U.S. History for Dummies

By Steve Wiegand

Book Overview

Lots of people think that learning U.S. history is a punishment. It's a subject you had to take in school. You memorized a bewildering array of dates, absorbed definitions for terms like Manifest Destiny , and wondered if America really needed two presidents named Harrison. Historical figures were presented to you as if they were characters in a junior high school costume pageant, with their blemishes airbrushed out and personalities drained away in stodgy history textbooks. History textbooks often overlook the fascinating moments of history. They present U.S. history as something dry and distant, all events and facts, and don't focus on what is really is: The story of Americans. It's the story of people - what they thought, did, and tried to do as they struggled to build a nation. U.S. History For Dummies is not a textbook. It focuses on people - famous, infamous, and obscure. This book gives you a basic foundation of information about the history of the United States. Students and teachers can use it as a friendly, easy-to-understand overview of U.S history, and history buffs can use it as a reference to look up important facts, to settle debates, and to store up ammunition for future conversations with a know-it-all brother-in law Here's just a sampling of the topics covered in U.S. History For Dummies: Pre-Columbus: The earliest Native Americans The settling of the Pilgrims and the expansion toward the West The American Revolution and the establishment of a new government How the most influential presidents governed the nation The Civil War and the abolishment of slavery The development of modern industry Two World Wars and a Great Depression America matures through tragedy: The Kennedy Assassination, the Vietnam War, and Watergate U.S. History For Dummies also includes Top Ten lists covering the best - and worst - presidents, inventions that changed the world, and events that defined American culture.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076455249X
• ISBN13: 9780764552496
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

U.S. History for Dummies

Good Book. I is very detailed with the necessary fact about US history that I require. Thanks

Amazing: a modern history book that is not bland

Steve Wiegand has a voice and he's not afraid to use it. It's wonderful to read a general history book with a little edge, a little attitude, and a lot of humor. This is no pussy-cat history, declawed and toned down with an eye to being totally inoffensive. This is fun to read -- and you'll learn something while you're at it. Great supplement for teachers seeking to spice up the curriculum a bit and engage their students.

US History: Facts and Humor

I found this book to be a great refresher for all of the facts I had learned about US History in high school and had since forgotten. Even more importantly, I learned a lot of details not generally included in the names, dates, just-the-facts ma'am genre of most history textbooks. The book is well organized and it is easy to locate information about a specific period of time if you are just flipping through. The humorous and conversational style also make this book great to read cover to cover without feeling like you have to take a test afterward. I would recommend this book to any student needing to supplement their in-class learning and any adult looking to expand their knowledge a bit. I find it refreshing that Wiegand couples his facts with distinct opinions. It is widely known that it is impossible to write about anything, including history, with complete objectivity. The style in which this book is written is not hiding anything and it's a great resource whether you agree with the author's political commentary or not!

A breath of fresh air

I was very pleased to find a new type of book that teaches the basics without all the unnecesary details. Not having a scholarly type of interest in history, I found this book to be educational and fun to read. History is a very dry subject for most people and the author's humor was very entertaining. If you are looking for material for a dissertation, go to the library. Pick any history book because they all contain the same information. If you want to learn about American History by someone not afraid to offend others with the truth, you'll love this book!

U.S. History for DUMMIES by Steve Wiegand

This is U.S. History in a nutshell! Focusing on the most important details of our History, Steve Wiegand has compacted centuries of information into 360 pages.Interspersed with the well-researched information are sometimes humorous, and sometimes amazing, tidbits of little-known facts about events, Presidents, and personalities that have shaped our country.(Did you know that "Uncle Sam" was really Sam Wilson of Arlington,Massachusetts ?)Serving principally as a reference book rather than a textbook, I found myself reading this book as if it were a novel. Rarely does one sit down and read a History book from cover to cover as I did with U.S. History for DUMMIES. Each chapter had some topic that drew me on with interest.Mr Wiegand's style and sly-humor are an easy read. In addition, some valuable reference tools are included in the Appendices.I highly recommend this book for Educators, History buffs and all general interest readers.