As you might expect from the folks at the New York Public Library, this large paperback book is a highly organized, polished gem of information about American history. It's easy to thumb through, with logical and useful categories, organized into 14 such chapters as: Indigenous Peoples, Territorial Expansion, Development of the American City, Science and Religion and so on.
The book contains numerous charts, timelines and maps, illustrating scads of information.
We get, for example, a chart in the Territorial Expansion chapter that lists the territory, year it was acquired, amount of land, and present status, meaning what states were formed from the acquisition.
In case you thought we all got here because we were heroes fleeing religious or political persecution, take a look at the Business, Labor and Economic section, which lists such events as the arrival of fishing fleets in the 1500s, the decision to cultivate tobacco in 1612, Rhode Island's decision to import molasses in 1764, which allowed it to make rum, which in turn went to Africa, and exchanged for slaves, the 1792 establishment of the U.S. Mint and so on.
You'll be treated to more information than you may have known about the indigenous peoples of America, with an explanation of some of their history and how it is they decided to side with or against various competing European interlopers. Though the consequences of those decisions is clear, it also seems obvious that no matter which side they chose, they were doomed to the same bad outcome.
Like many almanacs and history books, this one is loaded with bits of information that may surprise you. Who knew, for example, that we acquired the Virgin Islands from Denmark? (And how did those Danes get those islands, anyway?)
It has what would seem, at first glance, rather quirky sub-categories, but they are about who we are as people. For example, we get a chronology of social protests, starting with the Manhattan slave uprising of 1712, the Whiskey Rebellion of 1787 and my personal favorite, the 1968 Chicago convention mess, defined as a police riot (as the official federal government investigation did). This book works a couple of ways, providing these lists and charts so that readers can obtain a quick hit of information, just enough to round out that report for school or double check a reporter's casual historical reference.
But the organization also gives us context, so that the growth of American cities is seen in relation to the rise of suburbs, the impact on rural America and the effect on social and cultural developments on people. It is a delight to skim; it's extremely useful for anyone needing a tidbit or explanation and context for American history.
Pam
Robinson is a news editor for the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post
News Service and co-founder of ACES.
