Developed to meet the demand for a low-cost, high-quality history book, this economically priced version of MAKING AMERICA, Seventh Edition offers readers the complete narrative while limiting the number of features, photos, and maps. All volumes feature a two-color paperback format. Shaped with a clear political chronology, MAKING AMERICA reflects the variety of individual experiences and cultures that comprise American society. The book provides a clear narrative and an integrated program of learning aids that make the historical content vivid and comprehensible to readers at all levels of preparedness.
This is one of the most well-written, interesting, and balanced American History textbooks I’ve read or used in my classes. I especially appreciated the notes from the author of each chapter providing a framework for the chapter and occasionally a personal note about the significance of the events discussed. Each chapter also featured a person whose experiences informed the themes of that era in our history. Though politics maintain a prominent place in this text (as in most U.S. History textbooks), it is more thoroughly balanced with economic, cultural, and social history, as well as foreign policy. It could have used a bit more discussion of art and literature in my opinion, but I was able to supply that information. Overall, I appreciated the constant tone of restrained reverence for the courageous people who have led this country, as well as its honest grappling with the country’s ongoing insidious moral failures. I truly enjoyed this 855-page summary of our path to the 21st century.