn through the "entertainment principle"—absorbing history through compelling stories. My goal as an author is to inspire you to fact-check me. If my novels drive you to the library to uncover the real history, that is a win. To help you connect with the past, I am launching Countdown to 250: A Rebel's Collection of Books, Films, and Podcasts. This is a curated, multimedia list of the best historical fiction, nonfiction, and movies I have personally vetted.