History book recommendations - quick! | Aletheia Discussion Forums

moritz
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History book recommendations - quick! Feb 19, 2009 9:52:50 GMT -8

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Post by moritz on Feb 19, 2009 9:52:50 GMT -8

Hey everyone,
My final Exams are approaching and one of my subjects is American Studies. I'm going to buy a history book and was about to order "The enduring vision" by Paul S. Boyer et al., since texts of this book have frequently been used in seminars I participated in. However, it's not exactly a cheap purchase and at amazon.com I've read a couple of bad reviews. So I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a decent history book, covering the time from 1492 till at least 2000? Thanks!

„Die Zivilisierung der Monotheismen ist abgeschlossen, sobald die Menschen sich für gewisse Äußerungen ihres Gottes, die unglücklicherweise schriftlich festgehalten wurden, schämen wie für die Auftritte eines im allgemeinen sehr netten, doch jähzornigen Großvaters, den man seit längerem nicht mehr ohne Begleitung in die Öffentlichkeit lässt.” - Peter Sloterdijk

Josh
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History book recommendations - quick! Feb 19, 2009 10:25:16 GMT -8

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Post by Josh on Feb 19, 2009 10:25:16 GMT -8

I actually don't know of a current, good US History overview book It's been too long since I used one in college.

If you need any recommendations about particular American Studies subject matter, let me know.

Sorry.

You’ve got your methods
I’m done with trying to guess all your moves
I’m going where you want me to go
I’ve got nothing left to lose
Now I don’t wanna suffer
But that’s in fact the nature of the beast
If you want to get to higher ground
You got to get there on your knees

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ryan
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History book recommendations - quick! Jul 27, 2009 21:33:48 GMT -8

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Post by ryan on Jul 27, 2009 21:33:48 GMT -8

There are a lot of flawed texts out there. I have not really dived into Boyer's book. I have recently been covering a history of America from a blatantly Pro-American standpoint by Larry Schweikart: A Patriot's History of the United States. He has set this book up as an answer of sorts to Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States which is a far less flattering picture of the US. I find that the truth probably lies between the two images given. Zinn is infinitely more popular and tends to point out America's warts while Schweikart tries to pump up the contributions America has made. Both of these books endeavor to be quite thorough.

Finding a text that does not have a bias might prove to be difficult. If you find one that you really appreciate. Let me know. I am always looking for nicely balanced approaches to American history.