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Very Short Introductions #334
American History: A Very Short Introduction
In a miracle of concision, Paul S. Boyer provides a wide-ranging and authoritative history of America, capturing in a compact space the full story of our nation. Ranging from the earliest Native American settlers to the presidency of Barack Obama, this Very Short Introduction offers an illuminating account of politics, diplomacy, and war as well as the full spectrum of social, cultural, and scientific developments that shaped our country.
Here is a masterful picture of America's achievements and failures, large-scale socio-historical forces, and pivotal events. Boyer sheds light on the colonial era, the Revolution and the birth of the new nation; slavery and the Civil War; Reconstruction and the Gilded Age; the Progressive era, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression; the two world wars and the Cold War that followed; right up to the tragedy of 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the epoch-making election of Barack Obama. Certain broad trends shape much of the narrative--immigration, urbanization, slavery, continental expansion, the global projection of U.S. power, the centrality of religion, the progression from an agrarian to an industrial to a post-industrial economic order. Yet in underscoring such large themes, Boyer also highlights the diversity of the American experience, the importance of individual actors, and the crucial role of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class in shaping the contours of
specific groups within the nation's larger tapestry. And along the way, he touches upon the cultural milestones of American history, from Tom Paine's The Crisis to Allen Ginsberg's Howl .
American History: A Very Short Introduction is a panoramic history of the United States, one that covers virtually every topic of importance--and yet can be read in a single day.
Here is a masterful picture of America's achievements and failures, large-scale socio-historical forces, and pivotal events. Boyer sheds light on the colonial era, the Revolution and the birth of the new nation; slavery and the Civil War; Reconstruction and the Gilded Age; the Progressive era, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression; the two world wars and the Cold War that followed; right up to the tragedy of 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the epoch-making election of Barack Obama. Certain broad trends shape much of the narrative--immigration, urbanization, slavery, continental expansion, the global projection of U.S. power, the centrality of religion, the progression from an agrarian to an industrial to a post-industrial economic order. Yet in underscoring such large themes, Boyer also highlights the diversity of the American experience, the importance of individual actors, and the crucial role of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class in shaping the contours of
specific groups within the nation's larger tapestry. And along the way, he touches upon the cultural milestones of American history, from Tom Paine's The Crisis to Allen Ginsberg's Howl .
American History: A Very Short Introduction is a panoramic history of the United States, one that covers virtually every topic of importance--and yet can be read in a single day.
184 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2012
191 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
About the author
Paul S. Boyer
432 books31 followersPaul S. Boyer is a U.S. cultural and intellectual historian (Ph.D., Harvard University, 1966) and is Merle Curti Professor of History Emeritus and former director (1993-2001) of the Institute for Research in the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has held visiting professorships at UCLA, Northwestern University, and William & Mary; has received Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships; and is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Society of American Historians, and the American Antiquarian Society. Before coming to Wisconsin in 1980, he taught at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (1967-1980).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_S._...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_S._...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
November 22, 2019
I loved this book, specially for it's format. Boyer succeeded in providing a compact yet comprehensive overview of the most important events and people that shaped the history of the United States. Very interesting way to start studying american history!
August 8, 2025
As a non-American general reader, this is a good 'road map' style book that gives a sweeping overview of American history from European colonialism to Barack Obama in 130 pages. Inevitably, that means it's top-level but Boyer does an excellent job of indicating areas for individual readers to delve into more deeply. It's pretty neutral but it is clear that Boyer finds slavery reprehensible - and I hadn't realised the extent to which slavery as a contested issue and system has driven so much of America's history.
What I like: There are so many little wow! moments for me. While Boyer keeps the writing succinct, you can sense that he's absorbed and filtered a huge amount of information in order to compress the story to the level required by this series. There is a quiet eye kept on the future, with some stories noted because of the way they will resonate with the projected audience when this was published in 2012. I particularly appreciated the chapter on constructing a new state after Independence, the intellectual project of the Constitution and the setting up of Congress etc.
What I would have changed: if I'd been the editor, I'd have re-balanced the focus. Of the nine chapters into which this is divided, the first five cover the story from 1492-1900, and the remaining four are the twentieth century to 2012. That means that the more familiar story, to me, of the twentieth century is given almost equal billing with the previous 400 years. This is clearly personal taste and dependent on each readers' starting point of knowledge but so much of twentieth century American history is intertwined with that of Europe so that it's familiar to me and I felt it becomes more of a tick box of issues: WW1, Jazz Age, Depression, WW2, Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, Civil Rights, Watergate, Reagan, Clinton, Bush's 'war on terror', Obama, with that list of assassinations: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, JFK...
