A history of the american people paul johnson pdf

It can be accomplished only by the ruthless selection and rejection of material, and made readable only by moving in close to certain aspects, and dealing with them in fascinating detail, at the price of merely summarizing others. That has been my method, as in earlier books covering immense subjects, though my aim nonetheless has been to produce a comprehensive account, full of facts and dates and figures, which can be used with confidence by students who wish to acquire a general grasp of American history.

They are there for all to see, and take account of or discount. But I have endeavored, at all stages, to present the facts fully, squarely, honestly, and objectively, and to select the material as unpretentiously as I know how. It is a compelling antidote to those who regard the future with pessimism. Kissinger, Former Secretary of State. A peek at the Table of Contents:.

Paul Bede Johnson is an English journalist, historian, speechwriter and author. Will the Dems try to Impeach President Trump in the new congress? View Results. For more than 50 years, the Conservative Book Club has guided book lovers to the best conservative books and authors of our times.

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Contact Us. Some of his assessments may be challenging to those unused to wading outside the historical mainstream, but they are generally sound and always thought-provoking.

He is at his best on the roles of religion and personal autonomy in American culture. He proves his thesis that Johnson gives a splendid, very readable overview of the history of the United States.

He proves his thesis that they are at the root of American exceptionalism. His is let down by occasional errors of fact, perhaps inevitable in a book as broad as this.

His brief summary of the American Civil War is particularly disappointing. He is a great political historian and an interesting social historian, but no military historian.

He can also be a bit one-sided in his judgements. If he dislikes a President, he will say little good of him. If he likes him, he really likes him. This is most apparent in his treatment of Lincoln where it is especially depressing that a historian prepared to question conventional wisdom chose not to depart from the traditional hagiography. Lincoln was indeed a great man, as Johnson shows very eloquently, but it would be worth at least asking if he was such a great President. After all, it is hardly great presiding to start a Civil War and then fight it badly.

Of course, Lincoln is not solely to blame for either but he was the man in charge. View all 16 comments. Over 48 hours long, and due in two weeks, so I sped it up a little and made it through. What a fascinating overview of the history of the United States, written by a British historian who loves America in I especially loved his quick biographies on every single US president and many other noteworthy Americans. Johnson was very honest in his writing and pointed out the good and bad of people and events in a factual not biased or emotional manner.

As he said on many occasions, he did not seek or want any more power than the Constitution gave him; but, when needful, he did not want any less either. It should be obeyed in letter and spirit. America was the first major country to adopt a written constitution. That Constitution has survived, where so many imitations all over the world have failed, not only because it was democratically constructed and freely adopted by the people, but precisely because it has been obeyed—by both government and people.

But that was not his way. He invariably did the right thing, however easily it might be avoided. Of how many other great men can that be said? Feb 25, Mark rated it it was amazing Shelves: history.

This book took on a lengthy period of history nearly years. Johnson recounted history with pithy insights into reasons for America's greatness and weaknesses. He wasn't afraid to call out our mistakes as well as laud our successes. Two of my favorite insights were seeing America's greatness in our religious zeal; and seeing our spirit to face our problems with resolute determination to overcome them, even when they were embarrassing and sometimes disgraceful think American Indian relation This book took on a lengthy period of history nearly years.

Two of my favorite insights were seeing America's greatness in our religious zeal; and seeing our spirit to face our problems with resolute determination to overcome them, even when they were embarrassing and sometimes disgraceful think American Indian relations, civil war, slavery, political corruption, prohibition, and gender equality.

America is truly the greatest country for freedom, including the self-reflective kind. As for presidents, I now love Calvin Coolidge for his determination not to pander to public opinion, but to accept the mandate given by the electorate, and then rule by principles and law.

However, I now detest John F. Kennedy for purchasing the presidency, being a fraudulent scholar, and a serial philanderer. Thank you Paul Johnson for helping me understand the power of capitalism in the hands of moral, religious people. May we ever be a godly, free nation who serves and loves others. Feb 12, Evan rated it liked it.

This book is pretty solid when it comes to history before But the author goes on a huge conservative tirade when dealing with the 20th century. Fair and balanced? I think not Dec 13, William Brown rated it it was amazing. The best American history I have read, and written by a Brit! I loved this book. Feb 18, Alexander Young rated it it was amazing. This book is a very well written overview of American history. He avoids the modern fad of overlooking all the good and capitalizing on anything evil that can found or invented.

At pages, this colossal work by Paul Johnson was my toughest reading challenge yet. You will not find a more thorough, balanced, well researched book on American history. It was a pleasure to read. Jul 02, J. Dunn rated it really liked it Shelves: contemporary , 20th-century , owned , biography , have-etext , nonfiction , history , culture , politics , technology.

