Give Me Liberty!: An American History, Second Seagull Edition, Volume 1 [Paperback]

Eric Foner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0393932559 | ISBN-13: 978-0393932553 | Edition: Second Seagull Edition

Concise, clear, compact, Eric Foner’s brilliant synthesis of American history is the perfect teaching tool for the U.S. survey course.

Unlike so many textbooks that overwhelm beginning students with encyclopedic detail, Give Me Liberty! presents the events of American history in a nimble chronological narrative that equips students to understand their significance. It is a textbook that works

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eric Foner is the pre-eminent historian of his generation. Foner is highly respected by historians of every stripe—whether they specialize in political history or social history. His books have won the top awards in the profession, and he has been president of both major history organizations—the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians. He has worked on every detail of Give Me Liberty!, which displays all of his trademark strengths as a scholar, teacher, and writer. A specialist on the Civil War/Reconstruction period, Foner regularly teaches the 19th century survey at Columbia University, where he is DeWitt Clinton Professor of History. His latest trade title, The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery, won numerous awards including the Lincoln Prize, Bancroft Award, and the Pulitzer Prize.

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Second Seagull Edition edition (September 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393932559
• ISBN-13: 978-0393932553
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > History > Americas > United States

More About the Author

Eric Foner is DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, where he earned his B.A. and Ph.D. In his teaching and scholarship, Foner focuses on the Civil War and Reconstruction, slavery, and nineteenth-century America. His "Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877," won the Bancroft, Parkman, and Los Angeles Times Book prizes and remains the standard history of the period. In 2006 Foner received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching at Columbia University. He has served as president of the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the Society of American Historians. He is currently writing a book on Lincoln and slavery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for a History Textbook, February 1, 2010

By 

A. Gordon "A. Gord." - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Give Me Liberty!: An American History, Second Seagull Edition, Volume 1 (Paperback)

This is one of the most interesting US History books I have had to read for school. The writing flows well and makes it easier to read than most others of its kind. It avoids "listing" things like a lot of history books do (e.g. "the English did this, this, and this. The French did this, this, and this, and the Spanish colonization affected the Aztecs in this way, this way, and this way") which makes it much less painful. It is also very well organized and easy to follow, instead of skipping around too much in dates and events.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give Me Liberty Vol 1 2nd Edition, June 10, 2010

By 

KiKi "gold fingers" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Give Me Liberty!: An American History, Second Seagull Edition, Volume 1 (Paperback)

This is the best history textbook that I have ever read. It is written like a novel, and I can't seem to put it down. From having bad memories of grade and high school classes I didn't want to take U.S. History ever again. But this book erases all of that! I found it interesting that capitalism actually started in England. I apologize to the people that already knew that, but I didn't know that. That's why I am in school.

This book also makes it clear that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Like one reviewer said, one can get dark on the people who started America, (I won't use the same words that he did). That being said, after reading this you will realize how decisions that men made hundreds of years ago are still being made today. Also, the troubles that plagued their society plague ours today. There are definitely parts of the story that will make you angry!

So, if you get a chance to take a U.S. History class look out for a professor using this textbook. "Give Me Liberty" also has a companion book which is a compilation of the important documents mentioned in the text: "Voices of Freedom: Volume 1."

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your Time and Money..., March 8, 2011

By 

David Young - See all my reviews

This review is from: Give Me Liberty!: An American History, Second Seagull Edition, Volume 1 (Paperback)

The book is written more like a novel that paints a picture of early America throughout the entire course of the book. This is a complete change of pace from what is taught in most high schools, save a few. The author spends more time discussing relationships between certain people groups, than he does on the actual events themselves. The book is rather hard to follow in terms of history, due to the fact that it usually takes about 60 pages before you fully understand what the author is trying to say. I find it hard to believe this generation of college students are getting a legitimate history course, because unfortunately most teacher administer quizes and tests based on the small details and not the big picture, which is what history should be taught as. Small details should be left to upper division history classes because History majors are really the only students who will benefit from such tedious work. Between the focus on small insignificant historical details, and the authors boring writing style, i can't imagine any student actually reading one of the 60-80 page chapters and understanding nor retaining any of the information. I don't recommend this book to anyone who actually wants to learn about early American history, and in my personal opinion i think most colleges are wasting their time and the valuable time of the students, who by the way unfortunately have to pay for this torture. If you are a student, take heed and take a history class that does not require this text book. That way you might actually learn a thing or two.