Way Our People Lived: An Intimate American History

by William E. Woodward

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671478273
• ISBN13: 9780671478278
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Superbly readable personal perspective on U.S. history

I wish all history books were this enjoyable. It's a superb read, and ought to be brough back into print. This is not a history of wars and dates and politics, but describes the actual lives of people. Each chapter is devoted to a location and a time period, introduces a few fictional characters, and gives a sketch of a segment of their daily lives. From the back cover:"_The Way our People Lived_ recreates scenes of American history in stories full of romance and adventure. Highlighting distinctive moments in the development of American society, it documents the habits and interests, the fashions and fancies of the everyday men and women who helped to build our nation."My favorite chapter is about a woman who travels to Cincinnati in the 1830s. Lots of perspective on the rapid growth of midwestern cities as well as the status of women. A similar chapter is set in young Chicago in the 1870s, about the time of the Great Chicago Fire.Another favorite chapter is devoted to the Gold Rush, and the dreams and realities that fueled this mad westward escape.Sure, this book has its shortcomings, in the sense that it is a product of the prejudices of its own time (1940s, republished in 1965). Some of the comments about the status of women are made in error, although the author's intentions were good. Plus, the native American experience was totally omitted.However, I highly recommend this book for a readable version of U.S. history which goes beyond dull political figures, and details the ordinary experiences of real people. You can really get a sense of what it might have been like to live back then.