Book Description
The award-winning author of Wondrous Strange, the critically acclaimed biography of Glenn Gould, explores the bizarre, untold life of another brilliant and eccentric musician.
The composer Arnold Schoenberg called him an “utterly extraordinary” pianist of “incredible originality and conviction,” yet today he is all but forgotten. Born in Budapest in 1903, Ervin Nyiregyházi (nyeer-edge-hah-zee) was a remarkable prodigy: at eight he performed at Buckingham Palace, and when he was thirteen a psychologist published a book about him. In his teens, his idiosyncratic, intensely Romantic playing electrified audiences and astounded critics in Europe and America. But his adult career quickly foundered, and he was reduced to penury.
In 1928, he settled in Los Angeles, and eventually he withdrew from public life, preferring to spend his time quietly composing. Psychologically, he remained a child, and found the ordinary demands of daily life onerous — he struggled even to dress himself. He drank heavily, was insatiable sexually (he married ten times), and described himself as “a fortissimo bastard,” yet such was his talent and charisma that he numbered among his friends and champions celebrities such as Jack Dempsey, Theodore Dreiser, Bela Lugosi, and Gloria Swanson. Rediscovered in the 1970s, he enjoyed a brief, sensational, and controversial renaissance before slipping back into obscurity. He died in 1987.
Lost Genius, the product of ten years’ research, is the first biography of Nyiregyházi, whose story is among the most fascinating — and bizarre — in twentieth-century music.
Amazon.com
During his 1960s prime, jazz guitarist Grant Green was overshadowed by rivals Wes Montgomery and George Benson, two immensely talented players who made successful forays into the pop world. But although Green passed away in 1979, the 1990s have seen a Grant Green renaissance, thanks to the birth of acid jazz, the reemergence of soul jazz, the jazz-reissue boom, and, most importantly, Green's distinctive guitar style--steeped in his R&B roots and boasting a clear, biting, soulful tone that makes him attractive to rock fans. When she met and later married Grant's youngest son, journalist Sharony Andrews Green stumbled into an admirable mission: to shed light on the life and music of her cult-favorite father-in-law. Green-the-author delivers an engaging, casual remembrance that adeptly balances many aspects of Green's life while never delving deeply into any of them. Green-the-guitarist lived in service to an uneasy triumvirate--music, Islam, and heroin--and the author, despite her ties to her subject, pulls no punches in detailing his drug habit and dark side. The book relies on heartfelt anecdotes from friends, family, musicians, and historians to tell his story and provide a clear and compelling picture of the mindset of a black jazz musician. We learn, for example, how many St. Louis jazzmen began to use heroin in admiration of Midwestern idols (and users) such as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, and how Green himself yearned for a wider audience in the late 1960s and changed musical directions in search of it (only to be even more frustrated when it did not come). The easy-going, conversational writing style mostly makes for a warm, emotional memoir, though it loses sophistication when the focus moves toward the author and her biography process. Still, adding a comprehensive sessionography, Green offers a useful primer for a talented musician, opening the door for more thorough investigations of Grant Green's unique guitar technique and stylistic innovations. --Marc Greilsamer
Book Description
Now in softcover! This heartfelt biography celebrates the life and music of unsung hero Grant Green, the late jazz guitar genius who played on nearly 100 albums from the early '60s to the late '70s, but narrowly missed celebrity. Today his music has inspired numerous acid-jazz and hip-hop recordings and his legend continues to grow. A straight-ahead jazzman turned funk wizard, Grant is best known for his rhythmic and driving tone as a session leader and sideman for Blue Note Records. The book paints a personal portrait of Grant's internal struggles through the eyes of his family, friends, and fellow musicians.
Customer Reviews:
A Valuable Book for Grant Green Fans.......2006-11-20
This is the only biography of the great Grant Green thusfar, a valuable collector's item for all Grant's fans. The author interviewed family members, fellow musicians and others to develop a picture of the premier guitarist. Although the author has no musical background, she includes selected reviews, a complete discography and informative critical essay by TJ Jundt.
