From an acclaimed social and architectural historian; the tumultuous; scandalous; glitzy; and glamorous history of English country houses and high society during the interwar period
#175431 in Books David Reynolds 2011-07-12 2011-07-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.34 x 5.70l; 1.49 #File Name: 0465022146592 pagesAmerica Empire of Liberty A New History of the United States
Review
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Revisionist history - not what we were taught in High SchoolBy Bruce M. KernerFirst rate scholarship and written in an a page turner readable popular style; Reynolds stands beside Zinn and Huberman as the historians who are today's must reads. The American myths that we we were taught in school give way to a better and more accurate presentation of Empire Sprawl as we conquered a continent.10 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Excellent balanced overviewBy T. TseThis is an excellent narrative overview of American history from the beginnings to late 2008. The author covers a lot of ground but gives more emphasis to the 20th century as major events and cultural movements then shaped America today. He weaves his narrative together with three themes: empire; liberty and faith. The book explores how the American people shaped their story and confronted the paradoxes inherent in these three themes.As the author admitted; this is written from an outsider's perspective. While the book does cover native americans; sexual revolution; civil rights; etc.; it does not pay homage to the liberal agenda. Some reviewers complain that this constitutes a bias towards "landed white guys". Actually this is part of the outsider's perspective. The narrative of American history has been dominated by the liberal establishment since the culture wars of the 1990s. I find it refreshing to read a history book that actually focuses on history rather than political correctness.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. “Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.†Abigail AdamsBy Kristi RichardsonThis was another interesting book on American History from the Natives to President Obama told by a British historian. What makes this special is the different quotations from various people involved in the building of the nation at the time it happened. As I got the audible version from the local library this becomes even more special as the different voices read the quotes and it actually makes the history come alive for me.Another plus about this book is that it comes from an outsider and his views and inputs are interesting. We like to tout that we are the Land of Liberty but throughout our history; we took away the liberty of Native Americans; blacks and women. We fall short in many things; whether that is because we are a capitalistic country; a Christian country or a Patriarchal country I do not know for sure.I found this a very fun listen and I always learn something new. I highly recommend it.
