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American Dreams: The United States Since 1945
The story of our nation from the A-bomb to the iPhone-from bestselling historian H.W. Brands
With keen insight and an impeccable sense of the spirit of the times, H. W. Brands, one of today's preeminent historians, captures the American experience through the last six decades. As he chronicles politics, pop culture, and everything in between, Brands traces the changes we have gone through as a nation, recounting the great themes and events that have driven America- from the Yalta conference to the fall of the Berlin Wall, Apollo 11 to 9/11, My Lai to "shock and awe." In his adroit hands, movements and trends unfold through a character- driven narrative that shines a brilliant light on America's watershed moments and reveals a still unfolding legacy of dreams.
With keen insight and an impeccable sense of the spirit of the times, H. W. Brands, one of today's preeminent historians, captures the American experience through the last six decades. As he chronicles politics, pop culture, and everything in between, Brands traces the changes we have gone through as a nation, recounting the great themes and events that have driven America- from the Yalta conference to the fall of the Berlin Wall, Apollo 11 to 9/11, My Lai to "shock and awe." In his adroit hands, movements and trends unfold through a character- driven narrative that shines a brilliant light on America's watershed moments and reveals a still unfolding legacy of dreams.
432 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2009
42 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
H.W. Brands
103 books1,190 followersH.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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 2, 2025
An Overview of Post -- WW II America
H.W. Brands of the University of Texas is a prolific historian with a knack for writing popular yet valuable narrative accounts of eras in American history. What his work lacks in analytical depth is compensated for in its lucidity, balance, and generally good judgment. Brandt provides a good overview of his subjects which encourages readers to go further, if they wish.
I read Brands' most recent book, "American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900" which covers the United States "Gilded Age" from 1865 -- 1900. I then read this book of Brands', "American Dreams: The United States since 1945" (2010) which covers an era much closer to home. It came as a surprise to realize that the time frame of this latter book, 1945 -- 2009, already considerably exceeds the 35-year time period covered in "American Colossus". I tend to read more 18th and 19th that 20th Century American history. In part this is due to personal interest and it part it is due to a sense that it is difficult to get a sense of detachment to understand a modern period and to reduce bias. I have been alive for most (not all) of the time period Brands discusses and have memories of much of the era. For baby boomers such as myself, the book is looking back on one's life, both on what was remembered and what was missed. I found reading "American Dreams" fascinating but often painful.
Brands' title recalls a seminal moment of the era, Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech on the National Mall on August 28, 1963. Brands of course pays appropriately close attention to Dr. King's speech (pp 113- 114).
Brands, I think, writes about two types of American dreams: collective dreams for a people and the dreams of individual persons for attaining a happy and fulfilling life for themselves. Dr. King's speech, and other rare events, seemed for a moment to fold the personal and the collective into one. If I understand Brands correctly, he sees the tenor of the period he discusses as moving from a collective dream of American nationalism and purpose to disillusionment with and question about a national vision. But also during this time, individual dreams have become stronger and more realizable. This seems to me, and I think to Brands, unfortunate because people have become more rootless, fragmented, and separated from each other and from a larger community than was the case at the end of WW II. But there is grounds for hope as Americans continue to strive on. The hope would be that in addition to dreams of personal fulfillment and success, as individuals define them, that Americans recover something of a collective dream and vision.
Brands' book is in three parts. Part I, "Visions of Omnipotence" discusses the United States between 1945 -- 1965, beginning with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, proceeding through the origins of the Cold War and the rise of the American middle class, and concluding with the Civil Rights Legislation of 1965 under President Johnson. In itself, this is an extraordinary sum of material to cover, but Brands taught me a great deal.
Part II of the book, "The Twilight of Liberalism" covers the years 1965 -- 1986 beginning with the Great Society and continuing with the still-raw subject of the War in Vietnam. Brands covers and ties these subjects together with Watergate, detente, the pardon of Nixon, and the presidencies of Ford, Carter, and most of Reagan. I thought he did well in a short space in relating domestic and foreign issues and in showing the mostly negative effect of the events he discusses on the national moods of Americans.
Part III "Silicon Schemes and Global Connections" covers 1987 -- 2010 and is, unsurprisingly, the sketchiest section of the book. It begins with the end of the Soviet Union and proceeds to the first war with Iraq under president G.H.W. Bush who is treated with substantial respect. Brands describes the successes and failures of the Clinton years, including including the budget fights and government shutdowns, and the impeachment trial. The discussion of the second Bush presidency focuses on the still fresh memories of September 11,on the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on the near-depression. The account of Obama is understandably brief and includes only the bail-out efforts of the first months of his administration. This final part of the book also examines the radical changes in communication technology wrought by the Internet, the cellphone, and other devices and their impact on American life.
