A Concise History has become the best-selling brief book for the U.S. History survey because of the uncommon value it offers instructors and students alike. The authors’ own abridgement preserves the analytical power of the parent text, America’s History , while offering all the flexibility of a brief book. The latest scholarship, hallmark global perspective, and handy format combine with the best full-color art and map program of any brief text to create a book that students read and enjoy.
James A. Henretta is an American historian. He is a Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Maryland, College Park. Henretta is a Fulbright Scholar, and has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He graduated from Swarthmore College and Harvard University.
This is more a quick survey of important events and conditions from the period of reconstruction to modern day. It is immensely readable for those who enjoy history; I think this judgment of readability will hold up even for those who may not enjoy reading and pondering history quite so much.
An interesting assertation about judical restrait- when the Supreme Court, prior to Franklin D. Roosevelt, was consistently supporting the rights of business over the rights of the public, Liberals were supportive of "judicial restraint" and States' Rights and the Conservatives were gung ho for interventionist rulings. My how times have changed.
Just a short review. This text has two advantages. It is concise (ie. short) and inexpensive, about 1/6th the price of those big textbooks the public schools like to use (because they have the budget). It is well written and gets across the main themes that students need to grasp, but obviously you won't get as many gorgeous pictures, graphs, and timelines, etc.With history (no matter what area) I find two types of persons: those who love history, and those who are bored by it and/or hate it. If you are one of the former, and don't have the money, strength, or space in your backpack for the gargantuan, gold-plated textbook. This one will do nicely.