Bestselling author and historian, David Halberstam, brings together America's most celebrated historians, commentators and writers to identify the qualities that define America. While recent events in North America's history have prompted Americans to look at the histories and experiences of other cultures around the world, they have also lead to a process of self-examination. "Defining a Nation", can be seen as part of this process as within each chapter Halberstam defines the key issues that have shaped the American character, from the rise of the meritocracy and the sheer physical size of the country to the legendary events that have left their mark on American mythology. Halberstam's introductions are followed by richly varied essays that cover subjects ranging from Manifest Destiny to John Wayne movies, from FDR's New Deal to Margaret Sanger and the birth control pill, from Paul Revere's ride to the Joseph McCarthy hearings. These inspiring and enlightening essays are accompanied by more than 300 exquisite photographs and illustrations.
The result is a fascinating book that provides long sought-after and often surprising answers to the questions of how today's America emerged, and where the country is headed.
- ISBN10 0792259092
- ISBN13 9780792259091
- Publish Date 16 May 2006
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Out of Print 28 July 2011
- Publish Country US
- Imprint National Geographic Books
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 304
- Language English