Too Much Politics, Not Enough Biography.......2006-03-02
I like Grant Green. I always thought he was one of the four or five top jazz guitarists of his day. He deserves a true biography, rather than the immaturish writing and same old liberal rationalisms for why Mr. Green failed and died young. His career failed and he died young becauee of drugs---no one's fault but his own.
needs some more critical perspective.......2001-03-15
Sharony Green is trying something interesting here, a biography which is also something of an autobiography. She does a nice job of letting the various people who knew Green speak, and you do get an interesting sense of the man from the book. I have two criticisms. The first is that it goes on and on about how forgotten and unappreciated Green is, which gets tiring after a while. After all, most people who read this book will already think green was a great guitarist. And the guy is one more records than anybody but Milt Hinton--he was hardly unappreciated. He was never as famous as Wes or Benson, but they were more marketable than Green was
The other annoying thing about the book is that it goes on and on about how Green was ripped off. It's true that the white controlled industry is doubly tough on African Americans, and musicians get exploited frequently. But Green never lacked a gig--he worked ALL the time. He had more work in a year, more high quality work, with first rate musicians, than some people get in a decade. So he had money--he was well paid by the standards of his profession. He blew it all in addiction--his sad end came through his own doing. He was a lousy father and husband, and ... his success away. I don't know why, and the book can't say--maybe nobody can. It'd be easy and wrong to understate the power of racism to twist and warp lives, but it's hard to pity Green in some ways. He never lacked for work or recognition in his lifetime, he had prodigious gifts, stunning intelligence and fire (i've spent all afternoon working on his solo on "Speak Low," and I'm more amazed as I go along), but he did himself in, which was maybe nore of a tragedy than if he was done in by racism
It's an interesting and evocative book, that conveys a good sense of the world Green came up in and the world of jazz in the 50s and 60s Worth a read for any jazz fan or lover of Green's great playing
needs some more critical perspective.......2001-03-15
Sharony Green is trying something interesting here, a biography which is also something of an autobiography. She does a nice job of letting the various people who knew Green speak, and you do get an interesting sense of the man from the book. I have two criticisms. The first is that it goes on and on about how forgotten and unappreciated Green is, which gets tiring after a while. After all, most people who read this book will already think green was a great guitarist. And the guy is one more records than anybody but Milt Hinton--he was hardly unappreciated. He was never as famous as Wes or Benson, but they were more marketable than Green was
The other annoying thing about the book is that it goes on and on about how Green was ripped off. It's true that the white controlled industry is doubly tough on African Americans, and musicians get exploited frequently. But Green never lacked a gig--he worked ALL the time. He had more work in a year, more high quality work, with first rate musicians, than some people get in a decade. So he had money--he was well paid by the standards of his profession. He blew it all in addiction--his sad end came through his own doing. He was a lousy father and husband, and pissed his success away. I don't know why, and the book can't say--maybe nobody can. It'd be easy and wrong to understate the power of racism to twist and warp lives, but it's hard to pity Green in some ways. He never lacked for work or recognition in his lifetime, he had prodigious gifts, stunning intelligence and fire (i've spent all afternoon working on his solo on "Speak Low," and I'm more amazed as I go along), but he did himself in, which was maybe nore of a tragedy than if he was done in by racism
It's an interesting and evocative book, that conveys a good sense of the world Green came up in and the world of jazz in the 50s and 60s Worth a read for any jazz fan or lover of Green's great playing
Fair amount of info, not much insight........2001-01-21
While a good book, and admittedly the only source out there from which one can gain much info about Grant Green, the style is a bit cramped and extremely subjective making it a tough read. Sharony Green conveys a good deal of information about Grant, but at the same time presents it in a stale and not very insightful style. There is a wealth of unwarranted speculation that does little to forward a view of Grant Green, and instead of "Rediscovering the Lost Genius" of Grant Green, the reader feels more as if the author feels a need to validate Grant Green. For that, just pick up "Idle Moments" or "Matador" or any of the other great Green recordings. This validation seems a bit irreverent and at times, didactic.
