A History Professor's Review of America: a Concise History
Michael Bertrand, a History professor at the University of Mississippi, reviewed America: A Concise History for the humanities and social sciences web site, "H-Net." To see the complete review, and other information like it, visit "H-Survey".

Recent studies have shown that a growing number of college students do not, do not like, or do not have the time to read. This is the scenario that makes the selection of effective textbooks so important to the teaching of history survey courses. Like instructors, textbook authors and publishers must also accommodate themselves to new realities. Not only must they adapt to readers who do not like to read, they must also keep an eye on a market that has shown an increasing inability to bear high-priced and heavy tomes. Brevity has replaced magniloquence as the preferred and (perhaps necessary) objective. The fruits of this streamlining process and policy can be found in America: A Concise History.

Compact in size and appearance, A Concise History....is definitely student-friendly. Well-written in a single-column format that is easy to read, the book is also relatively inexpensive. The authors have shortened their paragraphs and chapters (average length at 27 pages). In keeping with an approach that emphasizes visual learning, each chapter contains an average of nearly five illustrations. The same holds true for maps, of which there are 61 dispersed throughout the text. An additional nine statistical tables and charts are found amidst the second half of the text (with three of those located in the appendix).

The book is uniformly broken down into six chronological sections. Each of the six sections begins with a thematic timeline, [and] a sophisticated chart divided into four areas. Under each heading [in the chart] are specific events and trends that dominated the era. Immediately following is a one-page summary that succinctly establishes the political, cultural, social, racial, economic, and diplomatic themes the reader will encounter in the chapters within that section.

As a means to reinforce the lessons offered in the section introductions, the authors also lead each chapter with flash headlines that alert the reader to the major issues that he or she is about to address in the pages ahead. Students should have no difficulty in organizing their thoughts and reactions to the information presented. The inclusion of "American Voices," two excerpts of diverse and often obscure first-hand accounts within each chapter and set apart from the narrative, should also inspire the reader to assess critically the consequences that resulted from the clashing of historical actors and forces.

Questions to think about at the end of chapters also do a superb job of connecting the issues that are brought up in the various reading assignments. Finally, the instructor's resource manual and test bank are quite helpful. The resource guide...contains a valuable annotated film guide. Broken down by chapter, the guide lists pertinent video documentaries and where they can be obtained. Such a feature indeed demonstrates the direction that pedagogy will have to follow in order to ensure success in the modern classroom.

Catering to the needs and demands of the student and marketplace, America: A Concise History and its ancillary materials will undoubtedly establish the model for all ensuing textbook packages; as a work which so adeptly synthesizes the themes of economics, politics, society, culture, race, and gender, however, it has achieved a balance that will be difficult to duplicate. If the opportunity presented itself, I would choose America: A Concise History for my own classes.

Michael Bertrand,

The University of Mississippi

This review is posted here with Prof. Bertrand's permission.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

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