America A Narrative History (2)

America: A Narrative History, Brief Twelfth Edition — Volume 2 by David Emory Shi — Published by W.W. Norton & Company

One of the most celebrated and widely adopted American history textbooks in use today, America: A Narrative History has earned its distinguished reputation through the quality of its storytelling. David Emory Shi believes that history is best conveyed through the lives of the people who made it — ordinary and extraordinary alike — and his prose reflects that conviction on every page. The result is a text that reads with the momentum and human interest of a great narrative, while never sacrificing scholarly integrity or analytical depth.

Volume 2 covers the history of the United States from the era of Reconstruction through the present day, tracing the arc of a nation transformed by industrialization, immigration, westward expansion, war, social upheaval, and political change. The Brief Twelfth Edition has been thoroughly revised to incorporate the latest scholarship across all periods and topics, with updated coverage of recent events and renewed attention to the diverse communities and voices that have shaped the American experience.

Throughout the text, primary source excerpts, maps, and carefully chosen images reinforce the narrative and give students direct contact with the evidence of history. "Analyzing Primary Sources" features help students develop the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate historical documents and arguments on their own.

David Emory Shi is President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of History at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he taught American history and American studies for many years. A former Fulbright Scholar with a PhD from the University of Virginia, he is the author of numerous books on American cultural history and the recipient of multiple teaching awards. His passion for narrative and his commitment to making history genuinely accessible have made this one of the most beloved United States history texts of its generation.