Eyewitness to America: 500 Years of America in the Words of Those Who Saw It Happen

by David Colbert

Three hundred eyewitnesses--some famous, some anonymous--give their personal accounts of the great moments that make up our past, infusing them with a freshness and urgency no historian can duplicate. With unparalleled and thrilling immediacy these excerpts from diaries, private letters, memoirs, and newspapers paint a fascinating picture of the evolving drama of American life.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Reference, School, Politics

599 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a remarkable read: collecting first-person accounts from pre-colonial times to the 1990 in America. This compiles journalism, correspondence, treatises, memoirs, and other primary sources. Some things that stood out for me were the disappointing first suffragette congress (they decided to have a panel of men run it) to Sojourner Truth's fiery speech to the same body a decade later, The rise of Texas and its loss by Mexico, the predatory hell of Andersonville prison, the methodical invention of basketball for non-athletes, Gutzon Borglum's desire to see a carved Indian head gazing at the (not yet) completed Mt. Rushmore figures, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team composed almost entirely of American soldiers of Japanese ancestry out of the internment camps and the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of American warfare, locked in with barricaded cops at Stonewall where a lot of specie was thrown (in mockery of the notorious system of payoffs – earlier dubbed “gayola” – in which police chiefs leeched huge sums from establishments used by gay people), and the final 1994 entry about email exchanges with Bill Gates - a medium that already seems quaint.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a high school history teacher (not mine! that was many years ago...) based on a casual comment I made about wishing I knew more about a broader section of American History. It is a collection of tasty historical vignettes, written from many different perspectives. It is sort of like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get, but the experience of discovering what's inside each piece is worth it. Each of the short sections is about a specific historical event and is based on a letter, article, memoir or interview -- some sort of "eyewitness" account of the happening. I am sure that even a true history buff will learn something new about our past based on the accounts in this book. I pick it up every now and then and re-read another few sections. While the vignettes are chronological, you can really read any section independently.

[Graceann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved about this particular book is that there isn't a historian in sight - nobody is writing it from the subjective slant of 50 (or 500) years' time - the accounts presented are from the diaries, letters and articles written by the people who actually took part in the events - a person on Columbus' crew, John Adams, the seconds at the Burr/Hamilton duel, etc. Spanning the time from Columbus through Bill Gates and email, this is a sprawling volume, split into short essays that are easy to read and not overwhelming on the eye. What it does best is interest you in a story so that you want to investigate further by reading book-length discussions. Of particular interest were the two wildly diverging viewpoints on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, and how not all who heard it were enthralled at the time. Very clever use of the form.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Colbert had a disarmingly simple idea: take all the major events of American history, find someone who was there for each one, and publish their descriptions. Taking passages from diaries, private letters, and memoirs, Colbert has assembled the words of men and women who witnessed some of the most decisive and memorable moments in the history of the United States. The book is arranged chronologically from the earliest encounters of Columbus with the Native Peoples of the Americas, to one of the first email exhanges with Bill Gates in the early nineties. All told through the unfiltered lens of the people who lived it, with only the slightest of edits for clarity and short introduction of each excerpt to give a larger picture of how each event shaped America's history and culture. There are dozens of illuminating moments in these first hand accounts that really get at the human side of the stories we have come to know.

There are few if any omissions to the overall timeline of history, which is pretty incrediable feat in itself; but I would have added the Gettysburg address, or Washingtons last speech as president, or the establishment of the national park system like any good amatuer history buff I have my favorites that envitably be get cut from a book like this, however, even with my nit-picking aside I think thos is a truly outstanding work of narrative history that should be read by even those with just a passing interest in the history of the United States. My only real ciriticism is that the book could use an update to cover the two decades of history that have reshaped the American landscape.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a compilation of personal accounts from those who were actually there at the time significant historical events happened - from the Pilgrims to recent times.
When I went to add it in Goodreads I was surprised to see that I had already read it 12 years ago. My rating this time is a bit higher.
For a true historian this book may be frustrating because the accounts of some of the events are very brief and some are too long, with little substance. But what I liked about it was at the top of each personal account of the historical events the author gave a brief summary of the event. Instead of having to read a book on each of the events or a book that endeavored to give a full account of each event, the book allows the reader to skip over events that lack appeal and also get an idea of what events are considered significant.

[Mostly on Storygraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Review written by my younger self]
Edited by David Colbert, Eyewitness to America is a comprehensive compilation of crucial moments and personalities in 500 years of American history, as told by the people who had first-hand experiences. The various primary sources used here range from John Smith's account of Jamestown and Pocahontas, to President Truman's perspective on his firing of MacArthur. There is also a great coverage of popular history, including first-hand encounters with Elvis, Tom Wolfe's coverage of the Beatles, Ritchie Havens on Woodstock, and John Houseman on The War of the Worlds mix-up. Each account, which averages about 2-6 pages, is an interesting and brief read into historical events from the people that knew them best. With a thorough index, comprehensive notes on primary sources, and an overall appealing format, Eyewitness to America is perfect for American history enthusiasts as well as anyone who is even mildly interested in history in general. It is an engaging, entertaining, and highly inviting book to flip through that leaves little out and is a great presentation of the diversity in American history.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've ever read about American history. History, as it is generally taught, typically takes shape through the eyes of an author who is researching numerous sources and filtering information into a "lowest common denominator" concoction. This collection of first-hand accounts of American history provides really fascinating perspective on the times and events that we consider turning points in history. To them, it was just life.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting short first person accounts of important historic events started with Columbus' discovery of America. Learned details I never knew as historians leave out important details. The story of Rosa Parks, for example, has become politicized and here we have it in her own words. Answers questions I've never found answers for like 'why did the Louisiana Territory seem to fall into Thomas Jefferson's hands?'

[Matty · Rating 3 out of 5]

got this from my sister. interesting stuff. did you know that early baseball players who began to wear mitts were considered nancys. barehand chauvinsim. an excerpt about the last days of poe and it doesn't even mention cocaine psychosis.

[Jpaflas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dad gave me this book one year. I read it all the time. It is basically eyewitness accounts from American history with a little bit of explanation. Stuff from Plymouth rock, to Triangle Shirt co fire disaster to exchanging emails with Bill Gates.

[Steve Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eyewwitness accounts of some of the most historical moments in the birth and development of the United States. The various reports may be one to three pages so you can read as many or as little as you care to at one sitting. This is a book I'll keep around to go back to now and then.

[Kiki Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's face it history can be boring but I think my students will enjoy reading this next year. This is a great compilation of eyewitness accounts to American history. I enjoyed it and can't wait to use it in class next school year.

[Bimus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't there but maybe next time. Who knows when something famous will happen to you or near you? Find out what other people thought at the time.

[Tanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful first hand accounts.
Terrific for short reads and read alouds.
Some are exceptional and really bring it into reality.

[Jeff Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting stuff about early American history. I lost interested as we got closer to the time period that I remember.

[Wcgatsuma Feechi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read on American history,
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[The_J · Rating 5 out of 5]

First person accounts spanning our continent and our country - magnificent insight with recitations of verve and authority.