And that held up for most of this book. He made a great case for why those values were integral in making America a great nation, and he told the story up to about FDR with balance and verve. Post New-Deal though, it just turns into a bitter screed, and loses all sense of balance.

Political correctness and affirmative action were creeping authoritarianism as opposed to well-meaning and ultimately pretty insignificant efforts to continue down the road of the civil rights movement that went a bit overboard. Moral equivocation of the anti-abortion movement with the anti-slavery movement. Praise for The Bell Curve, and breezy dismissal of the likes of C. Wright Mills, David Riesman, etc.

And so on. He does things like applauding the US for engaging the world and taking its rightful place as a superpower postwar, and then turning around and criticizing the inevitable expansion of the bureaucracy that resulted from that, without connecting the one to the other. He just fails to engage the complexities and ambiguities and compromises that are a necessary feature of the postmodern, globalized world.

So, disappointing in the end. You should get most of the story between the two of them. Aug 01, Matt rated it it was amazing Shelves: cribb-family-required-reading , history. This is an amazing book and a must read! I'd recommend A History of the American People be included in our college curriculum ignoring the problem that it is too long to read through in a semester. In my view, it's the American History text book of choice. Each page is a pleasure to read and deserves some contemplation.

I'm going to have to read it again -even slower. Four hundred years of history is a lot material to cover, but all in all the detail and perspective Paul Johnson provides is cle This is an amazing book and a must read! Four hundred years of history is a lot material to cover, but all in all the detail and perspective Paul Johnson provides is clear and often profound.

Some of my views were challenged and I learned throughout. This tome is no mere superficial survey of American History. While the author has his biases - fore most includes his unapologetic love for America - he clearly delineates his own views to the readers attention and provides support for them.

You can take his view or leave it and still benefit. Also his British point of view is really interesting; for example his indictment of the abilities of the British government at the time of the Revolution is honest and painful, answered some of the questions I had about how Britain and the Colonies came to armed conflict.

Then there are the fascinating personal anecdotes from knowing key people like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Here the reader benefits from the author's experience and age. Criticism of the book lies on two fronts.

The first: Johnson is labeled a "conservative" which immediately shuts the minds of many in our Universities off; however if you sift through the noise of negative reviews - I do not recommend this - you will find that that thoughtful self identified liberals do recommend his book. The second area of criticism lies in the incomplete handling of the the period - I tend to agree, and I found this part incomplete; however, this portion of the text does include a fascinating analysis of the rise of pop culture and diminishing of the statesman.

So while there are omissions, there are keen insights into the events of the last 40 years. Throughout the book, Johnson takes a hard look at our presidents. Some fare better then they have in other accounts e.

Harding and some fare worse e. John F. Kennedy and George H. At times this analysis very painful to hear. I would really like to see Johnson complete and addendum covering to but alas this may be too close for a clear historical view. The paperback is out, and reasonably priced this book needs to be on your shelf and more importantly under your nose.

It's the handbook of American History written by a British subject. Shelves: history-politics. Originally a gift of my friend Albert Dominguez, I can't say Paul Johnson's A History of the American People originally would crossed my sights had he not given it to me for Christmas one year; I had not heard of Johnson, previously, and really my exposure in those terms was mostly limited to general history texts from high school and college.

However, my reading of this book was revelatory. It puts those other, 'official' texts to shame. From the earliest origins of what came to be the nascent A Originally a gift of my friend Albert Dominguez, I can't say Paul Johnson's A History of the American People originally would crossed my sights had he not given it to me for Christmas one year; I had not heard of Johnson, previously, and really my exposure in those terms was mostly limited to general history texts from high school and college.

From the earliest origins of what came to be the nascent American Republic through the Clinton Administration in the 's, Johnson's History is absolutely comprehensive and eye-opening.

In a world and especially in a subject area that is rife with the infection of political correctness, Johnson unapologetically lays out ALL the details in engaging prose full not only of the facts of our history but also interesting anecdotal evidence and details.

While this was a LONG read - I was several months in the effort, highlighting and footnoting for myself important points and details - it was highly enjoyable and worth every moment. Since then, I have positively recommended this book to everyone I know who is interested in reading in the topic of U. And someday soon, I will have pick up another copy of this work, so that I can read A History again and update this review with further details; you see, much as happened for me, I in turn gifted this massive volume to an history teacher associate of mine in the summer of May 02, Lili P rated it liked it.

For a school textbook, this was hard to read and get information out of. Oct 10, Nick rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Howard Zinn fans that need some balance to their views of American history. One of the great things about this book is that Paul Johnson, being British, is an outsider looking in. He did not learn American history growing up or even in his college studies, so many of the preconceptions most historians of American history have are absent. His outsider status also allows him to point out a lot of the ugly truths we have to face about our country e.

