A History of the American People
A History of the American People book cover

A History of the American People

Paperback – February 17, 1999

by
Price
$16.69
Format
Paperback
Pages
1104
Publisher
Harper Perennial
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0060930349
Dimensions
5.31 x 1.76 x 8 inches
Weight
1.65 pounds

Description

"Paul Johnson's A History of the American People is as majestic in its scope as the country it celebrates. His theme is the men and women, prominent and unknown, whose energy, vision, courage and confidence shaped a great nation. It is a compelling antidote to those who regard the future with pessimism." — Henry A. Kissinger "A memorable, pleasurable, and instructive reading experience...This outstanding narrative interpretation, whether underscoring either the costs and injustices attending this country's creating or emphasizing admirable aspects of democratic, constitutional achievement." — Booklist "Johnson understands something most academics today do not know or want to admit, to wit, that the social and political history of the United States has been driven largely by a peculiar religiosity that in time made Americanism itself into a civic religion....His zesty, irreverent narratives teach more history to more people than all the post-modernist theorists, highbrow critics and dons put together." — Walter A. McDougall "A fresh, readable and provocative survey. . . . Johnson can be very wise." — Los Angeles Times "Masterly—readable, intelligent and, depending on your point of view, either annoyingly or endearingly cranky." — Newsweek "Arresting contentions and pieces of fascinating oddball information. . . . The book also offers a rare opportunity to witness someone trying to make sense of all 400 years of American history and to discover what 'tremendous lessons' it holds for Americans and 'the rest of mankind.'" — New York Times Book Review "His zesty, irreverent narratives teach more history to more people than all the post-modernist theorists, highbrow critics and dons put together." — Times Literary Supplement "This is vivid and memorable writing...Proves that history can still be literature." — National Review "The creation of the United States of America is the greatest of all human adventures," begins Paul Johnson's remarkable new American history. "No other national story holds such tremendous lessons, for the American people themselves and for the rest of mankind." Johnson's history is a reinterpretation of American history from the first settlements to the Clinton administration. It covers every aspect of U.S. history--politics; business and economics; art, literature and science; society and customs; complex traditions and religious beliefs. The story is told in terms of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character. Wherever possible, letters, diaries, and recorded conversations are used to ensure a sense of actuality. "The book has new and often trenchant things to say about every aspect and period of America's past," says Johnson, "and I do not seek, as some historians do, to conceal my opinions." Johnson's history presents John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Cotton Mather, Franklin, Tom Paine, Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison from a fresh perspective. It emphasizes the role of religion in American history and how early America was linked to England's history and culture and includes incisive portraits of Andrew Jackson, Chief Justice Marshall, Clay, Lincoln, and Jefferson Davis. Johnson shows how Grover Cleveland and Teddy Roosevelt ushered in the age of big business and industry and how Woodrow Wilson revolutionized the government's role. He offers new views of Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover and of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and his role as commander in chief during World War II. An examination of the unforeseen greatness of Harry Truman and reassessments of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush follow. "Compulsively readable," said Foreign Affairs of Johnson's unique narrative skills and sharp profiles of people. This is an in-depth portrait of a great people, from their fragile origins through their struggles for independence and nationhood, their heroic efforts and sacrifices to deal with the `organic sin' of slavery and the preservation of the Union to its explosive economic growth and emergence as a world power and its sole superpower. Johnson discusses such contemporary topics as the politics of racism, education, Vietnam, the power of the press, political correctness, the growth of litigation, and the rising influence of women. He sees Americans as a problem-solving people and the story of America as "essentially one of difficulties being overcome by intelligence and skill, by faith and strength of purpose, by courage and persistence...Looking back on its past, and forward to its future, the auguries are that it will not disappoint humanity." This challenging narrative and interpretation of American history by the author of many distinguished historical works is sometimes controversial and always provocative. Johnson's views of individuals, events, themes, and issues are original, critical, and admiring, for he is, above all, a strong believer in the history and the destiny of the American people. Paul Johnson is a historian whose work ranges over the millennia and the whole gamut of human activities. He regularly writes book reviews for several UK magazines and newspapers, such as the Literary Review and The Spectator , and he lectures around the world. He lives in London, England. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Paul Johnson's prize-winning classic,
  • A History of the American People
  • , is an in-depth portrait of the American people covering every aspect of U.S. history—from politics to the arts.
  • "The creation of the United States of America is the greatest of all human adventures," begins Paul Johnson's remarkable work. "No other national story holds such tremendous lessons, for the American people themselves and for the rest of mankind."
  • In
  • A History of the American People
  • , historian Johnson presents an in-depth portrait of American history from the first colonial settlements to the Clinton administration. This is the story of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character. Littered with letters, diaries, and recorded conversations, it details the origins of their struggles for independence and nationhood, their heroic efforts and sacrifices to deal with the 'organic sin’ of slavery and the preservation of the Union to its explosive economic growth and emergence as a world power. Johnson discusses contemporary topics such as the politics of racism, education, the power of the press, political correctness, the growth of litigation, and the influence of women throughout history.
  • Sometimes controversial and always provocative,
  • A History of the American People
  • is one author’s challenging and unique interpretation of American history. Johnson’s views of individuals, events, themes, and issues are original, critical, and in the end admiring, for he is, above all, a strong believer in the history and the destiny of the American people.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
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(222)
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15%
(133)
★★
7%
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Most Helpful Reviews

