Rating: 
Summary: Great, entertaining reading and study
Review: I teach Advanced Placement American History at a Catholic High School. We have been using Bailey's ninth edition since its publication in 1991. I truly feel it is the best book out there for my purposes, and believe me I have read alot of other Texts.Bailey and Kennedy are extremely entertaining, and informative. I and all of my students from the past enjoy their short but funny anecdotes and sayings. I always tell my students that I am not here to defend Bailey but to give his point of view along with other historians.
Rating: 
Summary: A very, very descriptive book
Review: This is a well-written history book that covers all of the important topics of history, and I don't recall the book leaving out anything that my history teacher had to fill in. The only complaint I have is that this book uses way too much description and way too many adjectives for a history book.
Rating:
Summary: Well...
Review: This is one of the BEST textbooks that I've had to use for American History. It is very readable and "student friendly".
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most terrible reviews of history i have ever read
Review: This book attempts to keep the readers attention by the use of metephors -- which would be ok if it didn''t confuse the reader. This book is the most confusing and understating book i have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Not too hot, not too cold--just right!
Review: This text on American history, from prehistoric (?) to post-
Reconstruction, is just what the summary statement above
implies--it neither "heats" you by a spellbinding treatment,
nor leaves you "cold" because it is boring and pedantic.
Like any history text for high school/college level, it wades
through facts and dates (because that's history, right?) but
does so, mercifully, in a brief and unadorned manner. Also,
excerpts from documents written during the particular period
a chapter is covering are included, thus heightening the
interest. Also included are the viewpoints modern historians
have of that period, which in many cases have changed from
opinions held just a few years ago. The illustrations and
artwork are mostly color and are also well chosen to support
textual material. References at the end of each chapter are
numerous. Again, the text neither excites nor repels--it is
just a good basic introduction to American History, c. 35,000
BC to 1877 AD
Rating: 
Summary: Mindless and unfocused
Review: I'm quite sorry that the authors of this book had to sink to making so many stupid and inane jokes and comparisons to catch the attention of the audience which is composed of teenagers like myself. The opinion of the author's and their views expressed through this book also sacrifice a little bit of actual reality and history in exchange for mindless patriotic self-righteousness and glorification. In comparing my reading from a more credible book on European history, I found that this book skims over many details (IE: the Japanese are portrayed as initiating incursions into Manchuria as a result of taking advantage of western weaknesses during the depression rather than as a result of the depression causing military leaders in Japan to take power). And the book also tries to sensationalize history by overemphasizing the "British peril" and repeatedly refering to Adolf Hitler in the chapter on the Roaring Twenties (he's mentioned 5 times here) as if the man were actually living in the United States at the time. Also, the American Pageant skims over American literature to a point that it actually describes a book as a "rebellion against provinciality" without ever describing what "provinciality" is supposed to mean. I personally don't even think the authors know. Although I would disagree with conservatives on many points especially those today decrying anything they see of as "liberal" as a caustic attack on white american supremacy, I am inclined to think that this book also suffers from another symptom many histories are suffering from today - the attempt to cover all points of history for all social groups while missing or obscuring the main point. This book lacks a lot of what a good history book ought to have - an unbiased view of history from all viewpoints and a focus on the main point.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible - long and bombastic
Review: Throughout AP United States History, my school had the American Pageant, and the students unanimously abandoned it for "United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination."
The problem with the Pageant is that there is too much of it. We pulled out this book every once in a while just to look at the pretty pictures and maps in it, and to make fun of its "superfluous glory" - because that's what it is. Superfluous. If you're looking for a book that you can spend many hours reading like a novel, I guess this is it. If you just want the facts, or care about passing an AP exam, this is NOT the right book.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible but worthy...if you have the Teacher
Review: I feel the Pageant doesn't live up to all the hype about it. Its put together poorly, and written in an odd way. reminds me more of a 6th grade history book with some satire, then an AP worthy text. The writters go out of their way too be funny. The book is kind of short... which is good in someways, but has 42 Chapters. it would be easier if they combined Chapters and one would read all about one thing in one chapter. a 30 chapter book would be excellent. Its easy reading, which allows for one to get through a chapter quickly, but sense its so easy to read, its easy to look over some things. Its not a terrible book, but doesn't live up to other books out there. Youll either like this book or hate it, depends on the person and what they like in a text book...
Rating:
Summary: A good look into the liberal mind
Review: Wow, now I know why this country is in the state it is.
This author should be ashamed of this work. No wonder why our youth in this country are so liberal.
God help us all with books like this in the classroom.
Rating:
Summary: Best textbook I read in high school
Review: I think the people who criticize this book for its flowery languages are the same people who criticize other history textbooks for being dull and dry, and so for them, any history textbook would probably fail their standards. With that said, Kennedy and Bailey successfuly make American history come alive and accessible to students with their fascinating choice of phrases and subtle humor. The book reads more like a novel than a textbook, and I have to say it significantly improved my writing and reading abilities in sophomore year high school. For those who criticize this book for lacking important facts, they should remember that this is meant to serve as an INTRODUCTION to American history, getting students acquainted with important themes rather than presenting obscure facts and statistics in rapid-fire succession. This book does not insult your intelligence by printing key terms in bold, or over-glorify the United States by beating patriotic rants into your head. It has its leftist slant, but it is meant to educate you to see the whole picture, from the perspectives of the greatest statesman to the most disenfranchised slave, the wealthiest businessman to the poorest farmer, the most honored general to the humblest soldier. For me, it was the perfect blend of praise and criticism of American history. Give this book a try and you will soon see what makes it a compelling read.
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