Customer Reviews

A Nation Transformed: How the Civil War Changed America Forever

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I've just finished A Nation Transformed: How the Civil War Changed America Forever by CSU East Bay/Hayward Professor Gerald S. Henig. Burnt out on chick lit, my boss recommended this book and to my surprise it's a pretty quick, easy, but fascinating read. With the exception of Gone with The Wind, Glory & my 11th grade history teacher, I've had very little exposure to the Civil War until this book, which is all the more reason why I felt compelled to write this review. For me, it's rare to discover, let alone dive head first into such a genre. Dealing with all the firsts that occurred during the Civil War era, the book is written in a series of short stories that anyone can pickup at anytime & not have to worry about losing their place. For example, it was the first time America had an organized intelligence agency ; first time passports to enter/leave the country were required; first time Blacks, Jews & Catholic served as military chaplains (obviously, only for the North); and first time there was a bearded president. What I really enjoyed, however, was how the author included many firsts regarding women: first time a female was executed by the U.S. (which was how the author got the idea to write the book; you'll have to read it to find out J ); served as a nurse; and was a spy. Best of all, you don't have to be one of those civil war junkies who love to reenact our country's transformation to enjoy it!

This book is more than just a story of battles and casualties and the carnage of war; it tells the story of a country struggling to define its character and set the course for its future. Driven by the impetus of war, great leaders came to the fore in all fields; military, government, science, transportation, medicine, journalism, communications, and education. Their discoveries benefit us even today. Their trials, tribulations and triumphs come alive once again in the pages of A Nation Transformed; How The Civil War Changed America Forever.

The authors tell their story in a style that flies with the speed of a rifle bullet and hits home with the impact of a cannonball. Calling the Civil War America's second revolution, they show that this second great struggle in our history allowed us to become not what we could be but rather what we should be, one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Why didn't they write history books like this when I was a student?! The reader will breeze through nearly 500 pages, featuring 150 historical firsts. History was never so exciting. It reads like a movie with over 160 photos and illustrations.

This book interested me because I was looking to learn more about American history. I have a high school history education and was looking to read something that was neither intimidating or dull. Further, I do not have a lot of time in the day to devote to reading, so this book proved to be perfect due to the style of the book. The book contains 14 chapters that address different aspects of the Civil War. Within each chapter are a dozen or so mini stories (approximately 1-4 pages), which describe a specific "first" that occurred during the wartime period.

I learned a lot and finished the book within days, which is rare for me. I have shared many of these mini stories with friends and family who were quite impressed about my newly acquired knowledge of the Civil War. This is a great read if you want to learn more about the war that revolutionized America. This is by no means a text book that discusses the war in a boring and chronological fashion. This book was so much fun to read and I look forward to future books from these authors.

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (6/07)

"A Nation Transformed: How the Civil War Changed America Forever" is the most comprehensive look at the Civil War that I have ever seen. The authors have definitely done their homework; their approach is much more than a pedestrian read. The book is very detailed and reader friendly.

I took this book on vacation with me to read on the beach in South Carolina where I spent a week with my sister's family. My brother-in-law is a huge Civil War fan who has read almost everything on the subject and visited all the famous battlegrounds. It did suspiciously disappear for 48-hours after he saw what I was reading. After I finished it, we sat and shared our different perspectives. He is much more knowledgeable about this subject than I am, so I am including his comments as well as mine in this review.

The book has an amazing amount of detail and the authors did an excellent job of including material that has never been written about. The comprehensive information includes personal information and background of the characters, how they grew up and how their personalities affected each other and the war. There was also a lot of information about African Americans and women not usually seen in period pieces. And, they not only wrote about the many aspects of the Lincoln presidency and how it affected the war, but about ordinary people doing extraordinary things throughout this time period.

The only fact in the novel that we found that was not correct was about the Monitor. The author's mentioned that it was discovered but nothing found. The turret was actually retrieved and is on display in Newport News, Virginia.

I read this book from a Northern perspective and found it to be excellent. The Southerner's might not necessarily agree with me. If you enjoy United States history and are looking for a book rich in detail about the most painful time in our history, then "A Nation Transformed" is the book for you.

Received book free of charge