From Columbus' voyage to the Clinton administration, hop aboard a rollicking ride through 600 years of Americana. With wit, candor and fascinating facts, Kenneth C. Davis explodes long-held myths and misconceptions -- revealing the very human side of history that the textbooks neglect. By asking simple questions and telling us the entertaining answers, Davis lets us all in on the basics of American history. This updated edition incorporates new research and discoveries, and covers topics such as the end of the Cold War, Clinton's impeachment, the bizarre elections of 2000, and the events that led to September 11th. For history buffs and history-phobes alike, Davis proves once more that reading him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had.
This book is perfectly formatted for the ear. It covers American history chronologically, but each individual topic is organized in a question-and-answer format. What's more, quotations from major figures from different historical eras provide diverse perspectives on key events in addition to the author's own solid explanations. Jeff Woodman and Jonathan Davis's delivery maintains a conversational tone. Their easy pace sounds like they're explaining these complex topics to a friend, and they're quite sensitive to the humor of the book. Enjoyable and educational, the book's only weaknesses are its economic explanations, which aren't as acute as the political ones, and a slight liberal bias when discussing twentieth-century topics. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
