The Brief American Pageant: A History of the Republic

I think the people who criticize this book for its flowery languages are the same people who criticize other history textbooks for being dull and dry, and so for them, any history textbook would probably fail their standards. With that said, Kennedy and Bailey successfuly make American history come alive and accessible to students with their fascinating choice of phrases and subtle humor. The book reads more like a novel than a textbook, and I have to say it significantly improved my writing and reading abilities in sophomore year high school. For those who criticize this book for lacking important facts, they should remember that this is meant to serve as an INTRODUCTION to American history, getting students acquainted with important themes rather than presenting obscure facts and statistics in rapid-fire succession. This book does not insult your intelligence by printing key terms in bold, or over-glorify the United States by beating patriotic rants into your head. It has its leftist slant, but it is meant to educate you to see the whole picture, from the perspectives of the greatest statesman to the most disenfranchised slave, the wealthiest businessman to the poorest farmer, the most honored general to the humblest soldier. For me, it was the perfect blend of praise and criticism of American history. Give this book a try and you will soon see what makes it a compelling read.

The field of history has the dubious distinction of being interesting yet oppressively dull. A teacher not worth his salt can turn an American history class into nap time. Conversely, an engaging teacher can make students interested but part of accomplaishing this objective is complementing the classroom with an equally engaging textbook. The American Pageant is that book. The aesthetic qualities make it appropriate for high school or introductory university level American history courses. The content equally qualifies. There is no doubt that it took 12 editions to make this book even better than it was; progress simply has that deliberate quality. There are aesthetic considerations that can engage those with short attention spans, such as vibrant pictures, humorous cartoons, two column page setting, and explanatory chronologies among others. However, the crowning achievement is that the average reader cannot distinguish where one author stopped writing and another picked up. David Kennedy and Lizabeth Cohen both have their oen distinctive writing styles but they blend magnificently with Bailey's writing in this work. This work is a testament to the love of teaching felt by all three authors.

While taking AP American History at my high school I was worried about how much reading I would have to sacrifice myself to. While reading did take a good 45 minutes to an hour for each chapter in The American Pageant, it was exciting venture. Unlike most texts which are filled with flat sentences, the words used to teach history in the American Pageant bounce of the page and are filled with life. The vigor that Bailey and Kennedy bring to describing history is unlike anything I have ever seen before. History is told through metaphors and figurative language, the antithesis of almost all other text books which simply state the facts with no emotion. The enthusiasm in which the book was written rubbed of on me. I was actually excited about coming home and reading about World War I, or The Great Depression, or The Spanish-American War, or The Stormy Sixties. It was a vastly entertaining book, and, while I never thought I would say this, I am considering buying myself a copy for the years to come. The American Pageant taught me more history than anything I ever read. This fact is due to one key difference between this book and all other text books I have read: The American Pageant kept me interested. I will always remember the clever writing style and substanative information that was included in every chapter. I am forever grateful to The American Pageant for showing me the intresting and exciting side of the United State's past, and, of course, for helping me recieve outstanding grades in American History.

I read this book first in high school several years ago as part of an advanced placement U.S. History course. I hated it then - but love it now. Bailey captures the depth of the issues the nation faced in each step of its development. His accuracy and profound insight keep the subject matter from becoming too dry. What I loved most about the text is that it never over-simplifies the significant historical events such as the political struggles of the 1st and 2nd continental congresses, secession issues and America's position in both World Wars. He digs deep beneath the surface to paint a thorough understanding of what the root causes were of historic events. The 10th addition adds interesting subsections that profile the various immigrant cultures that influenced American history. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the nation's history and the people who made it.