I'm looking for a good documentary or book to learn the history of all the famous Texas cattle ranches. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Haven't read any, but I know the King Ranch has a few books for sale.

https://www.krsaddleshop.com/search?keywords=Book

Haven't read, but might be the book you're looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/Historic-Ranches-Texas-Lawrence-Clayton/dp/0292711891

Haven't read that Lawrence Clayton book, but I have these two and they're excellent

Contemporary Ranches of Texas with photos by Wyman Meinzer
Ranches across Texas: Alta Vista, Canales, Catarina, O'Connor, and Ray in South Texas; R. A. Brown, Chimney Creek, Goodnight, J A, Moorhouse, Nail, and Renderbrook Spade in the Panhandle and Northwest Texas; and Henderson Cove, Hudspeth River, Long X, and Hoskins 101 in the Trans-Pecos

31 Clear Fork Chronicles Stories from the ranches and cowboys of the Clear Fork of the Brazos - I remember this being very good

They Pointed Them East First by Jim Bob Jackson (2008-05-03) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FGPZ90Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_8XS785T36W21ET8TFKYE

Great book about White Ranch and others that took their cattle east to New Orleans to sell.

Bet that is an interesting book. I've read the diary of a Confederate Officer who was a cattle owner before the war. He started the diary before the war and his tales of driving cattle over the Sabine and the bayous of south Louisiana to New Orleans were harrowing and dangerous, made driving cattle to Kansas sound easy.

along similar but not historic lines...
21 Tips from a Dad to his son on getting an 1880 trail herd to Kansas
written as a business management textbook

BOSS: 21 Simple Rules to Make Your Business Grow and Keep Your People Happy

* Obey orders from your bosshe is paying you for your service.
* Look after the comfort of your men and they will follow you.
* Keep your mind on your business.
* Make your head save your heels.
* Be ready to go at all times.

and the one I remember - Park your chuckwagon with the tongue pointed at the north star
written by Texas Historian Don Frazier's brother Tim

Not a book, but interesting SI article about the good ole days on Pete Coffield's ranch at Catarina.


https://vault.si.com/vault/1969/11/10/meanwhile-back-at-the-coffield-ranch

The book "The Big Ranch Country" is worth checking out.

Ugh, I don't even like that trip in a car on I10. Can't imagine horseback with a bunch of cattle through all that mess. Atchafalaya….nope….

cowmans country does a good job. if you can't find it i'm happy to loan it. i live in belton