America as it Happened is an engaging and informative history book that charts the history of the US from prehistoric times up to the first 100 days of the 47th Presidency. When reviewing this book, it’s hard to ignore the fact that even as I type, history is in flux; I can’t help but wonder how a second edition might read.
As GeekDad’s resident Brit reviewer, it perhaps feels slightly odd for me to be reviewing America as it Happened. There are probably other GeekParents with a better understanding of the twists, turns, and impact of US history than I. Nevertheless, here is my view from across the pond of this comprehensive overview of the history of the United States.
What Is America as it Happened?
America as it Happened is published by What on Earth books in conjunction with The Washington Post. This, too, gave me pause. The Washington Post has come under scrutiny recently with massive layoffs and questions about its journalistic integrity. I imagine that the foundations for America as it Happened were laid months before any of this, but it is perhaps an unfortunate tie-in at the time of writing.
That being said, the book does allow you to use QR codes to link to historic articles or podcasts about the subjects in question. It’s a neat way of marrying an old-style encyclopedic volume to modern media, creating a rounded reading experience.
The book presents US history as newspaper articles, with each one written as if it had happened yesterday. Running along the bottom of each page is a continuous timeline that adds brief text about additional events in and around the main news items featured on each double page.
America as it Happened is broken down into 6 sections. First, is “Before 1600,” with the other chapters each covering the next hundred years, up to the 2000s. There is a comprehensive glossary and index, as well as a bibliography and quote sources.
It is pleasing to note that despite the current cultural shift, the book places strong emphasis on the whole of America’s multicultural heritage and population.
Why Read America as it Happened?
This is a great way of dipping in and out of US history. The use of newspaper-style prose makes the entries more immediate and accessible. The use of QR codes is unobtrusive. While some people may prefer that reading be a technology-free zone, a view I sympathize with, I think the addition of multimedia links is a great way to foster deeper investigation and learning.
Reading through America as it Happened, is to be reminded of the amazing story that is the evolution of the U.S.A. It is also a reminder of the importance of a strong outward-looking, friendly America, that supports those around it, understanding that through that support, we all stand taller.
As with all nations, the history of the US is not always positive, and the rise and evolution of the country will not feel the same to everybody who reads this book. From my limited knowledge of US history, I think most will find the book to be a balanced assessment. America as it Happened celebrates the best of the US, as well as examining the not so great. It puts the country’s expansion into a global superpower into context, while also highlighting the contribution the country has made to science, arts, and sports.
America as it Happened is perfect for all school and home libraries and an excellent jumping off point for exploring the history of a country 250 years (and a whole lot more) in the making.
If you would like to pick up a copy of America as it Happened, you can do so here in the US and here, in the UK. (Affiliate Links)
If you enjoyed this review, check out my other book reviews, here.
I received a copy of this book in order to write this review.
