This is a wonderful book that can be helpful in many class levels of American History. I personally am using this book in my AP US History class. I find that all facts in the text are completely relavent to the topic being discussed. Bailey also has a way of putting in many little important tidbits and anecdotes that are very humorous and pertain to the subject matter. The book's layout is very well organized. This makes it easy to find any information. In the margins Bailey has put in may quotes from famous historical figures. These quotes always pertain the the subject being discussed and are very helpful when writing essays. The book also does a good job of including the inportance of different ethnic groups in the formation of America.

This book provides wonderful sources for the middle school classroom. As an 8th grade social studies teacher I would be lost without this book. It provides a great balance for the textbook, and brings history alive for students. Some sources are advanced, but many can be used in an inclusive classroom setting. A perfect choice for any teacher of early American history.

The culturgrams are a great reference for teachers, students, travelers, and researchers for quick information on history, geography, cultural, and other important information for each country listed. The information is accurate and as up-to-date as possible.

Kennedy's first book of poems for kids was a hilarious journey into pure nonsense, all done in deft rhyme and meter. Kids are sure to like the pure unsentimental whimsy of these imaginative rhymes and the absurd characters they conjure. There hasn't been such unabashed craziness since Dr. Seuss. Noted illustrator David McPhail (of "Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore" fame) adds finely wrought black-and-white pen drawings.

I so enjoyed Kennedy's Freedom From Fear that when I saw this book I wanted to read it. But it is not nearly as "popular" a work as Freedom from Fear. Two or three chapters are hard to get interested in, I thought. He does talk about the AEF's time in Europe, and seems much more deprecating toward it than is usual from American authors. For instance, The Defeat of Imperial Germany 1917-1918 by Rod Paschall, while it may over-emphasize the role of the AEF, is, I think a needed corrective to Kennedy's down-playing of the American role in World War One.
As the books Kennedy relies on have made clear (e.g., Opponents of War 1917-1918, by H. C. Peterson and Gilbert C. Fite), the record of the Wilson Administration in the field of civil liberties in wartime to a present-day viewer is sobering, the legal system seemingly surrendering to the war hysteria (as some today seem to again urge it do). The book also has an insightful discussion of the contrast between American writing about the war compared to the more pessimistic view of men who were more sated by their longer involvment in the hell which was the Western front. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of interesting stuff in this book--it is just that some chapters may not be overly exciting to a non-economist, for instance.

"Over Here" is an important and clearly-written work in a much-neglected area of historical inquiry--the homefront during time of war in foreign lands. It provides a nice supplement to the classic accounts of WWI that focus more on the battlefields, like Barabara Tuchman's "The Guns of August."

Over Here describes the unthinkable degree of xenophobia and repression of dissent that the Wilson administration, particularly Postmaster General Albert Sidney Burleson and Attorney General Thomas W. Gregory, directed and encouraged, and recounts horrible tales, such as the Prager and Goddard incidents, that should live on forever as warnings against future state support of vigilantism and "100 Percent Americanism." This is especially relevant these days in light of Attorney General Ashcroft's war on civil liberties and the revival of the evil specter of 100 Percent Americanism by the famous xenophobe Pat Buchanan. While today's assaults on liberty are not yet nearly as dastardly as those during WWI, Over Here's historical record serves as a clear warning against repeating past errors and a stunning indictment of the enemies of open society, past and present.

The book also stands as a caution against the dangers of concentrated government power, particularly during wartime, and of excessive and naïve confidence in the capacity of the government to do good. It confirms the Libertarian Harry Browne's warning: "Beware of politicians with good intentions."

President Wilson was a Progressive former professor who came to office with optimistic views on improving the lot of the common man by expanding the role of government in domestic affairs and actively promoting peace in the world. Early in his administration, Wilson's words inspired hope in socialists and other leftists around the world. It is particularly credible, therefore, when a fellow progressive/liberal academic like Professor Kennedy describes how, in practice, Wilson did not have the courage of his convictions and some of his ideas turned out not to work as well in the real world as they did in the lecture halls of academia. His behavior as President was characterized by trepidation and cowardice. Instead of prosperity and harmony at home and peace and unity in the world, fledgling labor unions and leftist dissent were ruthlessly crushed at home and the world remained bitterly divided after the end of a brutal and demoralizing war. Instead of progress for workers and a "war to end all wars," the international left was disillusioned and the seeds were sown for a second, more devastating war to come.

Over Here is a great work of scholarship that is also eminently readable and concise, so that both the historian and the layperson should enjoy it immensely. Despite the author's progressive slant, he applies a light touch in the book that should make it palatable for most conservatives, largely leaving the reader to make one's own conclusions, though the case is made sufficiently strongly that the conclusions are nearly inevitable. The author does eloquently summarize his case on the book jacket, saying the book is "in many ways a sad story, a tale of death, broken hopes, frustrated dreams, and of the curious defeat-in-victory that was Woodrow Wilson's and the nation's, bitter lot." This book well earned its recognition as a Pulitzer Prize Finalist.

"This is a war to end all wars." --Woodrow Wilson
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." --George Santayana's counter to Wilson's quote

Although it probably has broad appeal given the topic and the fame of its author, this book is not aimed primarily at a broad audience; it is first and foremost a work of historical scholarship, by a serious and talented historian. Even so, and as full of analysis and information as this book is, it is eminently readable and is likely the defining book on the social effects of World War I in the United States. It is, in short, an extraordinarily fine work of academic history.

In the years preceding American entry into WWI, Progressivism dominated the political and social landscape. Advocating any number of platforms--from prohibition of alcohol and women's suffrage, to the causes of labor and agriculture, Progressives were extremely active. At the root of their activism, in a sense, was what the role of the federal government was and what it would be. In many ways, as Kennedy points out, World War I weighed in on this question in favor of greater government involvement. During the war, the US government entered a number of spheres of American life and exerted a controlling influence.

And yet, for this involvement and for the promise it held for the pursuit of Progressive ideals, the war effort left much undecided, and following the war, much of the gains were lost. The cause of organized labor had been gutted by wartime efforts to guarantee continued production and remained in shambles at the war's end. Prohibition gained ground, but on the whole, Kennedy argues that the cause of Progressivism and social reform suffered a serious blow as a result of the war. And the question about the government's role was far from settled; the 1920s witnessed a return to virtual non-involvement. This, along with other issues, would only find resolution during the Depression and the New Deal. In this way, then, Over Here is, indeed, prologue to his Freedom from Fear, which covers the eventual answering of many of these lingering questions--including the legitimacy of a more active federal government.

Over Here is essential reading for anyone interested in modern American political and social history.

Professor Kennedy has given us a monumental work on a critical period in the history of the United states and the world. Kennedy displays an intuitve understanding of the causes of the great depression. He gives us a new and positive inter- pretation of Herbert Hoover. In Kennedy's view the ''Great Engineer'' is a closet liberal who paved the way for the new deal. Kennedy clearly is an admirer of Franklin Roosevelt,but is not blind to his hero's shortcomings. The author frankly admits that the new deal did not end the depression and that during WWII Roosevelt was decieved by Joseph Stalin. Kennedy gives a superb account of the political radicalism of the thirties complete with unforgetable portraits of Huey Long and Father Coughlin. The account of the second world war also rises to the occassion. I found this book to be a fascinating read and I highly reccomend it. Thank you Professor Kennedy.

"Freedom From fear" by David Kennedy is a highly respectable history book for the Great Depression and WWII era. Professor Kennedy filled this book with lots of quality research, as well as his own opinions on the Great Depression. In the beginning of this book, Kennedy begins with Herbert Hoover and how he did things "wrong", but then he turned to FDR who kept up with the changing economy at that time. Kennedy portrays FDR as powerful and willing for change. He was an inspiring character for those during the Depression. Further into the book, Kennedy devotes his research to the New Deal and the effects it had on the Depression. Kennedy did go into detail about the effects, but he should have researched more about the causes of the Depression. Even though this book seems to drag on at parts because of all the information thrown at the reader, it was Kennedy's writing style that made the book hard to put down. It was very enjoyable to read and we recommend it to any history lovers who want to learn more about the Depression.

