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American History in No Time: A Quick & Easy Read for the Basics

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The history of America is an amazing story but all too unfamiliar. American History In No Time is the quickest way to learn the basics every citizen should know. The overview is divided into short sections that can be read in around five minutes each. The entire book takes only a few hours. In that short amount of time you can have a solid foundation, knowing the key events, people, places, and principles from pre-Columbian times all the way up to the present. The book gives students an advantage in history classes. For adults no longer in school, it is the perfect refresher. Even those who are reasonably well-informed will find many things they either didn't remember, didn't have quite right, or never knew. American History In No Time can also be a valuable resource for parents who want to help their young children learn the basics in small increments.

143 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2014

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Mark Mortensen.
Author 2 books80 followers
January 11, 2020
This book is a concise history of America's basic history from past to present. Filled with information I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jerry Smith.
915 reviews17 followers
September 1, 2019
I'm an elitist snob. I know that and it gets pointed out to me. I have a passion for reading and for history, and the two often combine. It is unlikely this book would have grabbed my attention but for a presentation I attended given by the author. He made compelling points about the paucity of education in the US with regards to the nation's history, a stance with which I whole heartedly agree. I am British so I didn't grow up with US History, but bringing myself up to speed over the 15 years of residence here, has been fascinating.

I have a problem with RGR's world view. I think that he makes bald faced assertions about religiosity and gods impact of the formation of the USA which I find absurd and, frankly, unfalsifiable. However, to be fair, his religious views are not especially apparent in the text. There is a place for books like this that aim to address the shortfall in education regarding the history of this country. However, if you have more than a basic knowledge of this history, this book is very simplistic and misses out basic facts for the sake or brevity.

This is OK and I guess the aim is to peak interest, make the book readable and short and also encourage further research. I wonder how successful it is in the latter aim? Personally, I read a lot of history books and I find a study of the past to be endlessly fascinating. I am, therefore, not the target of this work. I found it overly simplistic, but still learned, or had refreshed, some aspects of US history.

Russell is to be commended for producing a book like this. He is definitely on the right track as he aims to raise the overall education of American's on their countries fascinating history. In my view the picture if too rose tinted as presented here. Slavery, the Trail of Tears, Manifest Destiny, the annexation of Hawaii and other outrageous aspects of said history are given the most perfunctory coverage when I think a more critical examination was in order. However, I have to say, that the text is written in a very matter of fact way which is also commendable.

So, a good introduction to US history. Ironically, I think that this book is unlikely to be read by those who probably need it most since, those uninterested in history are perhaps not going to be minded to rectify that. For those that are, this easy read would be a very good place to start.
43 reviews
January 29, 2021
Easy reading US history

It’s necessarily summarized in most of it’s contents. Skips details that can be later researched. Up to date to December 2020. Should be read by all Americans especially the young and immigrants.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews