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America, Empire of Liberty: A New History. David Reynolds
Thomas Jefferson envisioned the United States as a great "empire of liberty." In this single-volume history of the United States, David Reynolds takes Jefferson's phrase as a key to the American saga. He examines how the anti-empire of 1776 became the greatest superpower the world has seen and asks difficult questions about the cost of American greatness, from sl...more
Paperback
Published
by Penguin Books
(first published January 19th 2009)
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This is a first rate readable single volume of the history of the United States, fully annotated with references, which takes account of recent revisionism without polemic. The author is English, although a specialist in American history.
The book may be a tad more useful for non-Americans seeking some sense of the broad sweep of the US story than it might be for Americans who know its stories from school.
His theme (because some theme is necessary to cover over 400 years ...more
The book may be a tad more useful for non-Americans seeking some sense of the broad sweep of the US story than it might be for Americans who know its stories from school.
His theme (because some theme is necessary to cover over 400 years ...more
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This is one of the best single-volume histories of America I've ever read. Whilst it does have to sometimes skim over certain topics or eras in the interests of brevity, it doesn't leave out anything important, and the relative shortness of the text gives the benefit of a broad overview, particularly in terms of the persistent characteristic of having an enemy to fight and draw the country together - first it was the British, then the Native Americans, then the Spanish in Mexico, Nazi Germany, t...more
"'We're not an imperial power,' insisted George W. Bush in 2004. 'We are a liberating power'."
Reynolds has managed to create a coherent and highly readable book covering 500 years of history in about as many pages.
If you are looking for an original take on US history you'd better look elsewhere. However, given it's vast scope, I found it's regularity and reliability reassuring; it has a simple chronological order, uses everyday language, is not too dense but is...more
Reynolds has managed to create a coherent and highly readable book covering 500 years of history in about as many pages.
If you are looking for an original take on US history you'd better look elsewhere. However, given it's vast scope, I found it's regularity and reliability reassuring; it has a simple chronological order, uses everyday language, is not too dense but is...more
This was very readable. It's a US history up until roughly 2009. I like its brevity (one chapter on WW II) and feel the author does a good job of overviewing without minimizing important historical events and people. He also, surprisingly, gets several "human interest" stories in of events and people which keeps it from becoming boring.
The author is British, which also makes it interesting since he tends to be pretty objective. UNTIL he gets to the era when he was alive...more
The author is British, which also makes it interesting since he tends to be pretty objective. UNTIL he gets to the era when he was alive...more
A straightforward, highly-readable survey of the history of the United States. Reynold's uses the ideas of Liberty, Faith, and Freedom to steer the course of his work with much success. As a result, the book does not attempt to cover all aspects of the nation's history. Likewise, the work attempts to use personal stories and narratives, more so then overarching political debates (although he does address these some) or large group movements.
Personally, I really enjoyed this. Pe...more
Personally, I really enjoyed this. Pe...more
I'm addicted to this wonderful survey of American history from an outsider's point of view. I've been listening to the BBC radio version as presented by the author. I might pick up the book someday, but more likely I'll just listen to the 60-part radio series over and over again.
!!! I just discovered that there are going to be another 30 15-minute radio chapters, making the grand total 90. That's more than 22 wonderful hours! Hooray!
!!! I just discovered that there are going to be another 30 15-minute radio chapters, making the grand total 90. That's more than 22 wonderful hours! Hooray!
Reynolds has written a fascinating comprehensive view of American politics and history. More than anything else, it's helped me stop worrying about the state of politics and governance in America today. Apparently, the obstructionism and name-calling we see today is really nothing new.
One silly detail I learned was that Woodrow Wilson was from the South. I'd always thought he was from New Jersey, not Virginia.
And, as a trainspotter, I need to point out that the border o...more
One silly detail I learned was that Woodrow Wilson was from the South. I'd always thought he was from New Jersey, not Virginia.
And, as a trainspotter, I need to point out that the border o...more
Una de las mejores historias de Estados Unidos. Mezlca la historia con cartas, etc de las epocas que desarrollando
It's a long read, but a good one. Worth tackling.
A fantastic one-volume history of the U.S. Perhaps I liked it because I'm Canadian (and a new American) and hadn't been forced to suffer through this material as a youth. But Reynolds book is engaging and a remarkably quick read.
There really should be a question mark after the word liberty, so it doesn't look like a bragfest.
By Ostendorf
A wonderful birds eye view of american history.
I'ts long! Hope I can stick with it!
I was happy to finally find a single book on this topic, instead of different volumes on various matters of American history. Written in such captivating and interesting manner, that I found it hard to put down! It helps to create a better understanding of America's modern values and beliefs, and international position. I recommend this book to everyone.
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David S. Reynolds is a Distinguished Professor of English and American Studies at the City University of New York. His works include the award-winning Waking Giant: America in the Age of Jackson, Walt Whitman's America, and John Brown, Abolitionist. He lives on Long Island in New York.
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