AP US History Textbook

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm taking APUSH in school next year, but I'm dissatisfied with their selection of textbooks. The current textbook was so poor that they decided to drop it and move on to a new one this year, and, suffice it to say, I don't have much confidence that they'll make a good pick.</p>

<p>I spoke with my current AP Euro teacher (a brilliant guy), and he recommended The National Experience. I took a look at the text, and it seemed to be very good; however, the last published version is old (from '93), and probably doesn't conform very well with the current version of the AP test. So I investigated the available options and came up with a few that seemed interesting. However, as I've had no experience with the class before, I can't really evaluate them properly.</p>

<p>What I'm basically looking for is the RR Palmer text of American History. A definitive, rigorous, scholarly, and well-written book that nevertheless has voice and passion. Although I would prefer if it has a strong narrative voice and treats history analytically as well as factually, I do not want a biased textbook, either toward the right or left. I don't particularly care if the author takes a center-right or center-left stance, but I do want a book that portrays history accurately, fairly, and even-handedly. The text should also be sophisticated, aimed more at those seeking an intensive study rather than a superficial look. Furthermore, I'd prefer to get a book that (like Palmer) focuses on diplomatic, political, economic, and scientifically sociological history, not culture or communities.</p>

<p>My goal in buying the book is to go beyond the hybrid high-school/college model of the APUSH course, and extend it into a more sophisticated and advanced look at history. My teacher told me that there is no true equivalent to Palmer in quality and depth, but I'd like to see if any of you know of textbooks that approach it in form and substance.</p>

<p>I've found one book, Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People, that looks intriguing and has potential. I'd appreciate some thoughts on that one, as well as independent recommendations.</p>

2

<p>Do you guys know if "The American Pageant" is any good?</p>

3

<p>Wow. You know, very few books are completely 100% unbiased. The American Pageant is very good, and that is what the AP exam is based on. But I'm telling you now that I wasted a lot of time reading the Pageant, and I read all of REA in 2 days and that prepared me well.</p>

4

<p>Pageant is good.</p>

5

<p>Pageant is good..
My school is switching back to that after the huge numbers of complaints about the one we use now ("America: Past and Present" - I swear to God it is the most dry, boring text I have read in my life! but then again, that could be because I hate history)</p>

6

<p>DO NOT READ NATIONAL EXPERIENCE UNLESS YOU'RE A HISTORY GEEK!!!!
It is really boring, and only like three people in our class reads it. I think there are better textbooks out there.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
DO NOT READ NATIONAL EXPERIENCE UNLESS YOU'RE A HISTORY GEEK!!!!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I see someone has yet to master the fine art of reading between (or in this case, just reading) the lines. ;-)</p>

<p>In any case, I'd only read The National Experience if there's no other textbook up there with it in quality. Because, since it's not sufficient to take the AP, I'd have to use two history texts at the same time (tried that this year, noticed too much repetition, but Palmer, fortunately, is so overwhelmingly good that I didn't need the other).</p>

8

<p>Ok. I only read a few sentences of your thread, but I don't think I deserve any disparagement of this kind. I don't know how smart you are, but what you said makes me really angry!!! I'm not stupid ok? :mad:</p>

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<p>Note the ";-)" at the end of the line indicating that what I said was in jest. I meant nothing serious of it and I'm sorry if you took offense.</p>

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<p>Oh i didn't see the sign. I thought it was something else. I was kind of appalled that someone could be so cocky on this forum. I think I was a little harsh. Now that you've clarified your meaning I'm not mad anymore.</p>

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<p>It's fine.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any experience with or comments on Inventing America: A History of the United States?</p>

12

<p>I'm doing a little unassigned summer reading for AP USH.</p>

<p>I'm using VERY old editions of The American Pageant and The American Nation.</p>

13

<p>I guess no one used Enduring Vision by Boyer. The book was okay, but I wouldn't know how it compares to Pageant.</p>

14

<p>Enduring Vision >>>> American Pagaent. Plus its cheap to buy online. Trust me on this one, ive experienced both books.</p>

15

<p>I would say the American Pageant is your best bet.</p>

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<p>Everyone at my school is rather fond of Pageant... apparently most of the APUSH students feel the same...</p>

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<p>Oh, by the way, if you go to the college board website and open the PDF file on the course descriptions it should give a list of recommended books. I guess you can go down the list and check them out.</p>

18

<p>American Pageant is good, in fact we use it at my school.</p>

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<p>We had Liberty, Equality and Power. It definitely covers as much as possible and I was enjoyabe enough. I think the only problem with liberty, equality and power is that they don't always stick to complete chronology and split eras into political, economic, and social. Which is good until you get to crunch time and your like "wait.... i read this after this so it can't have been in 1945... i'm confused "<em>re-reads</em>.</p>

20

<p>My history classes (4 periods a week of regular, 2 of AP) used Enduring Vision. I'm really confident about the AP and I scored a 780 on the SATII.</p>