Some of the questions I had going into this weren't really answered: I wanted to understand more about the history of the Democrat and Republican parties and what they stood for across time; I wanted to understand the place of religion in America's history and why it's such a potent force today when so many European societies are essentially secular states; I wanted a little bit more about why the idea of unregulated capitalism is almost dogma in the US, and why there is so much almost hysterical paranoia about socialism in a way that doesn't resonate in Europe (is it just the corollary of unbound capitalism?); I wanted to understand how a neutral historian would represent American/CIA support for attacks on democratically-elected regimes that the US didn't like (Chile, for example): the answer is note it and move on.
Still, this is American history in 130 pages: for a panoramic overview which is all we can expect, I think it does a good job. Some of the other books in this series have perhaps been more self-aware in problematising issues of history and historiography, and there's something just a tiny bit smug about the final conclusion that America has done more good in the world than not... I'm looking forward now to reading a more in-depth account.
What I like: There are so many little wow! moments for me. While Boyer keeps the writing succinct, you can sense that he's absorbed and filtered a huge amount of information in order to compress the story to the level required by this series. There is a quiet eye kept on the future, with some stories noted because of the way they will resonate with the projected audience when this was published in 2012. I particularly appreciated the chapter on constructing a new state after Independence, the intellectual project of the Constitution and the setting up of Congress etc.
What I would have changed: if I'd been the editor, I'd have re-balanced the focus. Of the nine chapters into which this is divided, the first five cover the story from 1492-1900, and the remaining four are the twentieth century to 2012. That means that the more familiar story, to me, of the twentieth century is given almost equal billing with the previous 400 years. This is clearly personal taste and dependent on each readers' starting point of knowledge but so much of twentieth century American history is intertwined with that of Europe so that it's familiar to me and I felt it becomes more of a tick box of issues: WW1, Jazz Age, Depression, WW2, Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, Civil Rights, Watergate, Reagan, Clinton, Bush's 'war on terror', Obama, with that list of assassinations: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, JFK...
Some of the questions I had going into this weren't really answered: I wanted to understand more about the history of the Democrat and Republican parties and what they stood for across time; I wanted to understand the place of religion in America's history and why it's such a potent force today when so many European societies are essentially secular states; I wanted a little bit more about why the idea of unregulated capitalism is almost dogma in the US, and why there is so much almost hysterical paranoia about socialism in a way that doesn't resonate in Europe (is it just the corollary of unbound capitalism?); I wanted to understand how a neutral historian would represent American/CIA support for attacks on democratically-elected regimes that the US didn't like (Chile, for example): the answer is note it and move on.
Still, this is American history in 130 pages: for a panoramic overview which is all we can expect, I think it does a good job. Some of the other books in this series have perhaps been more self-aware in problematising issues of history and historiography, and there's something just a tiny bit smug about the final conclusion that America has done more good in the world than not... I'm looking forward now to reading a more in-depth account.
March 21, 2015
This book put a lot of things regarding the current affairs of USA in perspective for me. I had many 'oh wow' moments. Plessy v. Ferguson was one. Another the consequences of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. He meant to highlight the plight of the labourers but the book ended up causing reforms in meat packaging to which he had said, "I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach". It really helped me sympathize with the struggles of a nation other than my own, and sparked my curiosity of American History.
I was pretty conflicted giving a rating for this one because it felt like a 3, yet if I consider the fact that this is a 'very short' introduction it definitely deserves a 4 because it was an excellent introduction and I learnt a lot. For someone outside of USA or the Americas, this book will provide a lot of information. If your someone who loves history even if it's a simple chronological listing of the facts with some occasional opinions and this is a great book to start with.
I was pretty conflicted giving a rating for this one because it felt like a 3, yet if I consider the fact that this is a 'very short' introduction it definitely deserves a 4 because it was an excellent introduction and I learnt a lot. For someone outside of USA or the Americas, this book will provide a lot of information. If your someone who loves history even if it's a simple chronological listing of the facts with some occasional opinions and this is a great book to start with.
June 22, 2025
Of course, synthesizing the entirety of American history, from pre-colonial to the contemporary, in about 130 pages is pretty dang difficult. So it is natural that there were aspects that I would have glossed over less and given more detail to, like the decades preceding the Progressive Era or the First Red Scare after WW1. Overall, though, I thought this was brilliantly done.
I thought it flowed super well, I learned things in a coherent manner and was able to make connections between times and events I knew about, but never really put together well. In 130 pages, I think this was actually great for those well-learned in American history AND those who are new to it. Fun, illuminating read.
