From These Beginnings, Volume 1

by Gregory Graves and Roderick Nash

From These Beginnings looks at history through engaging biographical portraits of well-known men and women whose contributions helped to create the nation and society. Each biography offers a uniquely... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0205519717
• ISBN13: 9780205519712
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Pearson
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

detailed and enjoyable

I found this book to be very informative and well organized. I think it's important to have collective understandings of the "stories" of American influences who helped shape America itself. I might also be a bit bias given that Graves is my professor and I have an enormous crush on him. I adore this Okie's lectures. Just like his lectures, these collective stories are informative and very interesting. Captivating at best. Go Sooners!

traditional approach

The idea implemented here is an old one. Dating back centuries. Where earlier books might have been biographies of famous people. To inspire youngsters to such heights. In reflection of our more enlightened times, the authors give biographies of a diverse set of Americans. The traditional ones are here. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. But so too are Frederick Douglass and Christopher Columbus. Technically, Columbus was not an American. The word is an anachronism in his case. The inclusion of Douglass and Lee in the same volume makes for interesting comparisons. Their careers and causes were point and counterpoint. The chapters are quick reads. The questions deliberately try to raise the reader's interest and involvement in understanding the subjects' lives and their times.

An Excellent Read

Strongly recommended for experts or enthusiasts on the subject. An in-depth approach to some of the most important figures in early American history. Found the first volume more useful than the second only because information on people in the first volume is more rare. The passage on Tecumseh was a treat for the history buff and the passage on Lee provided a new insight on his personal life. A must read for history buffs!