Imagine a 100 maps, arranged in chronological order, to resemble time lapse snapshots showing the growth and growing pains of the United States. Depicting explorers' routes, Native American homelands, changing population densities, and many other vital aspects of expansion, this provides colorful details about the transistion from red men and buffalo to white men and cattle. I was particularly impressed by the pen and ink drawings and the unusual collection of black and white photographs.

A final chapter, The Real Significance of the Frontier," gave me a new apprecition for the circles of conflicts that drove westward expansion: North vs South; West vs. East; and individuals vs big government and big business.

I wish I had read this book in high school or college. It would have provided a depth that was often lacking from boilerplate American history textbooks.