Freedom From Fear is David M. Kennedy's prodigious volume in the Oxford History of the United States that covers America during the Depression and World War two. It begins and ends with a bang (the stock market crash of 1929 and the dropping of the atomic bomb to end the war in the pacific). Freedom From Fear is also a most fitting title. Franklin D. Roosevelt's words of inspiration characterize the American people and their ability to persevere the depression and a second and even more deadly world war.
Kennedy is an extremely good writer and that quality makes this book enjoyable to read as you gain a tremendous amount of knowledge and information from it. Kennedy does not miss a single pivotal moment within the time period making his book the best general (yet probing) history of the period. In conclusion, whether you are cramming for your oral examinations or are simply pursuing knowledge of this important era in American history Freedom From Fear is a more than adequate book.

I commend the person whose idea it was to come up with this book. It provides an overview of the space shuttle's systems as well as some of the tasks of the crew.

I enjoyed the book's fold out pages of the space shuttle control panels. The launch checklist and systems schematics were of particular interest for me as well.

While it's fun to look at every once and awhile, I would have liked more detail on the space shuttle systems. Also, while the book offers some explanations regarding individuals steps in the launch sequence, I would have liked more information on each step. I think the title, "The Space Shuttle Operator's Manual," is a tad bit ambitious since it's such a cursory look at the space shuttle. Nevertheless, I still consider it educational.

Overall, I think those whoare interested in the space shuttle will get something out of this book.

Recommended reading for space cadets of all ages. Study up! The information packed in this manual will come in handy for those nerve-racking mission simulations at Space Camp/Space Academy.

Especially good are the pull-out schematics of the orbiter's control panels.

And the diagram of the improved field joint on the SRBs is helpful in understanding the Challenger accident. Although it would be more helpful if they also showed the original joint construction.

This book is the best overview and reference manual on the shuttle. As you can see from the "Look Inside" function, and by the index, it covers the whole nine yards. It focuses specifically on the orbiter, and covers all aspects of shuttle missions from launch to landing.

As an aspiring sci-fi writer, I found this book to be the perfect reference. It has raw statistics, such as orbiter length, cargo bay volume, and it even goes over the meals and menus and how they are prepared. It also goes in to the history of the orbiters, and the names of the ever shrinking shuttle fleet.

Several sections deal with the now-defunct Spacelab modules. The Spacelab was the shuttle equivalent of a camper shell that sat in the cargo bay. It turned the shuttle into a mini space-station, and had several interchangeable modules. One section was a pressurized module with a battery of experiments, which was connected to the shuttle cockpit. Other sections included a multi-use pallet, and an experimental pallet. This Spacelab was retired in 1997, and has been replaced by the Spacehab modules, which was on the Columbia when it broke-up over Texas.

This book is written in the normal "Basic English" of instruction manuals, and can be understood by elementary school children. It also has many diagrams and pictures, which save many thousands of words of descriptions.

By the way, this book does explain how the space lavatory. In case you are curious, it is a normal commode with vacuum suction, although I have heard stories that it can smell at times.

This book's one weakness is that it is a bit impersonal. If you want to know about the emotions and reactions to life in spaces, another book may be better, such as Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff," of Homer Hickam's "Back to the Moon.". As you read this book, you must supply your own excitement and emotion to this book, since it is an operator's manual. It reads a bit like an encyclopedia, or dictionary, and not a novel.

After reading and referencing this book, I felt as if I had been on board!

Bailey and Kennedy's documents collection is now a standard in secondary schools and some colleges, and with good reason. The book is well-organized, contains excerpts short enough that students can read them as complements to a narrative text (or even in class), and the authors generally include multiple perspectives on controversial issues. The section on the Spanish/American/Cuban/Filipino war, for example, provides at least one document from each "side," making this a useful resource for those of us who teach.

Readers should beware, however, that subsequent revisions of the original edition have not kept pace with developments in historical inquiry. The book is very lean on social history, and there are almost no documents on cultural history. Furthermore, the collection is very idiosyncratic in its inclusion of African-Americans and women. For example, the text does not include an excerpt of the Brown v. Board decision of 1954 and omits any mention of second-wave feminism in its collection of documents on "the stormy sixties."

Perhaps the 10th edition will be more inclusive, but for now I'd suggest students -- and teachers -- of American history seeking for a supplementary documents collection keep looking.

