Customer Reviews

A Time for Freedom

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Lynne Cheney reveals her love for America's history and her commitment to scholarship in A Time for Freedom. A chronology of America's past from the arrival of the first Americans to the present day, this book presents the events that shaped our country in a way that is understandable and compelling. Cheney's organization of the book-it passes through history in date order, with short summaries of events instead of complicated explanations-gives the reader a sense of context that is rare in history literature, yet essential for understanding our national story. I learned that in 1968 alone, North Vietnam launched the Tet Offensive; assassins murdered Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy; police used tear gas against antiwar activists at the Chicago Democratic convention; and women protested the Miss America Pageant, in that order. Understanding this national suffering is surely necessary if we are to appreciate the hope that Neil Armstrong inspired across the country when, in early 1969, he became first person to walk on the moon!

Cheney has also filled the book with primary source quotations, images, and fascinating tidbits that, even as a college history student, I've never found anywhere else (for example, during World War II, Navajo Indians serving in the Marines used their native language to keep U.S. transmissions from being deciphered by the Japanese). Such rich information and captivating prose make A Time for Freedom the perfect gift for a student, a family, or (perhaps best of all), a busy adult who can't remember what she learned in American history class. I predict that this book will become a classic-and until then, I'm going to give it to everyone I know.

This is a wonderfully written resource for anyone who wants to brush up on their American history. The "timeline" format allows the reader to follow multiple stories at the same time and understand the context in which they occurred. Mrs. Cheney's succinct prose is complemented by a compilation of interesting quotations from many of our country's most famous (and some not as famous but no less important) figures. This book is a great starting point for anyone looking to reacquaint themselves with our country's past. I find myself using it as a reference for placing specific events within a larger context, which has helped me gain a greater appreciation for the complex story of America. A great gift for graduating high school students or your favorite college grad, as well as for anyone who enjoys American history.

Thank you once again to Lynne Cheney for caring enough to write a book for all of us who need to appreciate the history of our country more than we do. This book does more than just inform, it invites the average American to delight in the events that have contributed to the forming of our great America. I am proud to be an American and have watched friends and family make sacrifices for the freedom of all, but I remain one of the typical victims of the history snobs (otherwise known as history professors and experts) who cared more about impressing students with their high intellect than instilling a love for the history of our country in their students. Even at my age, after reading this book I am motivated to read more about some of the historical events presented in Mrs. Cheney's enlightening timeline. I am encouraged that a book like this can be given to young people and we can expect that their interest in historical events will be piqued. I plan to give this book to many people (young and old) as a gift to them and to all of us who want to see the pride and love of American history returned to its people! I highly recommend this book!

The art in both of Lynne Cheney's books that I've read are awesome! Very colorful and eye-catching!

But that's not all her books are about. She weaves many interesting facts into this book ... facts that keep the reader's interest to the very last word.

I hope to see more of this author's works.

I am a senior citizen and use Lynne Cheney's A Time for Freedom as a way to look up historical dates, events and leaders all the time. Cheney has taken the most important information and condensed it in an understandable way for all readers. An excellent handbook and guide to history, a must for all home libraries.

E.D.Hill has interviewed a great many people for this work and has compiled them into a series of interesting anecdotes

This is the "authorized" and "sound bite," version of a few of the highlights of American history, dumbed-down so much so that even those with short attention spans would get it. It follows Robert Whul's rule of "When the fact becomes legend, go with the legend." That is what has been done here: We have all of the favorite unchallenged legends of American history strung together as literary sound bites.

Although it is sure to be a best seller, since it is a regurgitation of the standard line, it is exactly what any respectable Historian dreads: selective isolated facts strewn across time without a context and with little rhyme or reason. Under the false banner of patriotism, this book is not a "Time for Freedom" but a "time to cash in on one's celebrity as "Second Lady."

As an alternative, to this red, white and blue, hors d'oeurve, I recommend any good Junior High History textbook, at least there you also get good pictures, charts and graphs.

Absolutely dreadful and shameful; one star.

Lynne does an excellent job affixing the white ruling class idelogy for your guppy children to soak up and defend. Too bad she doesn't plan to share the bounty stolen by her supremist perspective. There are much better ways to fill your children with wonder and optimism than to indocrinate them with one-sided vitrol wrapped in warmly illustrated fantasy art. People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.)Theres a reason it sells for 96% off every day- propaganda is never expensive, you get what you pay for... unless your a robber barron's wife!

I didn't read the entire book, simply browsed it for about 20 min while my daughter shopped for books in the kids section of the bookstore. However, it doesn't take much more than 20 min to get through it. The book is nothing but a timeline of miscellaneous events and grouped by presidency. Each event is covered by no more than a couple of sentences. You might learn some trivia going through it but not much else. It is also not a very objective view of US history - not a single "factoid" given for the 8 years of the Clinton presidency was positive, only negatives.

Save you money! This isn't really suitable for anyone who cares what their children read. Much, much better can be found elsewhere.