U.S. History For Dummies

By Steve Wiegand

Book Overview

Now revised -- the easy-to-understand guide to the story of America Want to better understand U.S. History? This friendly book serves as your tour guide through the important events of America's past and present, introducing you to the people who helped to shape history. From pre-Columbus to the American Revolution, from Watergate to Iraq to Barack Obama, you'll discover fascinating details that you won't find in dry history texts They're coming to America -- explore early civilizations, meet Native Americans, and see how the development of the English colonies led to slavery and the American Revolution From Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Lincoln -- examine the contributions of great Americans as well as the discovery of gold, the birth of California, the Civil War, and Manifest Destiny America grows up -- be there during the conquering of the West, industrial development, and the invention of the light bulb and the telephone The impact of the World Wars -- understand the sweeping changes these epochal events brought to America and the rest of the world The Cold War, Camelot, and Clinton -- take a closer look at the Korean War and communism, the fabulous '50s, JFK, Vietnam, Nixon and Watergate, Reaganomics, and the Clinton years From the '90s to now -- witness the birth of the microchip, the impact of hanging chads in a presidential election, the largest terrorist attack on American soil, and the growing economic crisis Open the book and find: Ten important events that defined American culture Interesting Americans, from presidents to gangsters to sports heroes How America fought to win independence from England Details about all the major wars and their long-term effects Insight into the roots of slavery Inventions that changed life for Americans The impact of the atomic bomb The Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470436395
• ISBN13: 9780470436394
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 389 Pages
• Weight: 1.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.8" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

U.S. History for Dummies

Good Book. I is very detailed with the necessary fact about US history that I require. Thanks

Amazing: a modern history book that is not bland

Steve Wiegand has a voice and he's not afraid to use it. It's wonderful to read a general history book with a little edge, a little attitude, and a lot of humor. This is no pussy-cat history, declawed and toned down with an eye to being totally inoffensive. This is fun to read -- and you'll learn something while you're at it. Great supplement for teachers seeking to spice up the curriculum a bit and engage their students.

US History: Facts and Humor

I found this book to be a great refresher for all of the facts I had learned about US History in high school and had since forgotten. Even more importantly, I learned a lot of details not generally included in the names, dates, just-the-facts ma'am genre of most history textbooks. The book is well organized and it is easy to locate information about a specific period of time if you are just flipping through. The humorous and conversational style also make this book great to read cover to cover without feeling like you have to take a test afterward. I would recommend this book to any student needing to supplement their in-class learning and any adult looking to expand their knowledge a bit. I find it refreshing that Wiegand couples his facts with distinct opinions. It is widely known that it is impossible to write about anything, including history, with complete objectivity. The style in which this book is written is not hiding anything and it's a great resource whether you agree with the author's political commentary or not!

A breath of fresh air

I was very pleased to find a new type of book that teaches the basics without all the unnecesary details. Not having a scholarly type of interest in history, I found this book to be educational and fun to read. History is a very dry subject for most people and the author's humor was very entertaining. If you are looking for material for a dissertation, go to the library. Pick any history book because they all contain the same information. If you want to learn about American History by someone not afraid to offend others with the truth, you'll love this book!

U.S. History for DUMMIES by Steve Wiegand

This is U.S. History in a nutshell! Focusing on the most important details of our History, Steve Wiegand has compacted centuries of information into 360 pages.Interspersed with the well-researched information are sometimes humorous, and sometimes amazing, tidbits of little-known facts about events, Presidents, and personalities that have shaped our country.(Did you know that "Uncle Sam" was really Sam Wilson of Arlington,Massachusetts ?)Serving principally as a reference book rather than a textbook, I found myself reading this book as if it were a novel. Rarely does one sit down and read a History book from cover to cover as I did with U.S. History for DUMMIES. Each chapter had some topic that drew me on with interest.Mr Wiegand's style and sly-humor are an easy read. In addition, some valuable reference tools are included in the Appendices.I highly recommend this book for Educators, History buffs and all general interest readers.