<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A must for serious history students
Review: Does not try to force pet answers to vast historial questions, but gives the readers a good foundation for thought and further study. As a high school history teacher I would want my students to step into something like this; rather than the water down junk in most texts.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Topics from American History
Review: It covers thirty topics from America's past, and attempts to provide answers to these questions. Some are controversial, and some will never be solved to most people's satisfaction. But they all make for interesting reading. Each chapter lists books for further reading.Chapter 14 discusses the death of Davy Crockett. Contemporary reports said he surrendered, then was executed. This also happened to the Anglos after the defeat in Zacatecas, the state that also rebelled against the seizure of power by Santa Ana. Chapter 15 discusses the battle of Gettysburg, and how General Lee hoped to use JEB Stuart's cavalry. He didn't mention that George Armstrong Custer's cavalry defeated Stuart and helped the Union victory. Chapter 18 deals with Sacco and Vanzetti. Dr. Henry C. Lee's "Famous Crimes Revisited" has a chapter that tells of the forged ballistic evidence. It also has a chapter on the Lindbergh kidnapping: Hauptmann did not write that ransom note! Why did the dog do nothing on that night? Chapter 22 asks if FDR knew about the attack on Pearl Harbor in advance; the answer is YES. Curt Gentry's 1989 biography of J Edgar Hoover notes that in July 1941 Ian Fleming brought in a Nazi spy who was assigned to scout Pearl Harbor to see if an attack was feasible. Robert B Stinnett's "Day of Deceit" finally solved this question when he discovered an action plan from October 1940. It listed the steps necessary to provoke Japan into war. When the last step was taken in July 1941, Japan decided to go to war. Chapter 23 asks if dropping the atom bomb on Japan was necessary. There was a secret protocol to the Yalta Treaty. Stalin agreed to break their Peace Treaty and attack Japan 90 days after the end of the European war. The first bomb on August 6 did not end the war. Russian declared war on August 9 and swept through Manchuria. The Japanese Militarists then knew that resistance was futile. Chapter 25 ask "Who Killed JFK?". It took hardened criminals to pull the triggers, experienced agents to plan this executive action, and high-level members of the ruling class to cover it up. The 1974 novel "Winter Kills" by Richard Condon provides a symbolic solution. Mark North's "Act of Treason" builds on the work of others. Chapter 29 discusses the missing 18 minutes on that Nixon tape. About twenty years ago I saw a TV interview of Nixon; he said the missing minutes were "about the Bay of Pigs". H R Haldeman's "The Ends of Power" explain this code word. Chapter 30 deals with the Reagan's selling government property (military arms) to the Iranians, and then diverting this money to private parties (rebels in Nicaragua). This violation of the law could have been used to impeach Reagan! Reagan's chosen biographer said "Reagan was senile in his second term"; he was truly the Acting President.
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Look At The Major Events Of The US
Review: This book gives all of its readers a very interesting and in depth veiw of the major events that have shaped America's History. even if you dont know abot all of the events that are included within its pages, it is stil very intriuging. I would say that if if American History floats your boat give this book a read.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely fun, thought-provoking read
Review: This book scores on both the entertainment and pedagogical fronts. I frankly found it hard to put down. It's a thoroughly enjoyable excursion into the lingering questions or mysteries, as it were, of our American past. Aron writes in a lively, authoritative style and offers compelling insights.
<< 1 >>
| 
