Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Justin Martin's books

493 ratings | 6 reviews | avg rating:4.27

Justin’s Year In Books

Justin’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Justin’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Justin’s 2025 Year in Books

Justin Martin’s Followers (53)

Justin’s Bookshelves

to-read (296)
currently-reading (0)
read (542)
did-not-finish (9)

Justin’s Friends (56)

Felice Cohen

992 books | 299 friends

Ching-In

18,848 books | 1,616 friends

George Langworthy

1,896 books | 6 friends

Lisa

900 books | 44 friends

Matthew Budman

1,354 books | 121 friends

Jacob Nordby

163 books | 1,114 friends

Théo Laüstic

31 books | 4 friends

Jennifer

1,091 books | 81 friends

More friends…

Justin Martin

Goodreads Author

Born

in Lafayette, Indiana, The United States

Website

http://www.justinmartin1.com

Twitter

JustinMartinNYC

Genre

Nonfiction, History, Children's

Influences

The following are influences because I love their writing, not because ...more

Member Since

June 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/justinmartin

edit data

My latest is A Fierce Glory, out in September (Da Capo Press). It's a group biography treatment of Antietam, the Civil War's pivotal battle, still America's single bloodiest day. The rich cast includes: Robert E. Lee, pioneering war photographer Alexander Gardner, and Jonathan Letterman, the father of battlefield medicine. Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation are woven into my account far more than in a typical military history of Antietam.

My specialty is American history, meticulously researched, but delivered in a narrative style that’s akin to fiction. My previous book was Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America’s First Bohemians (Da Capo, 2014) about a decadent and incredibly influential artists’ circle that hung out at Pfaff’s saloo My latest is A Fierce Glory, out in September (Da Capo Press). It's a group biography treatment of Antietam, the Civil War's pivotal battle, still America's single bloodiest day. The rich cast includes: Robert E. Lee, pioneering war photographer Alexander Gardner, and Jonathan Letterman, the father of battlefield medicine. Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation are woven into my account far more than in a typical military history of Antietam.

My specialty is American history, meticulously researched, but delivered in a narrative style that’s akin to fiction. My previous book was Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America’s First Bohemians (Da Capo, 2014) about a decadent and incredibly influential artists’ circle that hung out at Pfaff’s saloon in NYC during the 1850s. Among its members: a young Walt Whitman; Artemus Ward, America’s first standup comic; psychedelic drug pioneer Fitz Hugh Ludlow; and Adah Isaacs Menken, an actress notorious for her “"Naked Lady" act. Rebel Souls, chosen as the outstanding biography of 2014 by the Victoria Society, New York, and as a finalist for the Marfield Prize, was also picked as one of the best books of that year by both the Kansas City Star and Choice magazine.

Before that, I wrote Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted (Da Capo, 2011). Genius tells the story of one of the most important figures in the history of America. Olmsted was a fervent abolitionist, noted journalist, Civil War hero, early environmentalist, and the landscape architect behind New York's Central Park, Boston's Emerald Necklace, Stanford University, the Biltmore Estate and dozens of other green spaces around the U.S.

Other subjects have included Alan Greenspan and Ralph Nader. My Greenspan bio was selected as a notable book for 2001 by the New York Times Book Review. My Nader bio was a primary source for An Unreasonable Man, an Academy Award nominated documentary. I have also written a number of children's books for use in the classroom, everything from biographies to fractured fairy tales to titles designed to help young readers learn parts of speech. I'm a generalist. I love to write on varied subjects for both kids and adults.