As a secondary school social studies teacher I found this book very helpful. There are numerous sources, and each has an informative and interesting introduction. A broad range of sources include everyday people and politicians, cartoons, letters, and speeches. A must have for the social studies classroom!

I thought this was a wonderful collection of primary sources that really encouraged the further learning of History. Bailey does such a nice job with this book.

This book has been the BANE of my existence since I started A.P. History. I'll let some typically horrendous qoutes speak for me. "The Russian bear, having lumbered across Asia, was seeking to bathe its frostbitten paws in the ice-free ports of China's Manchuria..."; "...looted and polluted...w/ speed and greed.."; "fearing that a new generation of Germans would follow in their father's goose steps..." and so on. There's an entire chapter with section names such as "Unhorsing Knights of Labor" and "Gvt. Bridles the Iron Horse" and shameful use of alliteration such as "Wrongdoing in Railroading" and "Miracles in Mechanization". Bailey even throws in one that rhymes. It may seem funny to an outsider, but it's not--the entire book is written exactly like that. Bailey amazes me anew w/ every chapter. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does, big time. My theory is that his 1st ambition was to be a grocery-store romance novelist, but his writing was too bad, even for that--so he turned to textbooks to pay the bills. It's not even close to being objective, as a text should be; he constantly passes judgement on events, policies, even people. My hatred is impossible to fully express. I used to LOVE history, but this thing makes reading a chore. I plan to complain to the proper authorities in my school, to try to improve the lot of future generations of students.

Bailey made clear distinguishing characteristics between the roots of the early democratic and republican parties and carried their philosophies throughout the book.

I guess that the history of American politics and how it REALLY became what it is today bothers many who feel that capitalism is nothing but evil, that there were ever countries that threatened our nation once upon a time, and that REAGAN whooped communism by OUT-SPENDING them on arms...these truths are spelled out in this book whether you want to face them or not.

This book is the finest work of American history that I have ever read. It is high informative while tracing the historical currents in American politics, economics, and society. It provides superp preparation for the AP US History exam. It is a truly enjoyable book to read: a pleasant mix of wit and scholarship.

This book handles its subject very well. It was the basic text for my 11th Grade history course, where it provided a good balance of mildly amusing wit and genuinely useful information.

The main advantage of "The American Pageant" is that the author is not trying to push a major political agenda. It lacks the patriotic drivel for which "traditional" history texts are often denounced. However, it also lacks the negative, depressing Socialist philosophy which makes Zinn's "People's History of the United States" so difficult to read.

The end result is a history text which does a history text's job: telling what happened. The book covers politics, economics, and major events in a style which is sometimes amusing and usually informative. Although not overly political, it also pays due attention to such important issues as race and gender.

Not a particularly "specialized" book, but an excellent survey text.

I read this book first in high school several years ago as part of an advanced placement U.S. History course. I hated it then - but love it now. Bailey captures the depth of the issues the nation faced in each step of its development. His accuracy and profound insight keep the subject matter from becoming too dry. What I loved most about the text is that it never over-simplifies the significant historical events such as the political struggles of the 1st and 2nd continental congresses, secession issues and America's position in both World Wars. He digs deep beneath the surface to paint a thorough understanding of what the root causes were of historic events. The 10th addition adds interesting subsections that profile the various immigrant cultures that influenced American history. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the nation's history and the people who made it.

I can quite clearly remember the amazement with which I first read the opening paragraphs of Bailey's American Pageant six years ago in high school; and even now, after graduating from college in a field completely unrelated to history, I return to this text to read in my spare time just for the sheer enjoyment of it. I hesitate to even call it a text: rather, it is almost a work of art. Personally, I am flabbergasted by some of the negative reviews I've read below. Of course someone will not like this book when they haven't read it all semester, and then they have an approaching final and try to quickly skim the text and learn all the "important facts" of this nation's history. This book isn't written to satisfy the poor study habits of a mediocre, disinterested student who could care less about history; it is written to express history as seen and studied and understood through the eyes of an absolute genius: Thomas Bailey. For those who believe the book is opinionated, I'll agree with that notion. That's what historians are supposed to do -- they shape and mold historical events into tangible, real entities that one can relate to, rather than just relate dry facts and statistics. (That's what an encyclopedia or government records are for.) If I could, I would give this book more than 5 stars -- surely it deserves as much.