That being said, the subjectivity of the book lends a viewpoint that is worth noting and there is a vast amount of information regarding Grant collected in the book, though at times it is less than completely accurate (eg. At one point, the author refers to Grant's "I Want to Hold Your Hand" recording as a collection of Beatle and other pop tunes. In fact, the title track is the only pop tune on the LP). The book's discography approaches a comprehensive survey of the recordings available, and the reviews offered at the end of the text are particularly helpful. If this book were part of a larger literature devoted to Grant Green it would be a valuable addition, but as the only extant source for info on Grant Green it misses its mark.
Customer Reviews:
Evocative History of Science.......2007-02-08
A thoroughly readable and enjoyable book about the intellectual colleague and contemporary of Christopher Wren and Isaac Newton in 17th century London. The writing is witty and engaging and provides a vivid look at the social, scientific and physical structure of London after the Great Fire. I especially enjoyed the author's humorous descriptions of the machinations behind the scenes of the Royal Society and the often dangerous and bizarre experiments that Hooke and others would perform for the Society. A great peep into the development of many engineering, physics, astronomical chemistry and architectural discoveries.
A biography well worth your time.......2006-04-06
This book provides a great deal of information about Robert Hooke not only as a contributor to modern science, but as a person during his lifetime. The issue of Newton being an antagonistic force in Hooke's life is emphasized greatly, and helps the reader understand how much power Hooke had to exert in order to make his ideas and discoveries known.
The book is enjoyable due to the fact that it does not solely focus on the science related aspect of Hooke's career. Having known little about him before I opened the book, I was surprised to find that he had a great deal of influence on structural architecture during the seventeenth century. The book provided me with a substantial amount of knowledge regarding Hooke's inventions and discoveries, as well as his personal feelings and reactions to certain people or occurrences, through the many quotations of his present throughout the reading.
This book is a fantastic source for one who is interested in learning about every aspect of Hooke's life, from the contributions to science as a general subject to his contributions to architecture and his involvement in technology during his time period. Not only was I able to gain a better understanding of the scientist and inventor within Hooke, but I was also able to understand him as a person and his life as well.
The Man Who Knew Too Much.......2004-11-12
As a physics teacher, I had been well aware of Robert Hooke. Every year I teach Hooke's Law of elasticity to my students. Additionally, I had been aware of the importance of his book Micrographia and, since I consider myself a bit of a student on Isaac Newton, I had known something of his conflict with Newton over the Principia. However, I admit my knowledge of Hooke was sketchy. As a student of scientific history, I wanted that rectified so I turned to this book. It was certainly a rewarding experience.
Without a doubt, I learned much more than I ever knew about Robert Hooke and I gained a new respect for the man. Hooke's areas of interest were wide and his curiosity unbounded. I was completely unaware of his work with Christopher Wren and his own contributions to architecture and the reconstruction of London after the Great Fire. Additionally, I came to admire his willingness to stand behind the virtues of science (as in his prescient speculations on evolution) in the face of religious prejudice. And, apart from learning about Hooke, this book gives a deeper understanding of what it was like to be a working scientist in the early years of scientific exploration. It is certainly an excellent example of scientific biography.
There are a couple weaknesses with the book that kept coming back to me as I read, however. The first has to do with style; particularly, the style that I've noticed most often in British histories of science. Namely, the overabundance of information. This book is packed with detail. Much more detail than is really necessary in telling Hooke's story. Inwood often used Hooke's diary to make excellent points about the man often with respect to his day-to-day life, relationships and personalities but he also used it to excess in describing the myriad details of Hooke's work and investigations. Fortunately, I'm used to this style of writing and even enjoy it to an extent but even I found some of the lists of Hooke's doings and travels tedious going.
Still, it is the second flaw I find to be much more serious. One of Inwood's main goals seems to be to rehabilitate Hooke and give him his rightful place among history's great scientists. In this, I feel Inwood failed. In England this book was published as The Man Who Knew Too Much and this seems to me to be about right. But in America we say "a jack of all trades and a master of none." Hooke never comes across to me as a genius. Extraordinarily energetic and technically brilliant, he didn't seem to me to have the kind of mind that Newton and Huygens had. Perhaps if he had focused his abilities more he would have had their kind of triumphs but I doubt it.