I thought it flowed super well, I learned things in a coherent manner and was able to make connections between times and events I knew about, but never really put together well. In 130 pages, I think this was actually great for those well-learned in American history AND those who are new to it. Fun, illuminating read.
May 25, 2014
A highly competent but not particularly enjoyable book. By necessity, the author has condensed US history to such an extent that I didn't feel I had gained much in the way of understanding. I also felt that the author's liberal political views were over-represented in the book - it's not that I disagree with them it's just that I felt it skewed the book towards progressive political history at the expense of other areas. Worth a read, but perhaps less so if you already know a bit about US history.
November 1, 2012
American History: A Very Short Introduction provides its reader with as comprehensive a look at American political, social and cultural history as is possible in under 200 small pages (the standard format for the "Very Short Introduction" series, whose books are not only short but small as well) and in a well written manner. Virtually every event, person of significance and movement in American history receives at least a mention, which must have been a difficult task to accomplish given the strictures. What it does not do, however, is provide consistently up to date scholarship or a proper sense of proportion of America's triumphs to failures. It also contains a few errors and some of Boyer's interpretations of events will provoke disagreement with those who do not share his political leanings.
Boyer essentially begins with the English settlement of North America, dispensing with the pre-Columbian native peoples, Leif Ericson and non-English Europeans in only a few pages. The colonial period is one of the book's strengths as Boyer explains the development of the English settlements at Jamestown and Plymouth and the social development of the New World as different from that of the Old. The events leading to the Revolution are also nicely cataloged, and Boyer takes us from the post-Revolutionary war period through the Gilded Age in a fairly conventional manner.
Some of Boyer's interpretations of events rely on dated scholarship, however. A simplistic search for foreign markets accounts entirely for the Spanish-American War. His account of the New Deal places the stock market crash in the role of catalyst of the Great Depression failing to mention the role of monetary policy, which is at the core of today's economic understanding. He also dredges up the traditional misconception that Americans' fondness for coffee dates from the Boston Tea Party and incorrectly cites the date of England's Glorious Revolution. Boyer also cites a famous utterance by Andrew Jackson in defiance of the Supreme Court that is considered apocryphal.
Although explicitly Boyer strives for objectivity he does not always achieve it. His account is generally well balanced through Reconstruction, but his leftward leanings emerge shortly thereafter and his interpretation of events from the Gilded Age to the present too often becomes predictable and selective. Progressives are, unsurprisingly for a University of Wisconsin professor, lauded and nearly every legislative enactment of the New Deal and Great Society is given space. Like many historians, though, Boyer mistakes these enactments as achievements in their own right, and rarely analyzes whether they, in fact, accomplished their goals. For instance, he credits President Clinton with welfare reform but never asks why a Democratic president would see the need to reform it in the first place. His characterization of today's Tea Party as an offshoot of the religious right ignores the firestorm that occurred a result of policies that were perceived to "bailout" the impecunious (whether on Wall Street, in the housing market or the auto industry) at the expense of those who had behaved in a fiscally responsible manner in the Tea Party members' views.
Boyer concludes by cataloging America's many challenges and faults as he finds them today. Nonetheless, he concludes that "when the balance is drawn, America's record of achievement in advancing human well-being may ultimately outweigh the rest and prove a more lasting measure of national greatness than transient imperial power, military might, or a mere abundance of ephemeral material goods." The reader will likely need consult another book to understand, however, why that is.
Boyer essentially begins with the English settlement of North America, dispensing with the pre-Columbian native peoples, Leif Ericson and non-English Europeans in only a few pages. The colonial period is one of the book's strengths as Boyer explains the development of the English settlements at Jamestown and Plymouth and the social development of the New World as different from that of the Old. The events leading to the Revolution are also nicely cataloged, and Boyer takes us from the post-Revolutionary war period through the Gilded Age in a fairly conventional manner.
Some of Boyer's interpretations of events rely on dated scholarship, however. A simplistic search for foreign markets accounts entirely for the Spanish-American War. His account of the New Deal places the stock market crash in the role of catalyst of the Great Depression failing to mention the role of monetary policy, which is at the core of today's economic understanding. He also dredges up the traditional misconception that Americans' fondness for coffee dates from the Boston Tea Party and incorrectly cites the date of England's Glorious Revolution. Boyer also cites a famous utterance by Andrew Jackson in defiance of the Supreme Court that is considered apocryphal.