He focuses largely on presidents in the post Revolutionary War part of the book, a One of the great things about this book is that Paul Johnson, being British, is an outsider looking in. He focuses largely on presidents in the post Revolutionary War part of the book, and his view of each president is fascinating.

Many times he paints a negative picture of presidents that are revered in public opinion polls FDR and Kennedy and gives a positive defense of some that have gotten a bad rap. His account of the Great Depression era was scary as it sounded like he was writing about the last decade of the American economy.

Great book. Jun 15, Steven P. A History of the American People is a well written and detailed book that covers the history of the United States. Paul Johnson's writing is absorbing, and he explains history as if he were telling you a story. He also examines the major players in history, and does what should be necessary for any book on history: explain the causal events so that they make sense to the reader and do not seem like random events that happened spontaneously.

This is a very good book if you want to brush-up on you A History of the American People is a well written and detailed book that covers the history of the United States. This is a very good book if you want to brush-up on your knowledge of history and want to get some insight in to historical events. Nov 16, Dietrich rated it it was amazing. He covers a broad range of figures, primarily politicians, but also creative practical geniuses and several artists and literary types.

Of course, Johnson is a politically conservative scholar, and some readers, even some who generally admire this book, take issue with Johnson for politicizing history. However, in my experience, most history writing has a particular political slant, understandably so, and at least Johnson is up front about his. The consumer in both instances is best advised to sample a variety of different sources. Because conservatives are underrepresented in academia, AHOTAP will provide politically liberal readers food for thought with a scholarly account of the American past they might never have seen articulated before.

This might conceivably change a few preconceptions. He spends much time arguing that the depression was prolonged precisely by attempts to intervene in the business cycle rather than letting it run its course, and he is skeptical of Keynesianism generally. He also is suspicious of much governmental business regulation, and gives historical examples of how it has had many unintended and unwanted effects, including actually hurting constituencies the regulation was ostensibly supposed to protect.

He notes that the welfare state has spiraled out of control financially and suggests that keeping down inflation is the best form of social security , and argues that it has subsidized various forms of unhealthy behavior. If anything, says Johnson, judicial activism has simply created new injustices.

As should be apparent by his historical critique of liberal social engineering, Johnson emerges as a defender of capitalism, limited government, and judicial restraint. The Great Awakening brought the colonists together, providing unity without which the notion of independence would be inconceivable. Johnson thus argues that the revolution was a religious event, and that our politics is historically rooted in a moral and religious consensus a rather ecumenical consensus, of course, not limited to Protestants or even Christians generally.

Johnson argues that until fairly recently, it was universally understood and acknowledged that religion was essential for maintaining the Republic, and he offers a historical understanding of the religious aspects of the first amendment that differs from much recent jurisprudence. Johnson also links flourishing religion with flourishing commercial endeavor in America, and further sees the Second Great Awakening as instrumental in leading to the ultimate eradication of the sin of slavery.

Johnson also sees parallels between the religiously inspired abolitionists and the pro-life movement. Johnson laments the rise in recent decades of an intellectual stance in America that treats religion as the enemy of political freedom, and he worries that it threatens the moral and religious consensus at the foundation of our politics.

Defeating the Nazis, containing communism, helping Europe get back on its feet with the Marshall plan, the staggering amount of foreign aid we have supplied generally, the SDI push that helped facilitate the collapse of the Soviet Union, there is much that America can be proud about, thinks Johnson.

A related theme Johnson emphasizes is the importance of a strong executive branch to allow for effective and timely decisions, and strong Presidents to make those decisions and to boost national morale. For one, Johnson wants to limit the scope, size, and profligacy of the State at home, yet simultaneously wishes America to remain an active and benevolent superpower.

On some level, these agendas seem at cross-purposes. At any rate, there is a tension between even the vaguely defined hope that Johnson thinks America offers the world, and the specific historical conditions that Johnson thinks made America distinctive in the first place.

Johnson valorizes Lincoln, the great champion of Union and Emancipator of slaves, and denies that Lincoln somehow derailed the Constitution. Johnson here celebrates a strong and righteous America led by a strong and righteous Executive. However, Johnson immediately goes on the offensive against Congressional reconstruction, viewing it in part as misguided idealism, and in part as vindictive, unconstitutional and self-serving.

Johnson thinks Lincoln would never have gone along with it, expresses some sympathy with the defeated South, and thinks that Congressional reconstruction ensured that the South treated blacks worse than they otherwise would have. Admittedly, thinks Johnson, they would have been treated poorly in any event. On the face of it, this is a rather abrupt shift in his analysis. One national sin is immediately replaced by another.