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Should Have Stopped With 1960

I find it very disappointing that most people have a kneejerk reaction to Paul Johnson. It seems as though if you are a conservative you love him and if you are a liberal you hate him. I find this very unfair. Mr. Johnson is always entertaining and frequently thought provoking. After reading this book I have already bought biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison because Mr. Johnson has brought them to life and has caused me to want to learn more about them. For example, did you know that Mr. Edison would frequently sleep under the table in his workshop so as to be able to go right back to work when he woke up? Or that Calvin Coolidge once summoned some of his staff in the White House and then hid under his desk so that they couldn't find him? But this doesn't mean that this book is full of fluff either. Mr. Johnson also gives you much "straight" history and is not afraid to give you his opinions of the people and their policies. He clearly thinks that Jefferson, FDR and John Kennedy were overrated and Coolidge underrated, for example. He greatly admires Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Probably one of the great lessons of this book is that some distance is needed before a person or an event can be judged fairly. Years ago one heard almost only positive things about Thomas Jefferson. In recent years the pendulum has somewhat swung the other way especially where Jefferson's writings on slavery are now seen to diverge quite a bit from his practices in real life. But the beauty of this book lies in the uncovering of personality. We also learn that Jefferson had no sense of humor and that though he was a compulsive record keeper and wrote down everything that he bought and sold he had absolutely no idea of his financial situation, which was always getting worse, throughout his life. He liked to present himself as a common farmer but spent vast sums on fine wines and fancy clothes. He was a compulsive book buyer. He tended to get migraines when under pressure. He was a minimalist as far as believing in the power of the national government but did not hesitate to make the Louisiana Purchase. In short, like all interesting people he was inconsistent and quirky. I have dwelled on Jefferson but Mr. Johnson brings numerous historical figures to life in the same way. I found the last 100 pages of the book disappointing in its handling of events since 1960. I understand that many negative things about JFK have come to light in the last 20 years or so but Mr. Johnson has nothing positive at all to say about him. The space program, for example, is not shown in a positive light at all but as a Kennedy obsession about "competing" and "having to win". Likewise, Mr. Johnson has nothing to say about the serious personal flaws in the personality of Richard Nixon. It is clear that Mr. Nixon throughout his life got a very unfair deal from a lot of the press but is it not true that he was a bit paranoid about his perceived enemies and therefore worsened the situation? Mr. Johnson states as a blanket fact that Mr. Nixon knew nothing of the Watergate break-in beforehand. This is possible, but then Mr. Johnson has nothing at all to say about the coverup, which Nixon clearly did know about. The job of the historian is to present all sides of an issue and not to ignore unpleasant facts that do not support what you are trying to prove. It is also curious that Mr. Johnson makes no attempt to analyze whether or not the U.S. should ever have been in Vietnam. He faults the politicians for not listening to the military in saying that an all-out massive effort was needed or the war could not be won. In short, more discussion of both sides of the issue was needed. But if you forget the last 40 years or so, the bulk of this book is excellent.
362 people found this helpful
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Excellent objective treatment of American History