Although explicitly Boyer strives for objectivity he does not always achieve it. His account is generally well balanced through Reconstruction, but his leftward leanings emerge shortly thereafter and his interpretation of events from the Gilded Age to the present too often becomes predictable and selective. Progressives are, unsurprisingly for a University of Wisconsin professor, lauded and nearly every legislative enactment of the New Deal and Great Society is given space. Like many historians, though, Boyer mistakes these enactments as achievements in their own right, and rarely analyzes whether they, in fact, accomplished their goals. For instance, he credits President Clinton with welfare reform but never asks why a Democratic president would see the need to reform it in the first place. His characterization of today's Tea Party as an offshoot of the religious right ignores the firestorm that occurred a result of policies that were perceived to "bailout" the impecunious (whether on Wall Street, in the housing market or the auto industry) at the expense of those who had behaved in a fiscally responsible manner in the Tea Party members' views.
Boyer concludes by cataloging America's many challenges and faults as he finds them today. Nonetheless, he concludes that "when the balance is drawn, America's record of achievement in advancing human well-being may ultimately outweigh the rest and prove a more lasting measure of national greatness than transient imperial power, military might, or a mere abundance of ephemeral material goods." The reader will likely need consult another book to understand, however, why that is.
November 3, 2025
American history, albeit not as rich as other nations and cultures, is some of my favorite history to learn about. Still, reading about how a certain thing happened to a certain person on a certain date bores me to death. Tell me a story, man! Besides, while I get that politics and culture are often intertwined, this book was mainly just politics, and it detailed who won which election and how it affected foreign affairs. I'd rather the focus be on the characters and cultures at home. I feel like I learn more about America and her history from Forrest Gump or McMurtry and Steinbeck novels.
January 3, 2019
An excellent introduction to the history of the United States of America.
March 13, 2018
So, I've finally finished American History: A Very Short Introduction by Paul S. Boyer. It took me quite a while, but I enjoyed the read. This book gives a broad overview of the history of America. As I am very interested in history, I knew a lot of things. But I also gained a lot of new knowledge. I liked the parts about the "older" history of America more than the contemporary history. The chapters about the Declaration of Independence, Slavery and Conflicts were super interesting. Some things were quite difficult to understand, mostly because of very technical terms I don't even know in my mother tongue German.
I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot. I read about famous people, which was very interesting. The other half was mostly about contemporary history, which I know a lot about because of me studying history as well. It was a bit tiring for me to read it all over again. But it's still an important era for American history. The book wasn't that objective in my opinion. It felt like the author put a lot of his thoughts and believes into the book. I'm also not so sure if the book is politically correct in all ways.
All in all, it was a very informative but long read. I enjoyed the book and gained some new information. It's a good overview of the history of America. I enjoyed American Women's History: A Very Short Introduction a lot more to be honest.
I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot. I read about famous people, which was very interesting. The other half was mostly about contemporary history, which I know a lot about because of me studying history as well. It was a bit tiring for me to read it all over again. But it's still an important era for American history. The book wasn't that objective in my opinion. It felt like the author put a lot of his thoughts and believes into the book. I'm also not so sure if the book is politically correct in all ways.
All in all, it was a very informative but long read. I enjoyed the book and gained some new information. It's a good overview of the history of America. I enjoyed American Women's History: A Very Short Introduction a lot more to be honest.
May 4, 2021
The first half and last chapter were really interesting, the rest was a bit of a struggle if I'm honest. Definitely a fair few "oooh really, I see the connection" moments in the better sections.
May 22, 2024
uoversiktlig
March 27, 2020
Bleh hate, but finally finished this course yay
Read
August 3, 2025Dumb ass grad school reading how does a book that insists it’s not American exceptionalist somehow still do it
December 10, 2013
America is one of the most fascinating and influential countries in the history of the World. For a while now it has been recognized as a singularly important country in the World, be it in terms of its economic and military power, its cultural influence, or its remarkable scientific and technological advances. This is that much more remarkable considering that America is a relatively young country – as a nation it has only existed for close to a quarter of a millennium, and as an distinct political and cultural entity for perhaps a couple of centuries longer. This pales in comparison to any other major nation in the world, some of whose histories extend for several millennia. Nonetheless, America boasts of a rich and interesting history.
This very short introduction to American history aims to give a highlight of all the major historical developments over the last four centuries or so. It is for the most part a very accessible and digestible account. People who are already well familiar with American history will find a lot of information in here that they had already been exposed to in other settings. The first two thirds of the book or so is just a very straightforward and clearly written rehash of the main events and developments in American history.
