Portrait of America

Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: Rather than try to cover every last name, date and battle of U.S. history, Oates has compiled a select group of scholarly (yet very readable!) essays, ones that focus in detail on single aspects of our past. This work has exceptional depth. As far as breadth is concerned, one learns a great deal about American in general by examining a few of its most salient memories. Oates' own articles are among the best.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Insight into History
Review: We use this in my US History AP course and it's an interesting supplement. We read one piece each week. Some are amazing, others are rather pointless, but the book does a nice job of introducing each piece, and I also like the glossary they have with terms used. Overall it's pretty good.