The Oxford Illustrated History of the United States

Guyatt (American history, Univ. of Cambridge; The Hated Cage: An American Tragedy in Britain’s Most Terrifying Prison) edits a one-volume survey on the history of the United States. Sixteen chapters, each authored by a distinguished professor at a leading U.S. institution, cover the period from pre-colonial America to the 2020s. Each chapter is succinct, giving readers a firm grasp of the salient points of the specific time period. Additionally, each chapter contains illustrations, maps, newspaper notices, and other primary evidence to supplement the narrative. One of the aims of the volume is to help describe the positive light in which Americans viewed their country. Over time, American exceptionalism, the “American Century,” and American greatness were how the country positioned itself and how everyday citizens understood their place in the world.