Unfortunately as the book progresses it becomes increasingly tendentious and ideological. This is first manifested by the choice of topic covered (more and more space given to special grievance groups beloved by the liberal academics), then by the tendentious characterization of events and policies (liberal ones are always virtuous and “progressive,” while the opposition to them comes from the misguided conservatives), to the downright falsehood and lies that have been discredited many times by all objective sources, but have become articles of faith by the left (Bush himself never declared “Mission Accomplished,” there was no torture at Guantanamo Bay). The latter parts of the book read like a laundry list of highlights from the editorial pages of the New York Times or Huffington Post. They are not serious works of historiography by any measure. This is why I am unable to recommend this book to anyone interested in getting an objective and serious account of American history.
This very short introduction to American history aims to give a highlight of all the major historical developments over the last four centuries or so. It is for the most part a very accessible and digestible account. People who are already well familiar with American history will find a lot of information in here that they had already been exposed to in other settings. The first two thirds of the book or so is just a very straightforward and clearly written rehash of the main events and developments in American history.
Unfortunately as the book progresses it becomes increasingly tendentious and ideological. This is first manifested by the choice of topic covered (more and more space given to special grievance groups beloved by the liberal academics), then by the tendentious characterization of events and policies (liberal ones are always virtuous and “progressive,” while the opposition to them comes from the misguided conservatives), to the downright falsehood and lies that have been discredited many times by all objective sources, but have become articles of faith by the left (Bush himself never declared “Mission Accomplished,” there was no torture at Guantanamo Bay). The latter parts of the book read like a laundry list of highlights from the editorial pages of the New York Times or Huffington Post. They are not serious works of historiography by any measure. This is why I am unable to recommend this book to anyone interested in getting an objective and serious account of American history.
February 11, 2022
Have your grains of salt handy, but, having just finished listening to it, I think of this book as no more than a tabloid timeline of events mired in omissions and inaccuracies. Take this for an example (italic mine):
The munitions were, in fact, sold to persons and groups affiliated with the anti-American Iranian regime, which is what makes for the "Iran" part of the "Iran-Contra scandal" in the first place. What this kind of error tells me is that the author is seeking to include a lot of important headlines without necessarily getting their basics, let alone taking them apart and fathoming them into syntheses.
The Great Depression, the Great Recession, the Prohibition, among other formative trends, receive scant attention, while other things are blown out of proportion. The hodgepodge goes on only to come, in the very last paragraph, to a judgmental conclusion over whether or not America is a great nation after all.
As I implied at the beginning, this account may be exaggerated due to my freshly disappointed expectations that the book might help me think about and understand stuff. I just didn't enjoy the book that way.
In 1984, with the economy improving, Reagan won reelection. Pursuing its anti-communist agenda, the administration funded insurgents, called contras, battling Nicaragua’s leftist government. The administration also sold arms to shadowy groups opposed to Iran’s anti-American regime.
The munitions were, in fact, sold to persons and groups affiliated with the anti-American Iranian regime, which is what makes for the "Iran" part of the "Iran-Contra scandal" in the first place. What this kind of error tells me is that the author is seeking to include a lot of important headlines without necessarily getting their basics, let alone taking them apart and fathoming them into syntheses.
The Great Depression, the Great Recession, the Prohibition, among other formative trends, receive scant attention, while other things are blown out of proportion. The hodgepodge goes on only to come, in the very last paragraph, to a judgmental conclusion over whether or not America is a great nation after all.
As I implied at the beginning, this account may be exaggerated due to my freshly disappointed expectations that the book might help me think about and understand stuff. I just didn't enjoy the book that way.
December 13, 2022
... Therefore, before going for any of the numerous great nonfiction books on the short yet profound history of America, I picked this little book to ease my way into the broader field of knowledge on American history out there. And it paid off. Boyer’s flowing prose along with his handling of the difficult task of cramming the 2.5 centuries of American history into mere 181 pages, makes this book a five star for me.
Full review:
https://hifzehayat.blogspot.com/2021/...
Full review:
https://hifzehayat.blogspot.com/2021/...
May 2, 2014
While this book may claim in its preface to be an objective history of the United States, I assure you it is grossly biased. Chapter nine especially belonged in an op-ed column, not a history book.
February 9, 2016
Tempted to give five stars. Very good primer. Four hundred years in 138 pages! Clear, well written. Obviously pretty basic but I still learned a lot. Pretty impressive achievement by the author!
May 31, 2019
American History: A Very Short Introduction
When the balance is drawn, despite its many indelible dark passages shortcomings, America may truly be considered a great nation for its advancements of the human rights, social justice, and of the arts and science that have collectively propelled the human civilisation forward.