Brands makes an effort to be fair and even-handed in his presentation and conclusions. I did not find his book a partisan or ideologically-driven account. It was valuable if not always edifying to be reminded of the time in which I have lived and to think of what I or the United States might have done differently. The book encouraged me to think about how our country might regain a collective dream and sense of purpose for itself.
Robin Friedman
H.W. Brands of the University of Texas is a prolific historian with a knack for writing popular yet valuable narrative accounts of eras in American history. What his work lacks in analytical depth is compensated for in its lucidity, balance, and generally good judgment. Brandt provides a good overview of his subjects which encourages readers to go further, if they wish.
I read Brands' most recent book, "American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900" which covers the United States "Gilded Age" from 1865 -- 1900. I then read this book of Brands', "American Dreams: The United States since 1945" (2010) which covers an era much closer to home. It came as a surprise to realize that the time frame of this latter book, 1945 -- 2009, already considerably exceeds the 35-year time period covered in "American Colossus". I tend to read more 18th and 19th that 20th Century American history. In part this is due to personal interest and it part it is due to a sense that it is difficult to get a sense of detachment to understand a modern period and to reduce bias. I have been alive for most (not all) of the time period Brands discusses and have memories of much of the era. For baby boomers such as myself, the book is looking back on one's life, both on what was remembered and what was missed. I found reading "American Dreams" fascinating but often painful.
Brands' title recalls a seminal moment of the era, Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech on the National Mall on August 28, 1963. Brands of course pays appropriately close attention to Dr. King's speech (pp 113- 114).
Brands, I think, writes about two types of American dreams: collective dreams for a people and the dreams of individual persons for attaining a happy and fulfilling life for themselves. Dr. King's speech, and other rare events, seemed for a moment to fold the personal and the collective into one. If I understand Brands correctly, he sees the tenor of the period he discusses as moving from a collective dream of American nationalism and purpose to disillusionment with and question about a national vision. But also during this time, individual dreams have become stronger and more realizable. This seems to me, and I think to Brands, unfortunate because people have become more rootless, fragmented, and separated from each other and from a larger community than was the case at the end of WW II. But there is grounds for hope as Americans continue to strive on. The hope would be that in addition to dreams of personal fulfillment and success, as individuals define them, that Americans recover something of a collective dream and vision.
Brands' book is in three parts. Part I, "Visions of Omnipotence" discusses the United States between 1945 -- 1965, beginning with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, proceeding through the origins of the Cold War and the rise of the American middle class, and concluding with the Civil Rights Legislation of 1965 under President Johnson. In itself, this is an extraordinary sum of material to cover, but Brands taught me a great deal.
Part II of the book, "The Twilight of Liberalism" covers the years 1965 -- 1986 beginning with the Great Society and continuing with the still-raw subject of the War in Vietnam. Brands covers and ties these subjects together with Watergate, detente, the pardon of Nixon, and the presidencies of Ford, Carter, and most of Reagan. I thought he did well in a short space in relating domestic and foreign issues and in showing the mostly negative effect of the events he discusses on the national moods of Americans.
Part III "Silicon Schemes and Global Connections" covers 1987 -- 2010 and is, unsurprisingly, the sketchiest section of the book. It begins with the end of the Soviet Union and proceeds to the first war with Iraq under president G.H.W. Bush who is treated with substantial respect. Brands describes the successes and failures of the Clinton years, including including the budget fights and government shutdowns, and the impeachment trial. The discussion of the second Bush presidency focuses on the still fresh memories of September 11,on the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on the near-depression. The account of Obama is understandably brief and includes only the bail-out efforts of the first months of his administration. This final part of the book also examines the radical changes in communication technology wrought by the Internet, the cellphone, and other devices and their impact on American life.
Brands makes an effort to be fair and even-handed in his presentation and conclusions. I did not find his book a partisan or ideologically-driven account. It was valuable if not always edifying to be reminded of the time in which I have lived and to think of what I or the United States might have done differently. The book encouraged me to think about how our country might regain a collective dream and sense of purpose for itself.
