The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History by Alan Axelrod

The Complete Idiot's Guide to American History Reviews

• 
  Maria

  The complete idiot's guide to American history is my first experience with " The completee idiot's guide book series". Axelrod summarizes in an extremely brief way some -unfortunately- of the american history. The reader comes to know some shocking facts, for example i didn't know before now that colombus isn't the first sailor who discovered the american land, it was Bjarni Heryulfasor.
  Overall, the book is a great overview to the american history. A recommended book
• 
  Pamela Hubbard

  This was a great overview of the many different aspects of American history: social, economic, religious, political, etc. Not only did it cover the main events, such as wars, it also delved into the atmosphere of the country at different points in time. This broad overview really helped me see connections between events and ideologies and showed the steps between our vastly different culture in the early 1900s to what it is now. I highly recommend this book for those of you wanting an easy read about our nation!
• 
  Tiffany

  I read this to review for a Praxis test; it's been 20 years since I took a history class. I wanted a refresher on the high points and I got it. This author has a more compelling writing style than the author of the CIG to World History. While not as badly needed as in the World History book, a few maps would be helpful.
• 
  Jeanette Paak

  "So, this chapter and the next are nothing more than a moistened finger lifted to the prevailing winds."
  hahaha that's my favorite line from the book.
  I decided to brush up on U.S. history because America has been sucha shit show recently. I needed a simple overview of events because I really had no basic knowledge. When ya don't know shit, Wikipedia is just overwhelming. This book gave me a good outline of events and their cause and consequences.
  But what I really like about this book, is that it mentions books and authors that were important during a period of time like Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Great Gatsby, How the Other Half Lives, The Jungle, The Feminine Mystique, etc. I'm excited to read these books and gain the perspective of common people.
  AND THE ENDING
  Honestly thought this book was probably going to be dry, but Axelrod did a good job of explaining facts in an interesting way. At the end he describes the Y2K bug and about a global technological shut down that was predicted to happen at the beginning of the 21st century.
  
  "For, Dead Reader, I conclude this history while still on the my side of history. You live in the twenty-first century. For me, just now, it is only December 1, 1999. You already know how the story of the millennium bug turns out. At the moment, I have 32 days to wait."
  
  ahhh it was cool! Throughout the whole book, Axelrod is teaching the reader history and towards the end of the book (I can't explain it perfectly) but it seems like the teacher and the reader switch places or it seems like they're going through the same thing together.
  
  anywho me like
• 
  Mary Russell

  Great refresher on American History, I wish I would have read it while taking American history in high school, I might’ve been more interested! It brings every era together nicely and explains how we changed from one decade to the next. His writing style is entertaining and light (and very forward at times). If you want in-depth, this is not it (it would have to be something like 4 thousand pages long). However, it is a good teaser and made me realize what interests me most and where to look next (hello John Deere and age of the tractor!.. just kidding).
  
  Also, my very solidified opinion on the matter: 242 years and we still don’t have it figured out. We are not perfect (nor have we ever been)... We are a very young nation and still have a LOT to learn.
• 
  Recai Bookreader

  It satisfies what title refers. But lack of maps is a minus. Maps are essential for understanding the better half of the book. And a chronology at the end would be extremely useful.
• 
  Eileen

  Knew everything in it
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  Mandy Saunders

  If I could give this book zero stars I would. Not only is the lay out in my option complete "idiotic" its unclear when everything happened because he bounces back and forth between years and adds random facts of things that happened many years later. the author has clear bias opinions which makes me second guess how accurate the history is. To me history should go without person comment and insights. Which he failed to do.
• 
  Meg Lees

  For a fast, easy review of US History, this is great! I love all the "Idiot" books, and this one is no different. Without it, my US History test would have gotten a much lower grade! However, it is not a good book to use alone; I found it better as a supplement to my textbooks than as a stand-alone study book.
• 
  John

  Read this in one day to study for a test. It's a passable distillation of American History in 275 pages. It can't seem to decide if it wants to be in the Howard Zinn camp of all rich educated white Protestant people are the devil, or the textbook "all of US history was done by rich white men". By trying to straddle both, it doesn't really do either. Still, I think I did okay on the test.
• 
  Allegra S

  Not as entertaining as the Complete Idiot's Guide to British history, and I felt it left out some really important details about things such as how wars ended, and a chart of American presidents! Some they barely covered! I would have appreciated a chart and a timeline. But it was a good enough introduction to history.
• 
  Ethan Unklesbay

  Really great way to put the big picture of American History into context.
  I recommend reading this before delving into more specific accounts and histories.
  More on the blog:
  
  https://tmysblog.wordpress.com/2017/0...
• 
  Heather Crozier

  Not an enthralling read, obviously, but it helped me sketch in some areas. I feel less stupid regarding the country's history, but I definitely need to do more reading on 20th century events.
• 
  Lindsey

  Helpful in giving an overview.
• 
  Cade

  easy-reading, brush up on history, but the author shows clear bias with the more recent history. A lot of things I understand better since I didn't always listen in school.
• 
  Shelly

  Read this quick summary of US history in four days as a prep for the FSOT. It's a little slanted but a useful resource for a summary of the American narrative.
• 
  Z

  This took years and years to get through, butt (heh) it was a bathroom read. Pretty informative and easy to get through.
• 
  Carrie

  American history