Customer Reviews

The Everything American History Book: People, Places, and Events That Shaped Our Nation (Everything Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love history but not being an american citizen I needed a good overview wich I found in this book. I havent read it all yet but have found what I read very interessting and well written. I would like maybe just a few more pictures.

It's about America and I loved it so I guess I'm one of the Americans a previous reviewer talks about with such distain. Yeah we ARE unique. We are not "just another country". If other countries and the people in them who benefit from our wealth and power without actually contributing anything back to us don't understand that then this book will do nothing to change their minds. It covers all the basics and was written (apparently) by someone that enjoyed the subject. Hurray! It's very readable. I'm slowly getting hooked on the "EVERYTHING xxx" series of books and this book helped lasso me in. I plan on teaching History in my next career and this book will be a great help.

..not the second one, written by John R. McGeehan!

I enjoyed first part of this book from the library and I decided to buy it. Unfortunately, without paying attention, I ended up with the second edition - awful writing and very boring from the beginning - and I had to reorder it again. Hope the right one will be delivered.:-)

This book covers the basic basics of American history, both in fact and with some interpretation. While I tire of the ga-ga patriotism on every page - the author repeatedly says that US history is the most interesting ever, that the country is the most accomplished, etc., etc. - it is constantly stimulating for us and a source of discussion in my household.

Oddly, the book does not indicate what level of reading it was written for. I wanted to find something comprehensive and solid yet entertaining, which was NOT to be found in the children's section so I had to go to the adult history section. It was for my daughter, who is in third grade in Europe, and who needs to learn some American history because we are moving to the US. It is truly ideal for that. However, I believe that it is far much more advanced readers, prehaps middle school. Also, though written in 2001, it was not updated for 9/11 in spite of some coverage of terrorism. It has been nice to see that my daughter is skeptical of the incessant claims of American exceptionalism, which comes out in our discussions of the book.

Recommended, though it verges on jingoism and blind patriotism that in the end appears parochial to me.

I originally checked this book out of my local library and ended up purchasing it because I could no longer keep renewing it. The book gives all of the important information from the pre-beginnings of America in an overview form. It brushes on all of the important facts including names and dates as well as interesting facts.

The information is easily retained since it reads like a novel appealing to the reader. I found myself once again interested in our country and wanted to read the book even though I originally obtained it to study for a teaching certification exam.