Reliability: Alan Brinkley’s attention to historical scholarship, awareness of students’ needs, and elegant prose style drives this book to its place among the best-sellers in the field.

Versatility: This book has adapted to the changing emphasis in history scholarship throughout its long and distinguished life.

“Where Historians Disagree” essays: This series of essays sprinkled throughout the text provide students with a sense of how the evolving nature of historical scholarship informs our present-day interpretations.

“Patterns of Popular Culture” essays show popular culture throughout history with an emphasis on visual presentation (primarily photographs).

“America in the World” essays present the U.S. in a global context and demonstrate how our history is woven together with other nations’ histories.