Wow, you have already received lots of great reading recommendations. I haven't read the Paul Johnson book mentioned, but I have read others and I recommend him highly.
Samuel Huntington is required reading in grad school and you can't go wrong there.
I would also recommend Our Oldest Enemy, by Stephen C. Moore. It's a fascinating history of US relations with France and dispels the myths of French friendship and alliance since the dawning of our country. It's quite a shock to read what French governments have tried to do to the US.
Yikes! Wrong author! John J Miller. My apologies
"Our Oldest Enemy, by Stephen C. Moore."
Yes, just reading the reviews of that book shocked me. I really thought the French were our friends.