The Brave New World covers the span of early American history; from 30;000 years before Europeans ever landed on North American shores to creation of the new nation. With its exploration of the places and peoples of early America; this comprehensive; lively narrative brings together the most recent scholarship on the colonial and revolutionary eras; Native Americans; slavery; politics; war; and the daily lives of ordinary people. The revised; enlarged edition includes a new chapter carrying the story through the American Revolution; the War for Independence; and the creation of the Confederation. Additional material on the frontier; the Southwest and the Caribbean; the slave trade; religion; science and technology; and ecology broadens the text; and maps drawn especially for this edition will enable readers to follow the story more closely. The bibliographical essay; one of the most admired features of the first edition; has been expanded and brought up to date.Peter Charles Hoffer combines the Atlantic Rim scholarship with a Continental perspective; illuminating early America from all angles―from its first settlers to the Spanish Century; from African slavery to the Salem witchcraft cases; from prayer and drinking practices to the development of complex economies; from the colonies' fight for freedom to an infant nation's struggle for political and economic legitimacy. Wide-ranging in scope; inclusive in content; the revised edition of The Brave New World continues to provide professors; students; and historians with an engaging and accessible history of early North America.
#104333 in Books 1997-09-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.22 x 6.13l; 1.95 #File Name: 0801857481584 pages
Review
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. A Pulitzer Prize-winning Explanation of the Space RaceBy Roger D. LauniusAlthough there were notable forerunners; spaceflight historiography came of age with the 1985 publication this book by Walter McDougall. It received Pulitzer Prize and a host of other well-deserved awards with its analysis of the origins and conduct of the space race. This book explores the Cold War rivalry in race with the preparations for and launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4; 1957; through the race to the Moon in the 1960s. The author argues that the mandate to complete Apollo on Kennedy's schedule prompted the space program to become identified almost exclusively with high-profile; expensive; human spaceflight projects. This was because Apollo became a race against the Soviet Union for recognition as the world leader in science and technology and by extension in other fields as well.McDougall juxtaposes the American effort of Apollo with the Soviet space program and the dreams of such designers as Sergei P. Korolev to land a Soviet cosmonaut on the Moon. The author recognizes Apollo as a significant engineering achievement but concludes that it was also enormously costly both in terms of resources and the direction to be taken in state support of science and technology. In the end; NASA had to stress engineering over science; competition over cooperation; civilian over military management; and international prestige over practical applications. Not all agree with McDougall's arguments; but since the publication of "the Heavens and the Earth..." historians have been striving to equal its scintillating analysis; stellar writing; and scope of discussion.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Gripping account of earthly greatpower rivalry played out in the starsBy Dad to 2 wee nippersPossibly the best book I've had to read while studying a Masters in International Relations. So good; that I've actually read it twice (though skimmed a few bits the second time - it's long and tad bit flowery in parts).McDougall has done a fantastic job in digging into the story behind the space race; starting back in 1800s. He shows how Russia; pre-Soviet era; had a significant number of people dreaming of missions into space; which the USSR inherited.He also shows how the US realized one of the key; if not the key; benefit of satellites would be spying on others - and this required a regime that allowed satellite overflight of foreign countries. Which explains why the US chose only it's 3rd best group of rocketeers to compete to launch a satellite.Unfortunately; again as McDougall explains; the US kept this decision very; very secret and did nothing to explain this to the US public; so it badly lost the PR game when the USSR launched Sputnik.I could go on - so many interesting facts; useful to any student of great power politics and invaluable to students of space.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Too MuchBy Robert SparrenbergerA very thorough look at the space race from a political viewpoint. The problem with this book is it is horribly overwritten. 461 pages of dense text that could be whittled down by at least 100 pages. Excruciating details are discussed leaving the reader with a headache from all the material.The author also wants to get deep towards the end and turn philosophical. I was so tired that my eyes glazed over reading about the origins of the universe.There is also a lot of exclamation points in this book. Lots of typos on the kindle edition as well. Plus they included the page numbers in the text which was annoying.Mediocre at best for such a highly acclaimed book. Not for the average reader who wants a review of the space race.
