History Matters is a posthumous collection of thought-provoking essays by Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and bestselling author David McCullough, published by Simon & Schuster on September 16, 2025. Many of these 192 pages of essays appear in print for the first time, written at different points across McCullough's long career and all focused on the subject of his lifelong passion: the importance of history in understanding our present and future.

Edited by McCullough's daughter Dorie McCullough Lawson and his longtime researcher Michael Hill, the collection features a foreword by Jon Meacham. McCullough highlights the importance of character in political leaders, with Harry Truman and George Washington serving as exemplars of American values like optimism and determination. He shares his early influences—from books cherished in his youth to mentors who shaped him—and pays homage to those who inspired him, including writer Paul Horgan and painter Thomas Eakins. The book spans approximately 20 speeches, essays, and interviews.

Rich with McCullough's signature grace, curiosity, and narrative gifts, History Matters offers vital lessons in viewing history through the eyes of its participants. Acclaimed reviews include praise from the Associated Press as "a reminder of why he was one of the greatest historians of our time," and from The Wall Street Journal as a work whose "seriousness and simplicity reflect the author and make for beauty." The book is available in hardcover (ISBN 9781668098998), trade paperback, eBook, and unabridged audio download formats. David McCullough (1933–2022) twice received the Pulitzer Prize—for Truman and John Adams—and twice received the National Book Award, for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback.