American History (a very short introduction) review: a sweeping tale of undeterred progress



By: Paul S. Boyer
Genre: Nonfiction History
Page Count: 181
 

To begin this review with Oxford’s book-series ‘A very short introduction’, I’d say that the collection of books this series offers are closest to the best introduction you can get on any topic you’re new to explore. Whether it is biographies or introduction to pure sciences, a history of a nation or topics related to philosophy, sociology and the likes, this series of books written by the expert scholars from each field provide a quick, thorough and entailing introduction to eagers readers wanting to explore a new field of knowledge. Their short sizes and comprehensive content, written by respective scholars of each field, are welcoming to readers for they offer an easy-to-understand foundation upon which one can then expand his/her studies and learning. My recommendation is of a resounding yes to any reader, who like me, is looking for quick yet awaring way into a topic/area. 

Therefore, before going for any of the numerous great nonfiction books on the short yet profound history of America, I picked this little book to ease my way into the broader field of knowledge on American history out there. And it paid off. Boyer’s flowing prose along with his handling of the difficult task of cramming the 2.5 centuries of American history into mere 181 pages, makes this book a five star for me. 

Although these books are mainly considered as a helping tool for readers to begin on a topic, Boyer’s telling of US history seemed more complete and inviting than what is usually expected. And a much of it has to do with Boyer’s prose: an encaptivating, effortlessly readable writing with perfectly tuned up nodes at times of great historical events, making it both an enjoying read overall and much like a thriller at high points. 

Of course, Boyer, then only, does justice to the one of the great nation’s history; filled with challenges all along, yet always showing up to be greater still. In nine chapters, which starts with the pre-history at 1763, Boyer sets the stage for the great American war of freedom from her British colonizers and then talk about each era in a new chapter with unfaded rigor and enthusiasm. From constitution building to nationhood, from civil war to industrialization, from wars to emerging as the global superpower, then the following social unrest and cold war all the way to the recent present to Obama’s America, Boyer presents, in a sweeping manner, the whole of US history in very few pages, with a self-awareness, of course, that what’s being conveyed is only the surface – with deeper, more fulfilling accounts lying underneath to be explored. 

Much like Jenkin’s book ‘A short history of Europe’, which covers the mankind’s civilization long history of Europe in a single book of 480 pages, Boyer’s book bridged my knowledge of world history and two of its greatest nations: responsible by themselves, for much, if not all, the progress and excellence that mankind has achieved so far. Despite their darker episodes, both nations proved to be greater for the sake of both their own, and therefrom, for the mankind’s brilliant and awe-inspiring intellectual and technological success. In these, the epochs and two-century old histories of Europe and America, lie the greatest lessons one can hope to learn; be it for the more personal ‘self-transformation and transcendency’ or for nation-wide revolutionary change. 

I stand at the gate of learning the great deeds of mankind yet – eager to explore more.

 


Rating: 5/5 ***** November 27, 2021_