America: A Narrative History (Brief Twelfth Edition)

by David Emory Shi

The best-selling storytelling approach with tools that develop history skills 

A Narrative History puts narrative front and center with David Shi’s rich storytelling style, colorful biographical sketches, and vivid first-person quotations. The new editions further reflect the state of our history and society by continuing to incorporate diverse voices into the narrative with new coverage of the Latino/a experience as well as enhanced coverage of gender, African American, Native American, immigration, and LGBTQ history. With dynamic digital tools, including the InQuizitive adaptive learning tool, and new digital activities focused on primary and secondary sources, A Narrative History gives students regular opportunities to engage with the story and build critical history skills.  

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Textbooks, Reference, Education, Read For School

1864 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1992

Reviews

[Quincy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is truly one of the most interesting history textbooks I have read!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed reading this history book. This overview made the timeline of history easy to follow, and it did seem accurate - at least for the events in history that I actually remember (since the 1980s). There is some bias toward a liberal political view, but that's to be expected. I've been able to read this book and catch up on quite a few things that I got confused about in high school. The trick was starting with what I know well (Iraq, 2008 Crash, etc.) and reading my way backward, section-by-section.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably closer to 3.5, this narrative account of American history begins during reconstruction after the Civil War and ends with Bill Clinton’s presidency. Most of the time the author seemed to try to be balanced and objective in what he was saying.

[Zhelana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of America mostly by using a "great men" perspective, breaking history down into each president since the Civil War to Obama's First Term. Then it goes through each 4 year bracket of time telling about the domestic and international challenges that faced each president. It was great in that it put disparate things in chronological order so that you could really see when different things that you knew a little about happened relative to each other. But it was a little frustrating because sometimes I think the authors had to scrounge for something to say about each category of things for various presidents. For example, did Lincoln deal with international issues? Sure, but is that really the point? The break between issues divided by president also made some things feel different than themselves. For example, the Vietnam War spanned several presidencies and the book focused on how different presidents dealt with Vietnam, but never dealt with Vietnam as a unified issue. Any unified thought that spans American history was likewise lost in the division into each presidential term. That said, it is really hard to write a history of America that touches on all of the important issues without either losing historical context or losing many of the issues. This book did a pretty good job of spanning that line.

[Ben Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy and pasted for the pair: If you’re in the mood to read 2000 pages to understand roughly everything about American history, this is probably the book for you. The author is generally evenhanded and sticks with the canonical interpretation of most historical events. I felt comfortably able to give lessons after reading the chapters of this book because each gives an understandable narrative with enough small details and anecdotes to keep things interesting. The organization of the chapters can sometimes be difficult, as it dips in and out of chronological order to illustrate broader themes, which is necessary on a topic so large. Overall worthwhile as a teaching or studying guide.

[YeeFrickinHaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this 1600 book in six weeks. I would rather have backflipped into a forest fire. Just a verbal suck-off of every liberal politician in the past century.

[Sarah Harrigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a difficult read. Reading an over 600 page history textbook told in the third person (disregarding Chapter 30 which COMPLETELY BREAKS IT ONCE), was okay. Nothing special and not with much substance. It tells the history of America starting in the Reconstruction period, and the writing is nothing special, and the fact that I got through it amazes me. I at least learned something new, and gained some new knowledge at the very least. It’s not terrible, I found enjoyment here and there, but it’s nothing special or memorable, and over 600 pages is too much for my brain! (:

Thanks for at least teaching me something for my history course! It did increase my understanding for why America is here today, although it wasn’t groundbreaking. It’s just history.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read 300 or 400 history and biography books and find the subject fascinating. This is a textbook and its simply terrible - boring. I gave up after 40 pages. No wonder students hate history and find the subject boring and irrelevant. To find out why, read Loewen's "Lies My Teacher Told Me" or read my review of Loewen's book.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is a well laid out book. Usually history books are horribly boring, but this one is great. I have really learned a LOT from this book. It is America's History from 1865 to as recently as Hurrican Katrina and President Bush.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it's a textbook, with all of the drawbacks that implies, but Tindall and Shi have put together a first-rate survey of American history. They provide a broad narrative covering major points, but add enough anecdote and detail to make it quite readable.

[Daniel Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 of an American survey history text, covering Reconstruction (1865-77) to 2014. As with the first volume, they did a fair job presenting both sides of controversial matters, and it seemed to be less agenda-driven than other popular historical surveys.

[ih]

Textbook, volume 2. It really was a good book.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This textbook presents a fairly balanced history, but the chapter describing the 2008 election was full of biased statements.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this college textbook recommended. I enjoyed its overview of American history. Its been a long time since high school American history and even that didn't have much time for the 20th century.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but the writing gets wicked uneven at the end. Parts seem like they totally forgot they needed to edit the rest of the book.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume was a lot better because the history actually applied to me and my family and people that I know.

[Justin Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having started this book about 20 years ago in college, I'm glad I finally picked it up again and finished it.

[Zach de Walsingham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for History 1302. I liked the narrative style, and that the biases were muted.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love history.... not the sarcasm

[Lynette ~ Talia's Tomes ~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love history. This was by far the worst history textbook I have ever read. It's an absolute joke. If you have to read this for school, my condolences.

[Twofrontteethstillcrooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decently clear-eyed overview of US history (Reconstruction through early Obama years).

[DJ K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clearly Biased texted. It wasn't an objective study of history imho

[Will Clemmons]

Read the brief 11th edition. Too much for such a short time. In general I’d say a good overview of US History thru reconstruction.

[Ashly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic history book that walks you through authentic American history including both the good and bad.

[Chloe Solum · Rating 5 out of 5]

best APUSH textbook ever

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

See volume one for a full review.