I've had good luck with popular history of late. Washington's Crossing was a thoughtful and thorough examination of the New York and New Jersey campaigns of the American Revolution, covering roughly August 1776 to March 1777. Fischer explains the background of the early revolution, the main players (British, German, and American), and then provides a detailed narrative of six months of war.

The main focus is on the First Battle of Trenton, as immortalized in the painting of Emanuel Leutze pictured on the cover. More than just an account of battles, though, Fischer uses the battles and their aftermath to paint a surprisingly broad picture of American and European politics during this period. It's military history, yes, but Fischer realizes that war is merely an extension of politics and culture, and the book reflects this understanding.

It's not a scholarly text, but Fischer makes thorough use of primary sources. I listened to the audiobook, so I can't speak for them with any authority, but I didn't get the impression that he was trying to pull a fast one on the reader. Unfortunately, without seeing the sources, the few controversial claims he makes must be taken at face value.

So, if you're like me and have a shamefully shallow idea of how the early Revolutionary War went down, give this book a try. Likewise, if you just generally like American or military history, I'd recommend it. The audiobook, narrated by Nelson Runger, is quite excellently done.