Robin Friedman
March 29, 2011
I am giving this book top rating - it met my expectations. I read it in only a week which is pretty fast for me. The author does an impressive job of covering a LOT of historical material in less than 400 pages and explaining it in a way that even I could understand (most of it.) I was interested in the other public Goodreads reviews. One woman stated she thought the author leaned right for spending more time on the Lewinsky scandal than the Iran/Contra affair. I didn't even notice that - and would even argue that the author leaned left. He was quite kind in his depiction of LBJ - thoroughly explaining all of his positive domestic achievements - (amazing that LBJ was the guy who did so much for civil rights - especially since he was a big white Texan (who chose to identify as a Westerner and not a Southerner)) - but then is remembered as the failure President who escalated Vietnam. The most important theme (to me) was how the lessons of World War 2(the U.S should have contained Hitler earlier) were not helpful as the subsequent Cold War Presidents attempted to contain Communism.
September 14, 2010
I think it is hard to give a certain score for this kind of book. I liked it. It was easy to read even though it was boring time to time. I learned a lot about American near history by reading "American Dreams".
April 4, 2015
I can't imagine a book better fulfilling my need of a concise history to fill in gaps in my knowledge of what has gone on during my own life (along with a few years (ahem) before it). Brands is a lucid, often witty purveyor of facts.
March 15, 2012
Just the fact that H.W. Brands attempts to make sense of recent American and world history should earn him accolades. I think he comes as close as anyone can to accomplishing that goal in less than 400 pages.
It's an extreme overview, which worked well for me since I read it as research for the 1940s-80s. Many parts were emotional to read, especially the 1960s. These days the 1960s are romanticized as a time of hippies and music, yet it was also a time of deep dissension and division. Heroes were gunned down too often. We can't help but wonder what the world would be like now if people like Martin Luther King, John Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy hadn't been killed. Those deaths caused a lot of people to retract from the world in a way, or to simply give up. Brands shows this and ties this in well with the history that follows.
It was fun at times to read about the more recent history that I remember living through like the Cold War and the Berlin Wall coming down. Brands seems to be pretty objective through most of the book, which is always tough to do when discussion politics. The 9/11 tragedy was another emotional event to read about as history. Brands mentions that President Obama was elected for economic reasons. Dreamer that I am, I believe he was elected for peace.
Near the end of the book, Brands states that an odd inversion in the nature of American dreams occurred between 1945 and the present day: "The dreams of 1945 had been collectively ambitious but individually modest; those of 2010 were collectively modest but individually ambitious."
While that may be true overall, it's also very sad whenever a back is turned on the world in favor of individual pursuits. As history continues and the world faces more environmental challenges, I hope we'll learn that we all share this one world and that we need to take better care of it and each other.
It's an extreme overview, which worked well for me since I read it as research for the 1940s-80s. Many parts were emotional to read, especially the 1960s. These days the 1960s are romanticized as a time of hippies and music, yet it was also a time of deep dissension and division. Heroes were gunned down too often. We can't help but wonder what the world would be like now if people like Martin Luther King, John Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy hadn't been killed. Those deaths caused a lot of people to retract from the world in a way, or to simply give up. Brands shows this and ties this in well with the history that follows.
It was fun at times to read about the more recent history that I remember living through like the Cold War and the Berlin Wall coming down. Brands seems to be pretty objective through most of the book, which is always tough to do when discussion politics. The 9/11 tragedy was another emotional event to read about as history. Brands mentions that President Obama was elected for economic reasons. Dreamer that I am, I believe he was elected for peace.
Near the end of the book, Brands states that an odd inversion in the nature of American dreams occurred between 1945 and the present day: "The dreams of 1945 had been collectively ambitious but individually modest; those of 2010 were collectively modest but individually ambitious."
While that may be true overall, it's also very sad whenever a back is turned on the world in favor of individual pursuits. As history continues and the world faces more environmental challenges, I hope we'll learn that we all share this one world and that we need to take better care of it and each other.
October 31, 2010
An excellent synopsis of the persuasions, motivations and influences of the people of the United States since the dawn of the nuclear age to date. An essential read for any American wanting to further their understanding of the paradox of what has caused America's political policies to swing in the face of facism, communism, civil rights, human rights, globalization and terrorism. This book picks up where most American history classes leave off for lack of time. Every young American ought to read this book to supplement a full deliberation of our modern political mechanism. Brands explains why the powers-that-were excersized their power with seeming reluctance in contrast to the retrospectively obvious conclusions that eventually would harmonize our true standing with our democratic ideals. In short, Brands offers a primer of how our country thinks, reacts and engages itself when faced with the myriad of challenges that have shaped the modern age and why it was no small feat to get here.
