From Publishers Weekly
Most readers have probably never seen the test on U.S. history given to new immigrants attempting to gain citizenship each year. This test-or one version of it-is reproduced here for those itching to see if they would make the cut as American citizens. The 91-question quiz will probably be stress-free for most people drilled in high school on the significance of the Electoral College. It kicks off breezily with, "What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?" But a few questions might make readers strain to recall their history lessons, especially the ones that demand amendment names and numbers. Some of the questions are intriguing simply because their wording is so ambiguous (i.e., "Who helped the Pilgrims in America?"). Others seem oddly subjective: "What is the most important right granted to U.S. Citizens?" But it is this overall arbitrariness that makes the quiz a stimulating read. Throughout the test, background history fills in the spaces between the questions, but seemingly little attempt is made by Skolnick, author of Simple Gifts: The Shaker Song and a contributor to the New York Times, to lighten up the tone of the book. While the title could be a fun trivia gift, the supplementary information is given in bland textbook style with endless lists of names and dates, making it seem more like a study guide.
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About the Author
Solomon M. Skolnick is the author of a forthcoming book on American history from 1000-2000 A.D. His previous books include The Home Gardener’s Sourcebook which is an ALA core title for U.S. public libraries, and Simple Gifts: The Shaker Song. His written and photographic work have appeared in Fine Gardening Magazine, Harrowsmith’s, Country Living, Diversions, The New York Times, and on the web pages of The History Book Club. He lives in Pleasantville, New York.