Remarkably, history does not lend support to the notion of American exceptionalism; it shows that the rise of US to global preeminence was really a combined results of: an extraordinary concentration of enlightened individuals who drafted the US Constitution, the universal appeal of liberty, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness that attracted the best minds from around the global during two world wars, American Civil War, Progressive movements and Civil Rights Movements that healed the political divide and forged a cohesive American national identity, the exceptionally good fortunate of history during the two world wars that not only left US industry unaffected but also supplied the US with great talents and crucial economic stimulus, and the system’s barely functional ability for continued correction and revival.
Beginnings: Pre-history to 1793 is about early settlement, colonisation, growing independence sentiments, and “no taxation without representation”
1763–1789: Revolution, Constitution, a new nation is about war for independence and the drafting of US Constitution guided by the nation’s own history and Enlightenment philosophies.
1789–1850: The promise and perils of nationhood is about early formation of political parties and the political swings as a result of different parties representing different interests.
1850–1865: Slavery and Civil War is about civil war led by Lincoln to end (not quite) slavery the ensuing reconstruction and the remaining problems behind Emancipation Proclamation.
1866–1900: Industrialization and its consequences is about the unsettling realties of Laissez-faire capitalism as described by Mark Twin as the Gilded Age during early industrialisation and the debate on social Darwinism.
1900–1920: Reform and war is about Progressive Movement social reform by Teddy Roosevelt to moderate capitalism and WWI - the start of the American Century.
1920–1945: From conflict to global power is about the roaring twenties and again the untamed consequence of capitalism, followed by Great Depression, New Deal to counter Great Depression, and WWII that brought US to global preeminence.
1945–1968: Affluence and social unrest is about post WWII abundance and Civil Rights Movements and Cold War.
To the present is about ending Cold War, Reagan and Bush tax cuts that benefited the rich, Obama’s election, sifting democracies, challenges by emerging economies and much more complicated domestic and global issues ahead for the United States.
Preface
The difficulty of conturing American history is characterised by the author as “Of the many challenges confronting anyone rash enough to set about writing an American history, perhaps the most formidable is simply to penetrate the dense clouds of myth, preconceptions, and ideological abstractions that sometimes seem to envelop the nation’s history so completely that the unadorned reality disappears in the mists. ”
American is many things to her inhabitants. European viewed America a “New World” full of hope. Waves of immigrants carried the same hope of Liberty. Some subscribed religious significance to such as the Puritans. These evangelical Americans viewed America has having a special place in God’s cosmic scheme. The semi-secular notion of American exceptionalism endorsed by Reagan as “a shining city on a hill”.
Common themes throughout this book: immigration, urbanization, slavery, continental expansion; the global projection of U.S. power, the centrality of religion, the progression from an agrarian to an industrial to a post-industrial economic order.
Due to character constraint, the full version of my excerpts/review is available at https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/67668574
When the balance is drawn, despite its many indelible dark passages shortcomings, America may truly be considered a great nation for its advancements of the human rights, social justice, and of the arts and science that have collectively propelled the human civilisation forward.
Remarkably, history does not lend support to the notion of American exceptionalism; it shows that the rise of US to global preeminence was really a combined results of: an extraordinary concentration of enlightened individuals who drafted the US Constitution, the universal appeal of liberty, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness that attracted the best minds from around the global during two world wars, American Civil War, Progressive movements and Civil Rights Movements that healed the political divide and forged a cohesive American national identity, the exceptionally good fortunate of history during the two world wars that not only left US industry unaffected but also supplied the US with great talents and crucial economic stimulus, and the system’s barely functional ability for continued correction and revival.
Beginnings: Pre-history to 1793 is about early settlement, colonisation, growing independence sentiments, and “no taxation without representation”
1763–1789: Revolution, Constitution, a new nation is about war for independence and the drafting of US Constitution guided by the nation’s own history and Enlightenment philosophies.
1789–1850: The promise and perils of nationhood is about early formation of political parties and the political swings as a result of different parties representing different interests.
1850–1865: Slavery and Civil War is about civil war led by Lincoln to end (not quite) slavery the ensuing reconstruction and the remaining problems behind Emancipation Proclamation.
1866–1900: Industrialization and its consequences is about the unsettling realties of Laissez-faire capitalism as described by Mark Twin as the Gilded Age during early industrialisation and the debate on social Darwinism.
1900–1920: Reform and war is about Progressive Movement social reform by Teddy Roosevelt to moderate capitalism and WWI - the start of the American Century.
1920–1945: From conflict to global power is about the roaring twenties and again the untamed consequence of capitalism, followed by Great Depression, New Deal to counter Great Depression, and WWII that brought US to global preeminence.
1945–1968: Affluence and social unrest is about post WWII abundance and Civil Rights Movements and Cold War.
To the present is about ending Cold War, Reagan and Bush tax cuts that benefited the rich, Obama’s election, sifting democracies, challenges by emerging economies and much more complicated domestic and global issues ahead for the United States.
