Shrt Hist of Us 6th Ed

by Henry Steele Commager and Allan Nevins

A broad overview of American history up to the resignation of President Nixon is presented especially for the general reader.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394408926
• ISBN13: 9780394408927
• Release Date: November 1976
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 693 Pages
• Weight: 2.25 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Concise, very informative, leaves you wanting more

I got this book out while looking for a review of American history from the discovery of America until the present, a tall order. This book delivered quite well! The entire book is written quite concisely, covering many topics with little details, but as that was what I was looking for I was very pleased with it. The book begins around 1550 or so with the first settlers to arrive in America, and quickly moves on to the larger waves in the 1600s. He discusses many aspects of history, including the reasons they had left Europe, the hardships they encountered, the reasons they settled where they did, and the reasons they moved on. He also spends a lot of time discussing economics and politics, and how they dictated much of the growth of the country. As the book enters the mid-1700s, he begins to focus more on the development of a centralized government, which remains a central focus through the rest of the book. Again, much discussion surrounds the political and economic climate which dictated many of the choices made by the leaders. From 1850 until the end of the book he focuses mainly on political development, and how these concepts shaped America as a country. Wars are discussed in the same vein as the rest of the book - concise but informative. If you are looking for a detailed event of a single topic, this is not the book for you. If you, like me, are trying to become more familiar with American history as a general topic, this book is an excellent starting point... it leaves you wanting to read more.