The American Century, Volume I

Rating:
Summary: History with an Agenda
Review: This book truly surprised me. I expected a "coffee table" book full of pictures with not much content. What I found instead,are recounts of our history often buried. History that was-and still is- embarrassing for us. Harold Evans has done his research not by reading about history, but by traveling the country talking with and even living with the people that are the product of our actions throughout this century. I commend him. He has opened our eyes to many truths, like them or not.

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Resource
Review: This book truly surprised me. I expected a "coffee table" book full of pictures with not much content. What I found instead,are recounts of our history often buried. History that was-and still is- embarrassing for us. Harold Evans has done his research not by reading about history, but by traveling the country talking with and even living with the people that are the product of our actions throughout this century. I commend him. He has opened our eyes to many truths, like them or not.

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Resource
Review: This book truly surprised me. I expected a "coffee table" book full of pictures with not much content. What I found instead,are recounts of our history often buried. History that was-and still is- embarrassing for us. Harold Evans has done his research not by reading about history, but by traveling the country talking with and even living with the people that are the product of our actions throughout this century. I commend him. He has opened our eyes to many truths, like them or not.

Rating:
Summary: Great reading for all
Review: This is a book for all to enjoy. I'm 18 years old and find myself losing track of time while reading it. If you enjoy history and want to know more about your country, this book is a must. Covers all the major events and blends in a variety of cultural events. Added to this are stunning pictorials. No regrets on this purchase.

Rating:
Summary: The finest assessment of America over the last 100 years.
Review: This is a book that every American must have as a reference in their home. It is fast interesting reading that covers many relevant topics from our rich history. Anyone interested in history and America's impact on the rest of the world should read this book. This book should be made mandatory reading for all American history courses. If only more people could write in the crisp accurate style of Mr. Evans! Well done.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book for home educators
Review: This is a real tour-de-force in terms of the extensive material it covers with wonderful text and pictures. I had the opportunity to personally interview the author, Harold Evans, for our website. Despite its incredible volume and depth, it is accessible to the reader because it is written almost as if it were a series of magazine articles taking you through 100 years of US history. For many of our readers on the homeschoolzone, each of the bite-size pieces would make a wonderful jumping off point for a discussion or a research report for their children. I would strongly recommend this book not only for your children, but for yourself. As the author put it, "This is History for Browsers," and I most certainly agree with that and am continuing to pick the book up and browse.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent yet a bit skewed
Review: This is a well-written, encyclopedic account of America, 1889-1989. The pictures add graphic descriptions that remain in one's memory. But a caveat or two. Unlike de Tocqueville, he misses the religious strength of America. He has something of an anti-Republican bias which shows in his treatment of, for example, Eisenhower and Reagan, playing their weaknesses and mistakes fortissimo and their strengths and achievements pianissimo. And he seems to enjoy emphasizing America's warts rather than its smiles. Is that because he is British and likes to tweak the ex-colony? An American may read "The American Century" and end up feeling dirty and embarassed rather than justifiably proud yet humble.

Rating:
Summary: Much better than Jenning's book
Review: While Jenning's "The Century" book has some interesting stories, it's written like a script for a news report, i.e. uninformative sound bites. In contrast, "The American Century" is much better written, and has its own set of insights not covered in Jenning's book. They may complement each other, but if you must have one, this book is much better.

Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Look at The Past Century--The American Century
Review: Written by Harold Evans, The American Century audiobook collection is a boundless panorama of America's second century. In this first volume (read by Ira Claffey), the Land Rush swallows the Great Plains. Suffragettes and civil rights and labor leaders make themselves heard. We battle in Cuba and the Philippines, then Germany and France. And for a few brief years, peace and normalcy reign. Evans, the former president and publisher of Random House Publishing and the editorial director and vice chairman of U.S. News & World Report, Atlantic Monthly, and the New York Daily News, dynamically portrays the events that altered the course of humanity; the ordinary people and the great men and women whose courage, generosity, and vision are unparalleled in history; and the social struggles that challenged America's idealism.