June 27, 2010
This read, to me, like a college textbook overview of American History after 1945. Hits all the main events but rather superficially. I also felt some political bias (he spends more time on Monica Lewinsky than on the Iran Contra scandal). But a basically decent overview for someone who has forgotten their high school history classes.
August 16, 2019
I thought this would be more thematically arranged, but it's in essence a history book of 'modern' America - the last 65 years. Highly readable...
April 2, 2021
Excellent, easy-to-digest survey of American history 1945-2010. Could easily see this in use in high school or college courses.
October 18, 2023
Picked this up off our bookshelf— must’ve been an assigned read for Hendrik in college because I didn’t recognize it and it’s format is totally academic. I was so engrossed in this book and the succinctness of the history given but also with excerpts from interviews or diaries was so enlightening. There are resources at the end of every chapter to go listen to the real speeches/interviews etc of what’s referenced jn the book.
February 16, 2014
This was my first taste of H.W. Brands and I was slightly disappointed. It's wonderfully written, but way too vague. As a book for AP or College students, this is great. But for those who would like a more in-depth account of this time period, I would look for a different option.
January 15, 2011
A decent review of crucial events from 1945 to the present. It hit the major topics and is a decent overview.
January 12, 2024
Although there is evidence to be said for both sides of the equation, as H.W. Brands presents it in this recounting of American political history since 1945, including Richard Nixon's pardon by Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton's acquittal by the Senate, it seems to me that Donald Trump is going to manage to stay out of prison, at least for now. Although he has been accused of insurrectionist activities following his loss into the 2020 election, personally, I will be surprised if the attempt to prove him guilty of the incitement of the January 6th riot, where a group of his supporters who, disenchanted with the election results, descended onto the capitol and took matters into their own hands by breaking into the Capitol building itself. In my opinion, I don't feel that Donald Trump held onto power to an unorthodox degree, maybe he made many phone calls requesting various governors not to certify the balloting results, but I wouldn't expect anything less from the kind of egomaniac that Trump has proven himself to be. Perhaps one day we will develop a kind of government where representation will not be based on the type of "winner take all" politics and the type of chauvinistic style of confrontation that feeds into the formation of cowardly and egomaniacal personality-structures. Three stars.
July 8, 2017
H. W. Brands has had a long and storied career as a writer of U. S. history. "American Dreams" is another fine collection of work on the sprawling subject. It takes a look at the key events in America beginning in 1945 after World War II and concludes with the presidency of Barack Obama.
"American Dreams" is broken down chronologically by era per chapter and by event as a subset within said chapters. It's user friendly and allows the reader to pace him or herself in small, clean increments. Brands' style in this book was, to me, reminiscent of some other non-fiction reads of recent years, namely David Halberstam's "The Fifties," Bill Bryson's "One Summer: America, 1927," and Thomas Fleming's "A Disease in the Public Mind." These were outstanding books, all. Brands' own offering is, arguably, wider in scope than any one of them. While he's a gifted writer, his "American Dreams" falls a little short of the detail and charm of Halberstam, the wit and seamless segues of Bryson, and the flair and singular sense of purpose of Fleming. Having said that, Brands is a winner. He has written a number of worthy historical accounts. He's also enjoyable to listen to on TV as a commentator. I like him a lot. "American Dreams" is a very good book and a valuable compendium.
"American Dreams" is broken down chronologically by era per chapter and by event as a subset within said chapters. It's user friendly and allows the reader to pace him or herself in small, clean increments. Brands' style in this book was, to me, reminiscent of some other non-fiction reads of recent years, namely David Halberstam's "The Fifties," Bill Bryson's "One Summer: America, 1927," and Thomas Fleming's "A Disease in the Public Mind." These were outstanding books, all. Brands' own offering is, arguably, wider in scope than any one of them. While he's a gifted writer, his "American Dreams" falls a little short of the detail and charm of Halberstam, the wit and seamless segues of Bryson, and the flair and singular sense of purpose of Fleming. Having said that, Brands is a winner. He has written a number of worthy historical accounts. He's also enjoyable to listen to on TV as a commentator. I like him a lot. "American Dreams" is a very good book and a valuable compendium.
August 12, 2022
If only all history books could be written like this. Seriously.