And Inwood did nothing to dispel the image of Hooke as a bitter man who tried to claim the better work of others as his own. The repetition of Hooke's own claims to priority in his diary, letters and in the Royal Society records are probably only a fraction of the claims he made in his life and these alone are tedious. Inwood tries to make the point that the bitter man history describes could not have maintained the kind of friendships Hooke did in his life but I find that to be an argument without merit. Even the worst men have friends and Hooke was by no means a bad man. Inwood's book gives a picture of a lower class man trying throughout his life to gain the respect of the upper class and basically failing. We can sympathize with Hooke's struggles but that does not change the fact that, though often unfairly treated, many of his problems were of his own making.
In the final analysis, however, this is a very worthwhile book for anyone interested in the history of science. Hooke was, in his own way, an amazing man and it is fascinating to see this revolutionary time in science through the eyes of one of its most important supporters. In Hooke we see the forerunner of every man and woman who puts their all into science and tries tirelessly to make great discoveries. He may not be at the pinnacle but he deserves his place in scientific history.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2006-01-06
Mr Lomas' book on Nikola Tesla is an excellent book. It details a little about Tesla's childhood, his mental problems and the relationships he had (or didn't have, if you want to look at it that way). If you are new to learning about Nikola Tesla, I would recommend this book. It explains in simple terms Tesla's most important contributions to civilisation and technology: the AC electricity system we use today and radio. The books dwells a little on Tesla, Westinghouse and Edison, as one reviewer mentions.
This book will not satisfy the scientific reader. For those of you interested in further details of Tesla's engineering and scientific work, buy one of the many excellent CD compilations of his works, patents, articles, letters, etc. I have the Nu Energy Horizons CD on Tesla which is magnificent. Also grab Tesla: Man out of Time by Margaret Cheney and Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla: Biography of a Genius by Marc J. Seifer.
This book's purpose is some entertaining bed-time reading (or that's my impression). First time Tesla readers will love this book, as well as those who want a biography of Tesla that's written well and isn't too technical.
Too simple for my liking.......2003-11-20
Nicola Tesla, the subject of the book, was one of the true geniuses of all time. His tale is of amazing innovation, with poor commercialisation. He made electricity travel for many miles when Edison could only transmit a few hundred meters. His radios could transmit anywhere in the world when Marconi could only transmit a few hundred meters. He completely designed the AC electrical system, which without the world would not be the same. Tesla is an excellent case of lack of business sense.
Lomas carries a grudge against the likes of Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, which is probably warranted in telling the story from Tesla's point of view. Much of the story is dedicated to describing the relationships between Tesla, Edison and Westinghouse.
This book isn't a great work. Lomas has thoroughly researched his book, although he has not referenced anything, although he does admit this. Some descriptions of engineering concepts could be a lot better. It is also relatively short. I found myself wanting more information. This book won't please the intellectual reader, who would be better off looking for a lengthier book. I enjoyed reading this book merely for the story of Tesla.
While I didn't enjoy this book that much it would be a very good read for children and teens, especially those with an interest in science. In general I recommend reading about Tesla, who is an amazing albeit forgotten character, and was responsible for the 20th century.
Brilliant.......2003-10-15
This book is very good. It shows how brilliant he really was. I would recommend this book to anyone. You go, Mr. Tesla!
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Brilliant Dan Deniehy: a forgotten genius
Cyril Pearl
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson (Australia)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 0170019713 |
Average customer rating:
- Not that bad
- A College Students Opinion
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The American People, Brief Edition: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume II (Since 1865) (5th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
Gary B. Nash ,
Julie Roy Jeffrey ,
John R. Howe ,
Peter J. Frederick ,
Allen F. Davis , and
Allan M. Winkler
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The American People, Brief Edition: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume I (to 1877) (5th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
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Reading the American Past, Volume II: From 1865: Selected Historical Documents
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Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience
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True Stories From The American Past (Volume II, Since 1865)
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Major Problems in American History, Volume II: Since 1865: Documents and Essays
ASIN: 0321316428 |
Book Description
A condensed version of The American People, Fifth Edition,
this engaging text examines U.S. history as revealed through the experiences of all Americans, both ordinary and extraordinary. With a thought-provoking and rich presentation, the authors explore the complex lives of Americans of all national origins and cultural backgrounds, at all levels of society, and in all regions of the country. A vibrant four-color design and compact size make this book accessible, convenient, and easy-to read.
