Mystic Chords of Memory : The Transformation of Tradition in American Culture

Rating:
Summary: Ground-breaking Panoramic Book on American history
Review: Ranges from John Adams to Ronald Reagan, from the origins of Independence Day to the Vietnam memorial,from the Daughters of the American Revolution to NAACP.
This book was so easy to read b/c it was written by a Pulitzer-Prize winning professional who KNOWS how to engage the reader.
It's in chronological order so you can choose the time periods at your discretion to read about.
This is a thoroughly comprehensive book, which is almost an Encyclopedia Americana, only in highly interesting narrative form. After reading this book, I felt that I truly understood the nature of the American life and it's main historical figures as human beings.
Only complaint was that all the photos were b&w, and there weren't enough.
NYT Book Review said: "Brilliant, idiosyncratic, presented with superlative style laced with refreshing wit."
TIME said: "Fascinating...a subtlle and teeming narrative."