Eyes of the Nation: A Visual History of the United States

Visiting the Library of Congress is like entering the vaults of the Smithsonian-fascinating, intelligent, and unavoidably eclectic. Such is the case with Eyes of the Nation, which calls upon the Library of Congress' print collection to reveal America from Columbus to the near present. Among the scores of important papers, maps, and photos, you'll find pictures of an unfinished Capitol Rotunda during Lincoln's inauguration, Oppenheimer's notes on nuclear reactions, and the real faces of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, not to mention his actual manuscript pages. Historian Alan Brinkley binds the collection with poignant direction, making it as much a reference text as a work of art.

This is a fascinating and valuable look at the United States presented with a number of rarely seemed photographs. You will learn something here even if you think you know the whole story of our nation's 200+ years. The only caveats are a few photos which, while presenting some of the true (and unfortunate) incidents of our history, may be too graphic for children (and some adults!) Overall a fine volume worthy of any library.

As the Library of Congress marks our country's history as the U.S.'s continual time capsule; this tome offers a glance into her walls. Beautifully assembled, this keepsake will instill pride in its citizenry. Making selections from myriad possibilities must have been a dire undertaking, but those represented indicate a fair cross-section of time and geography. An excellent tribute to a worthy source!