I'm a 1987 graduate of Rice University in Houston, TX. I live with my wife and twin sons in Forest Hills Gardens, NY, a neighborhood designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.
...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Justin Martin questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Justin Martin’s books

Average rating: 4.26 · 1,839 ratings · 294 reviews · 9 distinct works • Similar authors

	Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted 4.35 avg rating — 1,258 ratings — published 2011 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America's First Bohemians (A Merloyd Lawrence Book) 4.13 avg rating — 248 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Fierce Glory: Antietam--The Desperate Battle That Saved Lincoln and Doomed Slavery 4.28 avg rating — 177 ratings — published 2018 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon 3.88 avg rating — 73 ratings — published 2002 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Greenspan: The Man Behind Money 3.48 avg rating — 80 ratings — published 2000 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Teach your Kid How to Hit a Baseball Like an All-Star - A Complete Baseball Batting Instruction Guide it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unknown Book 12394531 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Science Vocabulary Readers-Life Cycles Pack (Science Vocabulary Readers, 1-6) by Jeff Bauer, Justin Martin (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2007	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Human Body Science Vocabulary Readers 6-Book Set: The Amazing Human Body, Your Brain, Your Eyes and Ears, Your Heart, Your Mouth and Nose, and Your Skin and Bones by Lydia Carlin (2008-05-03) by Lydia Carlin, Megan Duhamel, Ruby J. Jameson 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Justin Martin…

rss
Justin’s Recent Updates

Justin Martin wants to read Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 23, 2026 08:00AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin wants to read Plainsong (Plainsong, #1) by Kent Haruf	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 22, 2026 11:55AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Plainsong by Kent Haruf. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Plainsong by Kent Haruf <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin finished reading The Summer Book by Tove Jansson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 18, 2026 04:42PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Summer Book by Tove Jansson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin rated a book really liked it Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 06, 2026 09:17AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Strangers by Belle Burden. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Strangers by Belle Burden <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin wants to read Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 04, 2026 10:24AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin wants to read 11/22/63 by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 04, 2026 10:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of 11/22/63 by Stephen King. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — 11/22/63 by Stephen King <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin rated a book it was amazing Fat City by Leonard Gardner	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 02, 2026 06:32PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fat City by Leonard Gardner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fat City by Leonard Gardner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin rated a book liked it Rontel by Sam Pink (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 31, 2026 08:02AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Rontel by Sam Pink. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Rontel by Sam Pink <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin rated a book it was amazing Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 04, 2026 03:48PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Justin Martin wants to read The Summer Book by Tove Jansson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 22, 2026 01:38PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Summer Book by Tove Jansson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Justin's books…

Quotes by Justin Martin (?)

“The Rebel plan was to sow chaos and more chaos, though some of the ploys were remarkably subtle. For example, a Union loss at Antietam might”
― Justin Martin, A Fierce Glory: Antietam—The Desperate Battle That Saved Lincoln and Doomed Slavery

0 likes

“sartorial”
― Justin Martin, Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted

0 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Book Nook Cafe: The Devil in the White City ~ Sept. 2011	234	145	Nov 06, 2011 05:41AM
Play Book Tag: Summer Reading—Not My Typical Beach Reads	33	46	Apr 30, 2018 05:17PM
Play Book Tag: Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon by Justin Martin -- 4 stars	2	15	Jul 11, 2018 10:49AM
The Reading For P...: What's On Your Monthly TBR-July 2020?	60	39	Jul 31, 2020 10:16AM
The Reading For P...: What's On Your Monthly TBR-August 2020?	61	41	Oct 01, 2020 03:17PM
Reading the 20th ...: What books are you reading now? (2020)	2222	175	Dec 30, 2020 03:14PM

More…

Justin’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Justin’s Year In Books

Justin Martin’s Followers (53)

Justin’s Bookshelves

Justin’s Friends (56)

Justin Martin

Goodreads Author

Learn moreAsk the Author

Combine EditionsJustin Martin’s books

rssJustin’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood

See a Problem?

Preview — Plainsong by Kent Haruf

See a Problem?

Preview — The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

See a Problem?

Preview — Strangers by Belle Burden

See a Problem?

Preview — Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart

See a Problem?

Preview — 11/22/63 by Stephen King

See a Problem?

Preview — Fat City by Leonard Gardner

See a Problem?

Preview — Rontel by Sam Pink

See a Problem?

Preview — Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

See a Problem?

Preview — The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

Topics Mentioning This Author

recent postsJustin’s Groups

Justin’s Friend Comments

Learn more
Ask the Author

Combine Editions
Justin Martin’s books

rss
Justin’s Recent Updates

recent posts
Justin’s Groups