Customer Reviews:
Not that bad.......2006-12-05
This book is rather nice in its presentation of rather mundane information. The details of specific events can be scarce, but for a small history book.
A College Students Opinion .......2006-07-16
This book was used in my American History 1865 to the Present class. Basically we followed the textbook and started post-civil war. Anyway, I found this book to differ from most High School text books. High school textbooks are usually overflowing with detail, dates, names, etc. I remember reading them and wondering "What in the world is my teacher thinking? I'm never going to remember all of this!." However, I find after reading this book that I prefer those 600 paged hardcover books rather than this. The American People Volume II should never be used as the prime textbook in a history class. It's descriptions of events are very scarce and I have often found myself seeking other sources to find out what I am reading about. For example, there were about 3 pages describing the Native American conflicts in the late 1800's (Which was also turned into a SIX EPISODE mini series called Into the West. This shows how little is told about these conflicts in the book.) and there was a mentioning of a Dawe's Act. However, the text went to say what caused this act and what resulted from it (2 sentences each), but it did not say what it actually was. This has been the case for many other Acts, Bills, and Laws that are mentioned. This is also not a note-taking book. The descriptions of events are so slim and undetailed that there is nothing to note about them, and I find myself moving on in the reading and not remembering much. Therefore, I would have to conclude that I prefer those large high school history textbooks in comparison to this brief history. At least with the detailed books you can get more of a rounded picture in your head of what is being described, rather than just basic facts such as "Wheat was farmed in the Great Plains." One last comment: the text is also a bit juvenile. Each chapter begins with a story of a family or individual and it is as though you are reading Little House on the Prairie. So before you buy this, make sure that it is absolutly required.
Book Description
Emphasizing social history, especially as it applies to discussions of race, class, and gender, The American People, 5/e presents the lives and experiences of all Americans--all national origins and cultural backgrounds, at all levels of society, and in all regions of the country. The narrative integrates discussion of public events such as presidential elections, wars, and reform movements with the private stories of ordinary Americans who participated in and responded to these events. As it unfolds the drama of American history, The American People highlights the political, social, economic, technological, religious, cultural, and intellectual events that have shaped American society. Appropriate for anyone with an interest in American history and the Social history of the United States. Previous ISBNs: Single Volume Edition: 0-673-98575-X
Customer Reviews:
So You Thought You Knew Your History.......2006-02-25
This is one of the better college texts for American history. The information is straight forward compared to the full text version, and no information is missed between its big brother. The second half highlights from 1865 onward into the 21st century. I would highly reccomend this book for students taking a introductory course in college or AP American History in high school.
Great Overview!.......2005-09-27
This book gives a great overview of the social aspects of U.S. History since 1865. It was rather refreshing to read a history book that was not so narrowly focused on the death and carnage of war in this nation. The wars are discussed, of course, in relative detail, but more weight is placed on how they affected our nation's citizens and society as a whole. The photographs and illustrations were fantastic in revealing how life truly was at a time we often have a hard time imagining, let alone comprehending these days. In addition, I found it really helpful in learning the information and doing well on my exams!
Worst History Book Of All.......2005-09-06
This has got to be the worst and boring history book of all. Throughout my entire years in school reading history book this has to be the worst. It gets so boring you can't even read it if you try. If you did read it, chances are you did not understand them 10 pages. Combining with a horrible professor and book it's going to be one long semester for me.
very left wing bias.......2004-06-04
dont waste your time with this guy. I don't know where he gets his info. My son has one of Mr. Nash's textbooks for history and I have never seen so much left wing bias, especially in a textbook.