What I appreciate most in Brand's concise history is how conversational his tone is. I'm a history major nearly completing my degree and have come across some VERY dry texts. Reading this book was like hearing history being told from an old friend or a very laid back teacher. Another great thing about this book is that it gives a very even survey of events that flow very nicely-it's as if Brands were a trained writer over an historian. Brands does give some reasoning as to why certain events occur and he does hint at judgements regarding important figures and their decisions but his conclusion seem well balanced, well put and on the whole something that I could agree with. This would be a great book for anyone unfamiliar with this time period and seeks answers on to how and why America has changed since World War II. Brands makes the case that the period of prosperity Americans enjoyed after the war was a bit of a one off thanks to the right set of circumstances nd that after being propelled into super power status and the world stage, this prosperity could not last in the face of a shift to focusing on internationalism.
5/5
What I appreciate most in Brand's concise history is how conversational his tone is. I'm a history major nearly completing my degree and have come across some VERY dry texts. Reading this book was like hearing history being told from an old friend or a very laid back teacher. Another great thing about this book is that it gives a very even survey of events that flow very nicely-it's as if Brands were a trained writer over an historian. Brands does give some reasoning as to why certain events occur and he does hint at judgements regarding important figures and their decisions but his conclusion seem well balanced, well put and on the whole something that I could agree with. This would be a great book for anyone unfamiliar with this time period and seeks answers on to how and why America has changed since World War II. Brands makes the case that the period of prosperity Americans enjoyed after the war was a bit of a one off thanks to the right set of circumstances nd that after being propelled into super power status and the world stage, this prosperity could not last in the face of a shift to focusing on internationalism.
5/5
August 31, 2025
This is an excellent narrative that examines American life from 1945 and the end of World War II until Barack Obama’s election in 2008 and the first years of his tenure. Brands summarizes vast political landscapes, popular culture, international and domestic affairs, social shifts, and technological advancements that impacted life in the United States and their effects abroad. Brands is able to be concise despite the usually overwhelming chunk of history he took on. When considering the long period covered, the book is relatively short and organized skillfully into chapters that outline the evolution of American policy and social changes chronologically, managing to be both in-depth and detailed without being overly wordy or needlessly long. A well-written and broad history of American life post-World War II until the technological age.
October 21, 2019
This is a very readable history of the last 55 years of history in the United States. It covers all major political events, but does a good job of also examining social and technological changes. At times, the author's perspective is more visible and some might be put off here and there by a clear opinion on a person or event. However, this is no diatribe or one-sided view of events. I found my understanding of the period much improved by the information from the book. An index and chapter notes are there for those wishing to study in more depth.
March 2, 2019
Perhaps it is that I enjoyed history as a subject in school or it is that it is that good of a compact historical book on the United States after 1945 that I truly enjoyed this book. The author's political leaning is not noticeably evident in the book and he fairly outlines important events in U.S. history. A must read for any history geek or anyone with the slightest interest in the history of the United States post-World War II.
December 8, 2018
A solid overview of America's postwar years through Obama's election. Brands doesn't provide much depth or personal insight. Instead we encounter a chronological and relatively objective narrative that traces the rise and acme of collective liberalism to the eclipse of individual conservatism.
June 18, 2020
Once again, Dr. Brands produces another excellent work. He proves his thesis, which, based upon American History, despite its many setbacks and challenges, adds credence to the US being the most unique country in the world. He ties as many events and people together, conveying a unique story (since 1945), that is America. I love this guy!
January 12, 2021
I enjoyed the book well enough and covered a lot of ground. My one issue was that I felt as though Brands was trying to cover too much which caused him to jump around between subjects and, in some cases, time periods, at different points through the book.
July 8, 2017
Even-handed look at contemporary U.S. history from the end of WWII up to Obama's first term, with the focus on politics and government. Some social history.
November 1, 2017
2.5 Stars.
December 1, 2017
I read this for a history class.
February 13, 2018
Easy to read, at times one-sided or unnecessarily shallow but, by and large, entertaining. Covers lots of ground in a condensed high-quality narrative.
June 16, 2021
Excellent historical analysis. This book is very easy to read and follow, unlike other historical books.
October 6, 2022
Required reading for a class, but it was really enjoyable. Easy to read and not one-sided. Good overview of post WW2 America.
December 11, 2023
A great telling of American history
May 26, 2025
That’s a lot of history and nuance to pack into 385 pages and Brands does a pretty darn good job. An ambitious book about personal and national ambition.
June 26, 2024
H.W. Brands is a masterful writer and historian who can pack a lot of information into a small space without being incomprehensible. I recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of the United States from 1945 to 2010, when the book was published. I wish Brands the best of health because I would love to read a second edition of this book some time in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews