The Reader's Companion to the American Presidency serves as a nice overview of the Presidents without being a mere laundry list of facts and "did you know?" trivia. The essay contributions of dozens of well-respected historians give a concise, but remarkably comprehensive overview of each President's administration and background. A timeline at the bottom of the page and sidebars about U.S. population, immigration, commerce statistics, and information about the first family nicely complement each section. While the essays offer insights about the accomplishments and failures of each man, the book avoids being overly "heavy-handed" or judgmental.

A great feature is the "For Further Reading & Research" section which recommends biographies and reveals where one can find the President's papers for more in-depth reading of the President and his times. The book is not photo-heavy, but many of the black-and-white photos offered are refreshingly different from the ones we might be used to seeing (e.g. Gilbert Stuart's rendition of Washington is absent). This professional and well-organized hardcover would make a great gift and first-stop resource for anyone's library.

Washington was a great President, right? Lincoln's presidency was without blemish, correct? Bill Clinton was the only President to have an affair or two? Well what if these things happened before? How does each President stack up against the other? This book might just have the answers you're looking for.

Historians like Eric Foner, Joyce Appleby, Alan Taylor, Jean Baker, Karen Orren and others put together 41 essays on the man who has held the highest political office in the land and they give the insight into the up and downs of the administration.

You'll read about the triumphs, the failures, the wins, the losses and the scandals, all put into the proper perspective of the time in which they took place. Excellent companion to any history book, with information that you may not find anywhere else.

If you are looking to increase your knowledge of the President and are looking for a straight forward, unbiased reading than this book should be on your list. The authors and editors have give you a first rate book and at a price that is sure to make everyone happy.

This book out of all the history textbooks that I have ever had is one of my favorites. It does a great job of being concise and not bombarding you with irrelevant information that has nothing to do with the work at hand. The pictures where great and depth that the book goes into is right on target. This books reads almost like a story making it much more enjoyable to read than most.

Borrowed from library, but was not enough. This book packs more real information in clear English, well organized and actually interesting to read. The price for a paperback is too much, but I can't do without it for a constant reference. B/W Pictures throughout. I have 34 history books on and around the 20th C. Yet I am buying this one for sure! Exerp (with picture) "Protest at Wounded Knee - white Americans were shocked in 1973 by pictures such as this one of the Indian occupation of the town of Wounded Knee, SD. This member of the Sioux tribe stands guard in a newly constructed bunker, a row of loaded rifles close at hand and an American flag contemptuously displayed upside down.." Exerp (picture) "Demonstrators lie down in front of the Pacific Gas and Electric building in San Francisco to protest the company's use of nuclear power...the antinuclear movement became the most widespred popular protest since the end of the war in Vietnam, and it illustrated the changing nature of dissident politics in the 1970s" Suggested readings at chapter endings. Full index. Medium size of book with stiff cover make it 'almost' hardback.

Days of Destiny: Crossroads in American History edited by James M. McPherson and Alan Brinkley is a book that brings thirty-one of todays best-selling and most respected historians together into a project that is engaging with unparalleled scholarship, as the question that is asked are there moments in American History when something old ends and something new begins. This book takes us from King Philip's 1675 parley with white colonial officials to the 1973 research conference at which the biotechnology revolution was announced.

This is a book that will court your mind with its information and insight, making a very fascinating read about the turbulent course of American History. As some of the historian chose wars, presidents, battles and politics, others chose areas, of less well-known areas of study making a well-rounded book with crisp prose and readability that will keep your interest.

The contents are as follows:

June 17, 1675 King Philip's Quarell by James Axtell
October 23, 1740 Whitefield Awakens America by John Demos
May 23, 1775 Silas Deane's Diary by Jack N. Rakove
October 19, 1781 the Battle of Yorktown by Robert Middlekauff
July 16, 1787 The Day the Constitution was Saved By Godon S. Wood
June 20, 1790 Mr. Jefferson's Dinner {arty by Joseph J. Ellis
March 4, 1801 The Second American Revolution by Joyce Appleby
Mid-February 1824 The Way West by William H. Goetzmann
January 1, 1831 The Liberator by Ira Berlin
July 20, 1848 The Seneca Falls Convention by Christine Stansell
March 6, 1857 The Day of Dred Scott by Sean Wilentz
September 13, 1862 The Lost Orders by James M. McPherson
June 13, 1866 Equality Before the Law by Eric Foner
October 5, 1877 I Will Fight No More Forever by Elliot West
February 24, 1908 Affirming the Sexual Division of Labor by Alice Kessler-Harris
August 14, 1908 The End of Accommodation by David Levering Lewis
January 1, 1913 The Routine Arrest That Launched Revoultion by Geoffrey C. Ward
June 20, 1917 The Great Demand by Nancy F. Cott
July 20, 1925 The Scopes Trial: Darrow v. Bryan by Alan Brinkley
May 22, 1933 Harry Hopkins Brings Relief by Linda Gordon
April 2, 1943 Testing America by Nicholas Lemann
July 25, 1945 the Most Terrible Bomb in History of the World by John W. Dower
September 19, 1946 The President Learns about Civil Rights by William E. Leuchtenberg
May 3, 1948 Holly at the Crossroads by Ann Douglas
January 17, 1961 A Farewell to Arms by Douglas Brinkley

June 21, 1961 The Decision to Publish Kuhn by David A. Ho;inger
July 28, 1965 End of an Era, Start of a War by David Kaiser
January 14, 1967 The Human Be-in by David Farber
July 12, 1967 Days of Rage: The Life and Death of Newark by Kenneth T. Jackson
November 22, 1971 Sally Reed Demand Equal Treatment by Linda K. Kerber
July 14, 1973 The Battle over Biotechnology by Daniel J. Kevles

As you can see this is a who's who line up of historians that chose a moment that changed history and you will not be disappointed reading the very well put together book, as it is a book of extraodinary acts and thoughts of exceptional people, and it is reflected by these scholars making a profound difference, not only in history but our daily lives.

This book is sponsored by the Society of American Historians and was written by members elected to the society because of their demonstrated capacity to write lucid, significant and very readable history. I found this book to provide stimulation and enjoyment, delivering an understanding of some of the central questions in American history. This is well worth your money to purchase and this volume is well appointed with illustrations further enriching your experience.

As the Library of Congress marks our country's history as the U.S.'s continual time capsule; this tome offers a glance into her walls. Beautifully assembled, this keepsake will instill pride in its citizenry. Making selections from myriad possibilities must have been a dire undertaking, but those represented indicate a fair cross-section of time and geography. An excellent tribute to a worthy source!

I thought this book was very well put together. The Chapters led into one another nicely. I had a great teacher which makes the book worth a thousand times more. The cd-rom that comes with the book helped me get an A in the class. Thanks Mr. Brinkley. Awesome Book.

I used this book for self-study after many years away from any formal courses, and I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself engrossed in the lucid and engaging descriptions, the beautiful illustrations and photographs, and helpful index. It covers, at just the right level of detail, American History from the colonization of the Americas to Clinton's presidency. It gives a big picture without being condescending and simplistic, but also without assailing you with inessential jargon and names.

I looked at many different American History surveys and this is my favorite by far. On the other hand, if you already know the main outlines of American History, and want detailed analyses of particular periods, then this book will not be as helpful, as it is merely an overview and the bibliography is not very detailed or well annotated.

As an exchange student in the US, my decision to study Ap History in my High school scared me a little bit. However American History proved to be avery useful book in the understanding of US History. However the book lacks some organization for not offering a better chronological view of the events, what sometimes lead a student into a maze of facts apparently not conected to each other. Sections like " where historians disagree" present different views in the same subject, helping to review history. A great book

I was never one to enjoy history much until my college history class used this book for the main text. I found this book great reading (interesting and kept my attention most of the time). I must say that after that class and this book, I have become much more interested in aspects of history. This book is wonderful and I would recommend it to any college professor of history or high school student with even a slight interest in history!

I used this book for self-study after many years away from any formal courses, and I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself engrossed in the lucid and engaging descriptions, the beautiful illustrations and photographs, and helpful index. It covers, at just the right level of detail, American History from the colonization of the Americas to Clinton's presidency. It gives a big picture without being condescending and simplistic, but also without assailing you with inessential jargon and names.

I looked at many different American History surveys and this is my favorite by far. On the other hand, if you already know the main outlines of American History, and want detailed analyses of particular periods, then this book will not be as helpful, as it is merely an overview and the bibliography is not very detailed or well annotated.

This book has been a great aid in writing my research papers! I really liked the way the book was broken down between chapters and sections, it made choosing a research topic much easier. The book was also very well written and to the point, it was not at boring at all!

I am not a student & don't buy books because I have to but rather because I enjoy history. Textbooks are sold to a captive audience & lack the finesse or detail to compete for a general audience. This book covers a wide range of subjects but without great detail in each (necessarily perhaps) & offers a perhaps more liberal view of US events than I believe is entirely accurate. I only evaulated the Colonial/Revolutionary periods and the Civil War before deciding to return it for a refund of my $. Perhaps this is the best out there but I certainly hope not! Really great historical authors (Paul Kennedy, B. Tuckman, etc.) include a wealth of detail that makes the history come alive. In comparison textbooks such as this one skip detail for a mere listing of events & dates with the author's interpretations, so students can easily highlight the appropriate sections in preparing for exams. Don't buy it unless required for a class!

This book is very easy to read and understand. If you don't know much about U.S. History, and you want an easy to read book, then this book is for you. Brinkley's style of writing is remarkably down-to-earth. You can read this book for pleasure and get a lot out of it!.... Anyways, get the book. It's worth it.

Alan Brinkley has put together a wonderfully readable, balanced, and thorough history of the US, in just under a thousand pages. It would be ideal for college introductory classes (or very sophisticated high school students); particularly welcome are the selections from primary sources ("American Voices") that often represent other-than-white-male views, but include William Bradford on landing at Plymouth and Nixon on China, and the dozen or so segments called "Debating the Past" that reviw the differing perspectives historians have taken on such topics as slavery, populism, and Viet Nam. I have been a teacher for a quarter of a century, and this is the book I wish I'd had all that time

Brinkley offers a fascinating glimpse into the politics of the Depression era. Often, Huey Long and Father Coughlin are glossed over in US history textbooks and are given the "extremist" or "radical" label. These might not be entirely incorrect descriptions, but using them misses the depth of the national movements that rose up around these two figures and ignores the many followers they had.

It is interesting to see who was supporting Long and Coughlin. Their movements were not, as one might expect, composed of the dispossed or the bottom-of-the-barrel poor. Rather, they usually attracted people on the lower fringes of the middle class--people who had something and knew what it was like not to have it, people who feared losing their new status. Long and Coughlin expressed a sense of loss, too. They bemoaned the death of community-based business and local trade and their replacement with a growing number of chain stores and big businesses. Cold, distant, impersoal relationships now replaced the personal ties that bound communities together. They focused on economic issues--such as old-age pensions and Long's Share Our Wealth program. They placed blame on and demonized the "usual suspects." They proposed radical change and yet distanced themselves from socialists and Communists--especially Coughlin. Ultimately, they failed to create an enduring ideological movement, but one still cannot help wondering what course the 1936 election would have taken had Long not been assassinated in 1935.

The picture of Franklin Roosevelt that emerges here is that of a cunning and shrewd political operator. He deftly maneuvered the political waters and co-opted both Long and Coughlin. He adopted pieces of their programs--never the entire thing, but just enough to siphon support from his potential rivals. He maintained an ambiguous relationship with Coughlin and played on the priest's desire for power and attention--frequently ignoring him but slyly using him, for example, to garner the Catholic vote. He similarly cozied up to Long in the 1932 election, since the Louisiana politician had growing appeal, especially in regions of the south.

Overall, this is a fascinating book, based on excellent scholarship and many insightful analyses.

A very good system book about some great men. Huey Long, Father
Couglin and the other heroes of the Great Depression who had the guts to stand up against the devil capitalist FDR.
It is an Iron Heel book, but it still has a lot of good info.
This book is a good buy.

Alan Brinkley makes a worthy addition to the study of America in the great depression with this short book. Previously, most annalysis has focused on FDR contending with the national forces to his right, in the press, in congress, and in the courts. Brinkley's work takes an entirely differnet approach, looking instead at the "radicals" who threatened the New Deal from the Left, arguing it did not go far enough. Moreover, he presents considerable evidence that in forming the New Deal FDR did not compromise to the right, as many have argued, but was actually moved leftward by populist forces.

Brinkley also does an excellent job presenting his subjects. His treatment of Long is a case in point. He does not seek to cannonize him and brush over his authoritarian leanings, as many have, but nor does he follow the current trend of going in the opposite direction and ignoring Long's acomplishments. By strikeing a balance, Brinkley gives the reader a greater understanding of the appeal of these men and why they failed.

For any reader trying to sort through this complex moment in US history, this is a very worthwhile read.

I didn't realize when I ordered this book that it was so biased towards humantities. While they have some tips that are relevant to any educator, some of the topics which are crucial for the humanities (such as essays and hour-long class discussions) are less useful for an adjunct teaching intro chemistry!

What I'd really like to see are tips for science educators -- how to run a lab, how to teach problem solving skills, how to involve students in active learning when you have so many FACTS to cover.

This book has a lot of common sense information that we all like to hear. It starts with information about how to plan for your class and prepare a complete syllabus that spells out your expectations and decreases the chances of arguments with students later. There are also some great tips for writing good test questions to demonstrate what the students know rather than what they don't know.

Most of the information is geared towards classes that do a lot of literature reading and include lots of class discussions and essay writing. Class discussions are often hard to sustain and this book advises how to keep people from dominating the discussion and how to involve everyone and lessen students' fears of being wrong. This book did not include many concrete ideas for how to improve teaching or new things to try in the classroom rather it gave advice for how to make the old, common ways of teaching, such as lecturing and discussion, work.

Although this book has six authors, I still felt like I was only getting one point of view. I think this would be a more inclusive general guide to college teaching if there were viewpoints from people working in different disciplines.

Every college professor, and would-be college professor, will want to add this important book to his or her professional library. It is brimming with practical advice for achieving success in the classroom. The co-authors, themselves affiliated with a range of institutions (from liberal arts college to university research center), bring their own practical experiences to the fore. Moreover, they provide superb advice about key issues related to teaching (e.g., office hours, construction of exams, and professional conduct.) Whether one is at the beginning of his or her career or a veteran professor, this book will prove itself most beneficial.