American Passages: A History of the United States [with CD-ROM and Infotrac]

by Lewis L. Gould, Lewis L. Gould, David M. Oshinsky

AMERICAN PASSAGES COMPACT ADVANTAGE VERSION, SECOND EDITION examines U.S. history the way people live--in the flow of time. Rather than pursuing one topic (such as politics, culture, society, reform, the military, or economics) at a time, each chapter of the text interweaves important themes and issues into one interrelated narrative. Through this method of presentation, students can observe the many ways that events, movements, and groups of people have served to shape history and can learn to make connections between these themes and issues. References to the book's fully integrated Web site. The Compact Version is part of the Wadsworth Advantage Series which offers our Comprehensive text in a lower cost format. This black and white version of the text includes 4-8 pages of color map inserts to bring the regions to life. While the compact version includes fewer photos that the comprehensive version, it offers plenty of resources to make the course visual and exciting for students. In addition, students will have access to the Student website that offers quizzing, interactive maps, interactive timelines, simulations and links to over 400 readings to provide direct access to primary source materials. AMERICAN A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, COMPACT VERSION, SECOND EDITION is available in the following American Passages, Comprehensive, Second Edition (Chapters 1?32) 0-534-64791-X; American Passages, Volume To 1877, Second Edition (Chapters 1?16) 0-534-64792-8 ; American Passages, Volume Since 1863, Second Edition (Chapters 15?32) 0-534-64793-6.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Lewis Ludlow Gould is Eugene C. Barker Professor Emeritus in American History at the University of Texas in Austin. Gould earned an A.B. from Brown University in 1961, and an M.A. (1962) and Ph.D. (1966) from Yale University.

Reviews

[Haneeboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a whole, it is a very good book for going throughout American history from beginning to present, though in some sections, the Author seems to have a very, very obvious bias against certain Presidents and people, notably being against President Reagan and President George H. W. Bush.

Things to Note:
In Chapter 31: "From Reagan to Clinton
-No discussion on Reagan's role in the fall of the Berlin Wall
-Little discussion on the substance of Reagan's speeches, contrary to others such as FDR
-Glosses over the overwhelming landslide for Reagan in the 1984 Presidential Election, just a mere few sentences
-Seems to overplay the Iran-Contra Affair
-Seems to neglect Reagan's popularity during much of his term, rather focusing on his policies and how they "ended badly"

Overall
-Tends to not use official names of treaties, rather just using a date and stating that "a treaty" was signed...
-etc.

It goes to say that in sections like these, though they do not seem prevalent, it would do a reader well to read through another source on that area rather than this book. It is a good book as a whole, just, a reader would have a much better understanding of American History as a whole with using readings other than just this book while reading this