Paul Johnson's "A History of the American People" is very readable history whose objectivity is manifest. While necessarily abbreviated in many respects, the book offers a sweeping panorama of the American political, cultural, and religious landscape. It captures and defines the spirit that made this country the greatest and the most powerful in the history of mankind. Unlike most writers of the modern textbooks of history Paul Johnson understands that it is individual freedom of thought and action and the extension of that freedom to the economic, political, and religious spheres that enabled this country to dominate the rest of the world.
Johnson brings to light the moral dilemma that arose when the American ideals of equality and liberty came in conflict with the economic and social pragmatism of slavery. A moral dilemma that has influenced American ideological, political, social and intellectual history since the country was founded and continues to this day, from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement up to the present banal multiculturalism.
He also rightly points out that attempts to restrict man's freedom through higher tax rates reduce productivity and progress. The increasing government involvement in the economy during FDR's administration probably weakened the economy and extended the Depression. The economy was recovering on its own at the time FDR took office. Johnson points out that the debilitating effects of FDR's interference with the economy remained with us until Reagan reinvigorated not only the economy but also the Ameritech spirit, which unfortunately again is under siege with Clinton's administration.
Unlike most modern writers of history textbooks, Johnson gives credit where credit is due to Ronald Reagan for ending the cold war and for demonstrating to the world the inherent bankruptcy of communism and socialism and their handmaiden egalitarianism. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history without the current politically correct revisionism that permeates most modern treatments of this subject.
151 people found this helpful
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Great corrective to what's out there

While I wouldn't recommend that my students read only Paul Johnson's work on US History, I would definitely recommend that they read it in accompaniment to their texts. Johnson is rightly to be credited for providing a more balanced and optimistic view of the American people/government than is prevalent in the majority of publishing firms today. He does not shy away from criticism where it is due, but neither is he afraid to assert honor where honor is due--even if it means offending some politically correct ears.

While I agree that he can be classified as a conservative, I would also note that this is not a "conservative's conservative" book. By that I mean that people who are unabashedly Republican, Religious Right, etc., will not find unscrutinized support for their revisionist accounts of history. While Johnson does overlap with certain conservative appraisals of historical events and figures, he does so on a case-by-case basis, always aiming to support his evaluations with fact. In many instances, these facts are not widely known because they have been cut out from liberal textbooks. They are not, however, smelling of the party line.

Indeed, Johnson's book is fascinating for his historical scholarship, research, and deep analysis. His coverage of "forgotten" spans of time (i.e. Grant, Arthur, Hayes, Garfield) is welcome, as is his deft treatment of figures who are normally expansive in coverage (i.e. Lincoln, JFK). I found the 1860-1900 chapters to be personally most enlightening.

Johnson is especially great at noticing overarching themes in government and economic life. He is not a social or sociological commentator, which will relieve some of his more liberal readers. And in fact, I believe most people--liberal or conservatve--would gain an awful lot from his research and presentation if they read with an open mind.
141 people found this helpful
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When Hisory becomes Editorial

