Give Me Liberty! An American History, Volume 2: From 1865, Second Edition [Paperback]

Eric Foner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393932567 | ISBN-13: 978-0393932560 | Publication Date: September 16, 2008 | Edition: 2nd

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: 696 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 2nd edition (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393932567
• ISBN-13: 978-0393932560
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 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

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Undergrad Text, December 5, 2009

By 

R. Holden "Metalhead" (Waco, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Give Me Liberty! An American History, Volume 2: From 1865, Second Edition (Paperback)

I am taking two courses of American history at my community college. This book is the one that my history professor chose for the class. It is a solid treatment of the history of the United States focused around the advancement of liberty. It does not take steps to ensure a level of detail in the major wars like the Civil War or Revolution. Instead, it directs the student's attention towards events which set the stage for oppression, racism, sexism, and other discriminations. From the removal of the natives to the growing issue of slavery in the United States, Foner carefully outlines how the meaning of the word 'liberty' means different things to different cultures, and how it has changed over time. The unique qualities of American liberty are thoroughly treated. This makes the textbook flow with ease; students can easily see a growing pattern emerge in Foner's work. True to his background, Foner gives an extremely lucid presentation that set the stage for the Civil War, and the route to segregation afterwards.

My only complaint is that it does not cover the wars as thoroughly as I wished. However, this book is good enough that I will be keeping it after my two courses are done. If anyone has a friend who's interested in American history, this is the book to get them.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best History Book Ever!, July 6, 2009

By 

Casey Mcgarraugh - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Give Me Liberty! An American History, Volume 2: From 1865, Second Edition (Paperback)

Although I had a previous edition (the one with the better front cover art) I can honestly say that this is the best history book I've ever had to read. I actually read the text cover to cover and loved it. It does not flow like a text book, but rather like a novel. It was very enjoyable and the ease of it helped me get an A.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, January 18, 2010

By 

Lynne (Greensboro, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Give Me Liberty! An American History, Volume 2: From 1865, Second Edition (Paperback)

I ordered this textbook to use with the APUSH students that I tutor. The textbook is well-written and presents information in a straightforward manner. (This is the first year the students have used this text; previously they used The American Pageant which I found almost poetic in style and difficult for my students to process.) Foner's textbook has very helpful online material that accompanies it, including a topical outline of each chapter that helps students take notes and practice quizzes for each chapter. I would give Foner's book 5 stars if it had key words in bold type.