Do your own research.......2004-01-09
It's amazing to me to read reviews of people who tout this book as "liberal propaganda" when it merely tells the truth about history. If you wanted the whitewashed version of history we were taught in high school, where Christopher Columbus had pure motives in the new world and didn't rape or enslave the native population, where the Native Americans were savages who were domesticated by the pilgrims who so graciously shared a Thanksgiving feast with them, where Woodrow Wilson's racism and hatred of women isn't mentioned...why did you bother taking a college history course, or bother going to college for that matter, at all? Pull your heads out of the sand! If you truly believe this book is socialist propaganda, I recommend you start doing your own research of America's past without using any high school or college textbook as a source of information - you'll find that this particular textbook has one of the truest pictures of American history available.
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The American People, Brief Edition: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume I (to 1877) (5th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
Gary B. Nash ,
Julie Roy Jeffrey ,
John R. Howe ,
Peter J. Frederick ,
Allen F. Davis , and
Allan M. Winkler
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The American People, Brief Edition: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume II (Since 1865) (5th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
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After the Fact, with Primary Source Investigator CD
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Major Problems in American History: To 1877 (Major Problems in American History Series)
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Reading the American Past, Volume I: To 1877: Selected Historical Documents
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Constructing the American Past, Volume I (6th Edition) (Constructing the American Past (Longman))
ASIN: 032131641X |
Book Description
A condensed version of The American People, Fifth Edition,
this engaging text examines U.S. history as revealed through the experiences of all Americans, both ordinary and extraordinary. With a thought-provoking and rich presentation, the authors explore the complex lives of Americans of all national origins and cultural backgrounds, at all levels of society, and in all regions of the country. A vibrant four-color design and compact size make this book accessible, convenient, and easy-to read.
Average customer rating:
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The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume II (since 1865) (with Study Card) (7th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
Gary B. Nash ,
Julie Roy Jeffrey ,
John R. Howe ,
Peter J. Frederick ,
Allen F. Davis ,
Allan M. Winkler ,
Charlene Mires , and
Carla Gardina Pestana
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume I (to 1877) (Book Alone) (7th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
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The American Promise: A History of the United States, Volume I: To 1877
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Psychology in Action
ASIN: 020554343X |
Book Description
Providing students with a thought-provoking account of America’s past, The American People examines how American society assumed its present shape and developed its present forms of government.
A strong social emphasis underscores the “humanness” of America's history as revealed through the everyday lives of ordinary Americans. In addition, Recovering the Past essays acquaint students with the work that historians do by introducing them to the fascinating variety of materials that historians use to understand and interpret the past. Two new primary source features, “American Voices” and “How Others See Us” enliven the narrative with short passages from both ordinary and extraordinary Americans or from outsiders commenting on the American nation or its people.
For anyone interested in a survey of United States History.
Book Description
A condensed version of The American People, Fifth Edition,
this engaging text examines U.S. history as revealed through the experiences of all Americans, both ordinary and extraordinary. With a thought-provoking and rich presentation, the authors explore the complex lives of Americans of all national origins and cultural backgrounds, at all levels of society, and in all regions of the country. A vibrant four-color design and compact size make this book accessible, convenient, and easy-to read.
Product Description
Book Description
A condensed version of The American People, Fifth Edition, this engaging text examines U.S. history as revealed through the experiences of all Americans, both ordinary and extraordinary. With a thought-provoking and rich presentation, the authors explore the complex lives of Americans of all national origins and cultural backgrounds, at all levels of society, and in all regions of the country. A vibrant four-color design and compact size make this book accessible, convenient, and easy-to read.
Customer Reviews:
Biased, narrow-minded textbook.......2007-03-05
I am a senior college student with an appreciation for objective and unbiased texts.
If you are considering this text for your class, please, for all your students' sakes, don't.
This is one of the worst books I have ever had to muddle through for class. It's devoted to slandering those the authors hated, ignoring those they considered irrelevant, and slathering praise all over the ones they loved.
This is not a history book. This is a book of opinion.
For example, the book fails to mention anything about Susan B. Anthony and her efforts for women's suffrage and equality. The book, however, praises Margaret Sanger for her birth control work while leaving out that she was the founder of Planned Parenthood.