Paul Johnson's book "The History of the American People" is quite entertaining and full of dizzying facts and anecdotes from history. The major problem with his work, though, is how Johnson confuses the presentation of history and fact with his own opinion and, frequently, extreme interpretations. As the previous reviewer commented ("He Should Have Stopped at 1960"), something happens in the book as the latter half of the twentieth century is approached. The earlier history of America he presents with vibrancy and, I suspect, even-handedness. I did note his celebration of the alleged "Robber-Barrons" and liberal economics, as well as a conspicuous absence of sympathy for unions and the legitimate concerns over labor abuses. He appears to subscribe to the "Great Man Makes History" school - the little man is often overlooked. It was, however, not until his discussion of the 1960's and beyond that his blaring biases become evident. According to Johnson, Kennedy and Clinton could do no right, Reagan no wrong, Nixon is a misuderstood hero, the press is the great liberal villain, and all the ills of American society can be traced to misguided liberalism. He presents the usual smorgasborg of conservative thought as utterly blameless. He picks and chooses historical facts which confirm, but never challenge, his biases.

The truth is that I did enjoy this book, albiet with growing dissappointment in latter chapters. While Johnson does descend considerably into strident ideology at the end, nonetheless he is an eloquent and multifaceted writer. In his defense, he does acknowledge in the preface that he makes no effort to conceal his opinions in this text. I reccomend this book for two purposes: (1) for those wanting a readable and insightful account of American History prior to the 20th Century; and (2) for those desiring an articulate though unoriginal insight into the commmon conservative dogma that has, for better to worse, come to dominate the beginning of the 21st century.
102 people found this helpful
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Fantastic US History from right-of-center perspective

Great alternative to Zinn. Johnson celebrates the ingenuity and innovation of Americans through history. It has a bit of a conservative slant from the 20th century onward but since there are a plethora of left-slanted histories I think this helps to balance our understanding. For example, he argues that the problem with Vietnam was that we weren't aggressive enough, that FDR may have actually caused the great depression to last longer than it should have, and that Nixon was unfairly targeted by the media from day one. In any case it makes for a very interesting read!
76 people found this helpful
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An antidote to your high school history textbook.

An outsider's view of American History (British). Balanced and nuanced. Shows some sides of events that are not well known at all. Highly readable and engaging.
54 people found this helpful
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History as It Ought to Be Written

Whenever I have told new acquaintances that I have a degree in history, they have typically groaned. They all hate history, they tell me, because it is just names and dates. Besides, the text books in school were extraordinarily dull.

Of course, history is not about names and dates, it is about people and ideas. It tells us how we came to be who we are. Paul Johnson has written that kind of history in a style that is informative, lively, and entertaining. The book is eccentric at times and opinionated -- this is the first book I have ever read that portrayed Harding in a positive light. The book is never dull.

A number of reviewers have criticized this book because it is conservative. I suppose that if your perspective on life is that anyone whose political perspective differs from your own could not possibly produce a work worth interacting with or enjoying, this will be a problem. For those sufficiently confident in their beliefs to engage an informative book and decide what they will agree or disagree with, this is a great read.

One reviewer seemed surprised that a conservative criticized Joe McCarthy: I suggest he should get out more.

I would also recommend a couple of other Johnson books I have read: "Modern Times" -- a world history since World War I -- and "Intellectuals" -- a saucy look at the lives of several intellectual leaders of the 20th century.
36 people found this helpful
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Fantastic History of the United States

In the preface to this book, Mr. Johnson relates the comments of one of his Oxford teachers: 'You can study American history when you have graduated, if you can bear it.' There is, apparently, a bit of lingering resentment in the British character.

Fortunately for us, Mr. Johnson was able to bear American history and has set down a wonderful single volume history of my country that has taught me more about my nation than all the wishy-washy histories I was fed in my schools.

Along the way, Johnson points out many of the fundamental differences between the United States and the rest of the world, including this one: The entire history of the United States is known and was recorded by first hand witnesses. While Germans can know the history of their current republic, they don't have more than a mythic inkling of when they became a people and later a nation. The Brits can learn about their Celtic ancestors, but at some point, the past grows foggy and recedes into the unknown. But the founders of the United States were first rate writers as well as statesmen and they have recorded it all for us to read and know, and for Mr. Johnson to faithfully report.

