American Stories: A History of the United States: 2

by H.W. Brands, T.H. Breen, R. Hal Williams

Based on the idea that you can't (and don't "want" to) cover everything in a survey course, H.W. Brands and a team of award-winning historians present the story of American history in a refreshing new way. " ""American Stories: A History of the United States "concentrates on the topics most commonly taught in an American history survey course, with a focus on the major themes and the connections between them. A unique pedagogical program developed and implemented by instructional designers provides a consistent structure for students as the story of American history unfolds.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

H.W. Brands is an acclaimed American historian and author of over thirty books on U.S. history, including Pulitzer Prize finalists The First American and Traitor to His Class. He holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his PhD. Originally trained in mathematics, Brands turned to history as a way to pursue his passion for writing. His biographical works on figures like Franklin, Jackson, Grant, and both Roosevelts have earned critical and popular praise for their readability and depth. Raised in Oregon and educated at Stanford, Reed College, and Portland State, he began his teaching career in high schools before entering academia. He later taught at Texas A&M and Vanderbilt before returning to UT Austin. Brands challenges conventional reverence for the Founding Fathers, advocating for a more progressive and evolving view of American democracy. In addition to academic works, his commentary has featured in major documentaries. His books, published internationally and translated into multiple languages, examine U.S. political, economic, and cultural development with compelling narrative force. Beyond academia, he is a public intellectual contributing to national conversations on history and governance.