Preface
The difficulty of conturing American history is characterised by the author as “Of the many challenges confronting anyone rash enough to set about writing an American history, perhaps the most formidable is simply to penetrate the dense clouds of myth, preconceptions, and ideological abstractions that sometimes seem to envelop the nation’s history so completely that the unadorned reality disappears in the mists. ”
American is many things to her inhabitants. European viewed America a “New World” full of hope. Waves of immigrants carried the same hope of Liberty. Some subscribed religious significance to such as the Puritans. These evangelical Americans viewed America has having a special place in God’s cosmic scheme. The semi-secular notion of American exceptionalism endorsed by Reagan as “a shining city on a hill”.
Common themes throughout this book: immigration, urbanization, slavery, continental expansion; the global projection of U.S. power, the centrality of religion, the progression from an agrarian to an industrial to a post-industrial economic order.
Due to character constraint, the full version of my excerpts/review is available at https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/67668574
August 3, 2019
Again, a very well written introduction to a subject that prior to reading I did not have enough knowledge. I liked that the author did not shy away from critisicing the subject of discussion. This short essay also helped my finally put the major events of US history in the correct boxes and understand the chronological sequence of events.
I also liked to put the chronology of immigrants in place, which helped explain while southern and eastern Europe immigrants also faced discrimination that the English, Germans and Scandinavians seemed immune to.
It also highlighted the presidents that I share the most with, such as FDR, being by far the most admirable one, as well as TR, LBJ (at least as far as internal affairs are concerned since his weak international presence is already notorious) and, naturally, Lincoln.
Overall a great read, tha helps to put into perspective both why the present day US is as it is, as well as its overall position in history of the world. While usually being critical of the country, I cannot help but agree with the authors conclusion, that the good of the nation definetely outweight the bad.
I also liked to put the chronology of immigrants in place, which helped explain while southern and eastern Europe immigrants also faced discrimination that the English, Germans and Scandinavians seemed immune to.
It also highlighted the presidents that I share the most with, such as FDR, being by far the most admirable one, as well as TR, LBJ (at least as far as internal affairs are concerned since his weak international presence is already notorious) and, naturally, Lincoln.
Overall a great read, tha helps to put into perspective both why the present day US is as it is, as well as its overall position in history of the world. While usually being critical of the country, I cannot help but agree with the authors conclusion, that the good of the nation definetely outweight the bad.
May 11, 2021
Really enjoyed this as an overview - put a lot of things into context. A good balance of describing factual historical events along with drawing out trends/patterns.
Still can't get over that when Europeans discovered various continents the default mindset wasn’t to treat the people that lived there like humans. Would they have done if they had a language in common? If they had an industrialised society? Why are we so awful??
Americans don’t really drink tea, STILL TODAY (nutters), ever since the 18th century boycott of British imports.
Quotes I enjoyed:
"Perfect objectivity is another illusion of course, yet it remains a worthwhile goal."
“Jesus did not return in 1844”
"The US stands as the epitome of late capitalism, extending its corporate tentacles everywhere in the search for markets, cheap labour, and natural resources."
Still can't get over that when Europeans discovered various continents the default mindset wasn’t to treat the people that lived there like humans. Would they have done if they had a language in common? If they had an industrialised society? Why are we so awful??
Americans don’t really drink tea, STILL TODAY (nutters), ever since the 18th century boycott of British imports.
Quotes I enjoyed:
"Perfect objectivity is another illusion of course, yet it remains a worthwhile goal."
“Jesus did not return in 1844”
"The US stands as the epitome of late capitalism, extending its corporate tentacles everywhere in the search for markets, cheap labour, and natural resources."
Read
July 27, 2021Don’t Buy this book. Burn it!!
Boyer’s book is slanted so far to the left it fell off my table. No wonder there is division in America. This is probably how CRT started. Someone figured if Boyer can get away with revising history, CRT will be a cupcake. My son read it for school (It’s not free so I’m not happy about it). He kept reporting things he read that were blatantly misleading and equivocal. I asked him to show me the book. We’re a moderate family and have friends and family who lean both ways. We can attest to the fact that most Republicans aren’t religious fundamentalist, and the Tea Party is not white supremacists. Boyer must live in an echo chamber and believes what he reads on Twitter. Hey Boyer! Read a real history textbook and learn the scientific method while you’re at it.
Boyer’s book is slanted so far to the left it fell off my table. No wonder there is division in America. This is probably how CRT started. Someone figured if Boyer can get away with revising history, CRT will be a cupcake. My son read it for school (It’s not free so I’m not happy about it). He kept reporting things he read that were blatantly misleading and equivocal. I asked him to show me the book. We’re a moderate family and have friends and family who lean both ways. We can attest to the fact that most Republicans aren’t religious fundamentalist, and the Tea Party is not white supremacists. Boyer must live in an echo chamber and believes what he reads on Twitter. Hey Boyer! Read a real history textbook and learn the scientific method while you’re at it.
April 24, 2018
Read it while travelling to the US. It's an accurate book but not an enjoyable book as such - hard work persevering in order to read it. But it did help me get a clearer overview of how the US got to be where they are today. It is very objective and faces such colossal national sins as invading Iraq and 'the weapons of mass destruction' fiasco. So the author does tell it like it is, warts and all. The author is a historian and it reads like an academic book. But that's all I wanted. But now I'd like to find a 'page Turner' of a book on US history. Someone must have written one out there I'm sure.
November 29, 2019
This short history of America is adequate as an outline of the major events in the story of the U.S.A. from the 18th Century through the first decade of the 21st Century. I think the six paragraphs on the Reconstruction period (1865-1877) was too limited for this important topic. Professor Boyer seems more at home when highlighting the issues of the 20th Century. His recommendations for further readings is solid. I would recommend this book only to those individuals with little knowledge of the subject. Those with a good grounding in U.S. history will find this book to elementary.
April 7, 2024
3.5 It does the job, you get the main thrust of American history expertly told - I was reading it in preparation for some more serious/detailed/specialised books on the topic. It's not among my favourite books in this series, though, as I didn't love the style. And I am rounding it down, as after the Trail of Tears, the indigenous people were mentioned exactly three times (and I mean mentioned: once in brackets and twice in a single sentence.) I know that with these concise books, difficult decisions need to be made, but I don't think this was the correct one.
August 14, 2024
Read this book for school, so I'm automatically not going to be that invested. I'm also not a fan of nonfiction accounts, especially considering this is about the U.S. I think Boyer did well in keeping it concise, but also the paragraphs would kind of go all over the place, making timelines and names hard to follow sometimes. Overall, it was okay, I think it'll help me to have a basic idea of U.S. history for my APUSH class, but I would never read this kind of book on my own time or pleasure.
June 9, 2020
The author covers a broad narrative of American history. The broad themes are explained through sub-headings which lead on to different themes. These can then be researched further for those interested. Although the detail is very basic, this is to be expected in a book which only has the potential to glance a broad sweep across American history.
February 16, 2023
一本非常简明的美国历史，从发现新大陆的殖民地时期讲到奥巴马时期，以时间为线索，简要的介绍的美国。对于对美国历史不甚了解的读者有帮助。
章节以历史阶段划分，简明扼要，比起一些讲故事、以小见大，看了目录不知所云的书，我更喜欢这本。
阶段划分如下：
第一章 发端：1763年前早期史
第二章 1763—1789：革命、制宪和新共和国的诞生
第三章 1789—1850：新共和国的希望与隐忧
第四章 1850—1865：奴隶制与美国内战
第五章 1866—1900：工业化及其后果
第六章 1900—1920：改革与战争
第七章 1920—1945：从冲突到全球大国
第八章 1945—1968：富足与社会动荡
第九章 当代美国
遗憾的是，作者并未给出如此划分的依据，有些能从文中找出，如如1865年的节点是美国内战结束，有些实在不知道作者如何确定的年份。
章节以历史阶段划分，简明扼要，比起一些讲故事、以小见大，看了目录不知所云的书，我更喜欢这本。
阶段划分如下：
第一章 发端：1763年前早期史
第二章 1763—1789：革命、制宪和新共和国的诞生
第三章 1789—1850：新共和国的希望与隐忧
第四章 1850—1865：奴隶制与美国内战
第五章 1866—1900：工业化及其后果
第六章 1900—1920：改革与战争
第七章 1920—1945：从冲突到全球大国
第八章 1945—1968：富足与社会动荡
第九章 当代美国
遗憾的是，作者并未给出如此划分的依据，有些能从文中找出，如如1865年的节点是美国内战结束，有些实在不知道作者如何确定的年份。
February 3, 2020
Didn't like it much. Not bad per se, but sometimes the author flew through dates like he was a history teacher trying to keep up his schedule while the end term looms near.
Not enough analysis. Not critical at all.
Not enough analysis. Not critical at all.
June 30, 2020
As the cover says, it’s a very short history. Boyer hits the salient points and then moves on. It’s not concise but big picture providing each era with an overall theme and then showing how the major events fit into it. Extremely well written and well researched.
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