Johnson spends relatively little of his 976 pages on the recent history of the country. His story begins with Colonial America and covers the founding years in detail. He plainly states that our founding fathers, Washington, Jefferson and the rest, were superior to their British counterparts that they outfaced. His detailed description of the run up to our Civil War, including his history of slaves in this country, is not to be matched.

With hatred of the United States so common in the world, it is encouraging to find a European who sees this country for what it is: a nation of flawed people who have built on the good ideas of the past and extended our bounty to so many others by promoting and defending freedom around the world. Where the United States failed, Mr. Johnson pulls no punches. But where we Americans have succeeded, which has been often, he relates the story in enthralling detail.

May God bless this gifted writer and researcher and may he live to write many, many more books.
34 people found this helpful
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I would have like to been able to rate this higher, but...

This history is a very readable and interesting one, however, there are a few problems. First, the history truly is of "American People", but only a select set. On some pages it throws out 20 names, few of which all but the more careful students will be able to remember. The book retraces important people over events, which makes it at times hard to follow.

Although I would peg myself as a conservative, and while this book admits to being an optimistic history, it goes too far in some respects. Though I loathe the apologistic, revisionist history of someone like Zinn, this book makes some unforgiveable omissions.

As examples, while slavery is labelled the abomination it was, the book really gives no insight into the lives of the enslaved. And while it at times goes into great details about some slave owners who treated their slaves especially well, it does not contrast that with "as opposed to what".

The book also completely ignores events such as Boss Tweed, Tammany Hall and Teapot Dome.

While there is a detailed account of America's first railways, there is literally NO mention of the Chinese labor that built them.

I stopped reading at about page 800. Up until about 1910, the book is reasonably well balanced in terms of Republican vs Democrats. From that point forward, however, all Democrats are malicious idiots and all Republicans are angelic saviours. Curiously at the same point the book takes this sharp turn you start to find grammatical errors and typos. If I were to make up a conspiracy, its almost as though the editor refused to continue once Johnson takes this stance.

Had Johnson opted to temper his bias in the 20th century section and to address the darker events in American history, this would have been a truly great work.
29 people found this helpful
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A sprawling, spectacular survey of what makes America tick

What a fantastic journey! Paul Johnson's masterful telling of the American story has a scope and a beauty I was not anticipating.
Most American histories seem to revel in deconstructing and undermining its proud achievements and remarkable individuals, yet Johnson, while fully acknowledging the dark areas of our past, boldly celebrates what it is that makes America great, without apology or qualification. His presentation of The United States of America as a largely positive force in world history is a radical, almost heretical, concept to those who would prefer to reinvent it as some kind of imperialistic scourge.
Disregard some of the charges you may have read in other reviews that this book is merely some kind of conservative "political tract". The wrath of the left is usually incurred whenever FDR and JFK are not portrayed as Solomonic demi-gods. As to the charge that Republicans are safe from Johnson's critique, skeptics should re-read the sections on Hoover and Reagan. Reagan, while given genuine credit for his successes, certainly did not come off as the mythic, infallible figure conservatives are constantly accused of enshrining.
What I apprecated most about "A History of the American People" was Johnson's willingness to diverge from governmental politics and explore the areas of emerging American culture (such as literature, architecture, industry and music) as well as the lives of average American citizens, or "the teeming masses" as some would say.
Far from being ignored (as some reviewers have charged), the average, everyday Americans are a constant presence throughout Johnson's book...like a faint, but steady, pulse beat. While most of the book DOES focus upon noteable individuals, Johnson takes generous amounts of time to put his finger on the pulse of American society. The dreams, follies, philosophies and tragedies of the American people as a whole are vividly and poignantly captured by Johnson on a regular basis.
This book gets my highest possible recommendation. It is the first history of Johnson's that I have read, but certainly not the last.
26 people found this helpful

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