Unfortunately this is only one of the many unbalanced examples which could be listed, had I the time. Opinion has no place in a history book, and in no way do Nash and Co. restrict themselves when it comes to inserting their biased beliefs and views. Yes, it's brief, but your students would benefit more from a meatier, more fact-filled textbook.
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The American People, Brief Edition: Creating a Nation and Society, Volume II, Primary Source Edition (5th Edition)
Gary B. Nash ,
Julie Roy Jeffrey ,
John R. Howe ,
Peter J. Frederick ,
Allen F. Davis , and
Allan M. Winkler
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Struggle for Freedom: A History of African Americans, The, Penguin Academic Series, Concise Edition, Volume II (Penguin Academics)
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In His Steps (Barbour Christian Classics)
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The American People, Brief Edition: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume I (to 1877) (5th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
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Born Again (Colson, Charles)
ASIN: 0321463374 |
Average customer rating:
- An important alternative approach to teaching U.S. history
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The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume I (to 1877) (Book Alone) (7th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
Gary B. Nash ,
Julie Roy Jeffrey ,
John R. Howe ,
Peter J. Frederick ,
Allen F. Davis ,
Allan M. Winkler ,
Charlene Mires , and
Carla Gardina Pestana
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Voices of the American Past: Documents in U.S. History, Volume I (Voices of the American Past)
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Discovering the American Past: A Look at the Evidence Volume 1
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America Firsthand: Volume One: Readings from Settlement to Reconstruction
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The American People, Vol. 2, Chapters 17-31: Creating a Nation and a Society, Brief Fourth Edition
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The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, Volume II (since 1865) (with Study Card) (7th Edition) (MyHistoryLab Series)
ASIN: 032133776X |
Book Description
Providing students with a thought-provoking account of America’s past, The American People examines how American society assumed its present shape and developed its present forms of government.
Emphasizing the interaction of ordinary Americans with extraordinary events, the text combines the discussion of political events with analysis of their impact on social and economic life. The comprehensive narrative encompasses description of the lives and experiences of Americans of all national origins and cultural backgrounds, at all class levels of society, and in all regions of the country. The thoughtful analysis seeks the connections among the political, social, economic, technological, and cultural factors that have shaped and reshaped American society over four centuries.
Customer Reviews:
An important alternative approach to teaching U.S. history.......2006-10-27
I have been teaching U.S. history at a few colleges and universities in Chicago and its suburbs for the past five years. This is the textbook that I have invariably assigned in the time; in fact, as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the late nineties, it was the text that my mentor used in the U.S. survey class in which I apprenticed for her. I have found that my students are generally enthusiastic about this textbook's focus on "ordinary" Americans, like themselves, who, as the book reminds them, make the history of our nation, as the elites have always done, usually by going about their daily lives. Thus, Nash/Jeffrey, et al, examine the effects of some critical historical developments (such as the American Revolution; the emergence of the Market Economy during the Early Republic; the long-running intersectional coflicts over the continued existence of and the often-advocated extension of American black slavery; and, the significant role played by the self-made, visionary President Abraham Lincoln in managing the Union's ultimate victory in the U.S. Civil War) on the average Americans who participated in them. Moreover, the authors attempt to show that non-elite Americans have often actively shaped their own destinies, and not just passively allowed the powers-that-be to manipulate them (think: the Regulator Movement of North Carolina's Backcountry in 1766; the Whiskey Rebellion and Shay's Rebellion after the Revolution, both waged by average Americans out to safeguard their independence from what they perceived as governmentally-perpetrated tyranny; the manner in which many Americans, as a result of the First Great Awakening, just threw out their tradition of submission and deference to their alleged "betters"; and, the way that ordinary white laborers and farmers voted with their feet, and set out over the Appalachians in the 1780s and on to both find land and to get away from their landlords, creditors and employers in the eastern states). This particular text's unique perspective reinforces my own claim, always made to the students at our very first class-meeting each semster, that the history of the U.S. is not simply a record of the so-called illustrious achievements of elite Americans (people to whom many students have trouble relating, let alone caring much about) that must be memorized, rather, that it is also, truthfully, the collective story of all of our families.
Product Description
Softcovercover Addison-Wesley July 2000
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