The American Nation: Volume 1

This text is absolutely unsurpassed in terms of clarity, conciseness and general usefulness. I first used Garraty's book in 8th grade, then again as a supplement to some other texts in a U.S. A.P. class in high school (I got a 5 on the test, which I am confident is owed entirely to Garraty) and still use it for general reference in college. In a little over 1000 pages, Garraty covers just about every major event in United States history in interesting and extremely clear prose. I have yet to find any book that communicates such an enormous amount of information in such a small amount of space with such an enormous degree of clarity. I promise that this book will not only improve your understanding of U.S. history, but will also serve as a lifelong reference source.

This book is packed with knowledge. American Nation is great for the classroom environment. This book has great stories under "American Lives," which talk about great Americans. Some of which are George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams to name a few. There are many colorful and well-illustrated pictures. This book explains in depth the great events of the United States up until 1877. Pay attention though because this book jumps around with the dates on the different subject areas, but that is so the same subject is covered in one section. This is a fantastic book for a College course. John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes have done their homework and have put forth one of the best Social Science books I have ever seen.

This book is far more than a collection of dates and the authors' assertions about what happened and why. The history and analyses presented are clear and interesting. But in addition, there are many photographs, original illustrations, and excerpts from many other sources contemporary with the events discussed. These enlarge the understanding of what was happening. For example, in accounting for the change in the Soviet Union's status from ally in WWII to enemy in the Cold War, this book re-creates the smorgasbord of the portraits of Stalin laid out for the public to sample. Ambassador Davies in his best-seller, "Mission to Moscow" (1941), is quoted as asserting that communism is based "on the same principle of the 'brotherhood of man' which Jesus preached," and Stalin himself as a man whose "brown eye is exceedingly kind and gentle. A child would like to sit in his lap and a dog would silde up to him." The reader can see what an impression this would make on a public yet to learn about Stalin's purges of millions of his own people. Other printed sources are quoted and the depictions of Stalin in several movies--all combining to influence the public opinion which politicians must take into account--make this book a fascinating and accessible work of history. This book renders understandable the interplay of the Constitution, public opinion, re-election concerns, and many other factors in the policy and actions taken by The United States from the beginnings of its history.

Kudos to Garraty for his newest edition. I was a student in AP US History and thoroughly enjoyed the book. I received a 5 on the AP exam (highest possible score ranked 1-5). I wholeheartedly recommend the text to anyone serious about succeeding in AP US History or if you just want to refresh your knowledge of US History. Within the American Nation, you will find all sorts of ancedotes told by a preeminent raconteur. If you can not remember the "Sumner-Brooks" affair, you will enjoy reading Garraty's skilled account of that affair to remember.

I read this book for AP US History and it provided a clear and concise overview and explanation of American History from start to finish. I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in American History or the emergence of the American Government.