Customer Reviews

A People and a Nation: A History of the United States (Volume II, Since 1865)

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

 

 

I found this book have a different point of view about history. It makes things is more interesting because there is something that doesn't just dreaming about us, Americans.

There is no such thing as a "facts and figures" kind of text book-- all texts books are subjective in what they choose to include and focus on and what they dont...and guess what, "facts and figures" can be made from false or misleading scholarship. The book in which you are being so critical of is written by the top historians in America!!! They have done more research than you could imagine...just because America's past is complicated and full of ugly events doesnt mean telling that story makes them really "left". It is our history and the sooner we own up to it the better off our country will be. Great book and great primary source use for the classroom- loved it!

Although I appreciate the easy reading narrative format, I am incensed about the blatant defamatory rhetoric of the authors against "white Americans" as exploiters of American pioneering. They portray "white Americans" as superhuman, immune from hardship and failure as they waltzed across the western frontier purposely exploiting everyone and everything in their path. In my opinion the authors exhibit a personal vindictiveness against "white Americans".
My understanding has always been that the West was hard won. "White Americans" ventured west searching for a chance to a better life just like any people do today.
The authors ramble on with out any footnotes to historical documents to support their claims. Without reference they contradict themselves from one paragraph to the next.
My greatest worry, this book is being used as a text book to teach students in a required American history course in California universities.
Which way America?

I thought this text presented a very anti-American picture. While America's history includes actions that would draw criticism if weighed against current values, I don't think it is appropriate to apply modern values when judging leaders of our past in a textbook. Additionally, I found the text's use of facts one-sided, as exemplified by the omission of the significant MAGIC transcripts and the part they played in the decision to relocate those of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast during WWII. The only good thing I can say about the text is I found it easy to read.

I found this book to be more of a so-called cultural study instead of the old-fashioned facts-and-chronologies accounts of history. The book is highly opinionated to the point where the events unfold along the lines of the author's opinion about the matter. I also found the book to be heavily slanted to the Left-wing way of thinking.

My son was required to read this book for his history studies at school, but I can't help but wonder if there is any good American history book that plainly tells the facts.

Although I have no knowledge of this book yet. I have to say that History is a cultural study. There are facts and chronological events, but learning and teaching history should relate to the "Why?"

"Hunters will cease to be heroes when lions write history."