Johnson is trying to steer between the Scylla of vilifying Lincoln and by extension the post Union, and the Charybdis of sanctioning liberal social engineering on behalf of a nation devoted to a proposition. This attempted feat is fraught with difficulties, especially when Johnson, like Lincoln, embraces the importance of the Declaration.

For instance, Johnson unsurprisingly chooses not to valorize the midth century civil rights movement, which has been used to give a halo of legitimacy to judicial activism and affirmative action. He does not denigrate it, as he does with Congressional reconstruction, but he downplays it, mentioning it as if in passing.

The Civil Rights movement for Johnson was ultimately a step along the road leading to pernicious social engineering. Fair enough. But if we are as Johnson claims, a nation animated by ideals articulated in the Declaration, it is difficult to treat MLK and others as merely a step along that road.

By his own understanding of American idealism, Johnson might well lionize much of the civil rights movement, but given his opposition to the liberal judicial activists, Johnson feels this is clearly the wrong thing to do. Such is the inherent tension brought about by his various commitments. This is a well-written book that provides much to ponder on. It is a very exhaustive account of how several small, dispersed British colonies became the American nation.

The title may be considered misleading though: there is no information about the people who inhabited the territory before the arrival of the British colonists. Johnson did a thorough research before writing this book, however, some of his points of view might be considered controversial. For example, the Watergate scandal is described as the "putsch against the Executive". Obviously, he loves Nixon and he doesn't hide it. He is quite opinionated regarding the last American presidents, from Roosevelt to Clinton.

I expected some detachment from a historian, so this aspect of the book was disappointing. Overall, it was a very informative and readable book, ideal for readers who are not experts in American history. One of the best history book that I read. Over more than 1, pages, Johnson one of the greatest history writer guides the reader through centuries of history through the lens of the people.

The book is easy to ready and do not let you feel the weight of his size and academic background. The book is a must read for those who want to understand America and its relevance to the world. Jun 15, Melanie rated it it was amazing. Great overview of American history. I learned a ton. Jul 14, Eric Morse rated it it was amazing. It is a great work of history that only a true admirer of Americans could produce.

And any lover of the American spirit will enjoy this book and hold onto its ideas as a central reference. Only someone who truly loves his subject matter can delve into the thoughts and actions of that subject as freely as Johnson does in this book. The result is a thorough and insightful history. To use a quote from the text: "A book upon politics, morals or religion, containing no party or sectarian views, will be apt to contain no distinctive views of any kind, and will be likely to leave the mind in a state of doubt and skepticism, much more to be deplored than any party of sectarian bias.

This is somewhat ironic because, of all the countries in the world, America is perhaps the least reliant on and most disdainful of its leaders. But there are many good reasons for this tack. The effect is to see the people as would an outsider, a faithful companion. It is also true that the United States has bred some of the greatest figures in national politics, as Johnson points out, from the Founders to the very present.

As such, it is essential for any history to focus on their lives and accomplishments. Though Johnson does not make the case, one could argue that the American presidents comprise the greatest and most competent leaders of any country in all of history. And finally, if there is a country in which its political figures best represent the public at large, it is the United States. Granted, there is much more to the American people than the lives and accomplishments of their presidents.

Johnson shows this in some ways, and yet still depends on the stories of the presidents to convey the story the assassination of Kennedy, the Nixon Watergate scandal, and the Clinton scandals being the prominent examples. In these sections, it seems as though the author sacrifices a view of the American people for one of some rather un-American events and personalities.

The variety of information and the kind of topics covered is quite astounding. The reader learns of every major thread in the American fabric, from the Puritan and plantation foundations to the struggles with Indians and African slaves; from the Great Awakening to Manifest Destiny; from the war between the states to the rise of the central government and the Welfare State; from the robber barons to the automobile; and from jazz to the Golden Age of Hollywood.

If there is a single omission in this sprawling document of Americana, it is that of baseball, which is only mentioned twice in passing. All of sport is rather overlooked which is regrettable, and this is especially true for baseball, whose stories and themes are undeniably entwined with the American spirit. All in all, this is a phenomenal work and should be embraced by all Americans and anyone who loves them. Mar 12, Ryan Middlebrook rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: those who want to know more about America.

Shelves: history , nonfiction. For Christmas , I received an excellent gift from my brother and sister-in-law — a homemade book club. The club consisted of receiving an audiobook of their choosing about once every other month. This was a great present, not only because I read a lot, but because the books that they sent were not ones that I would typically pick for myself. This helped break me out of a groove really a rut…or trench…or anyway of a LOT of Sci-fi.

Their selections were all enjoyable and yet for the most par For Christmas , I received an excellent gift from my brother and sister-in-law — a homemade book club. Their selections were all enjoyable and yet for the most part — brief. However, their last selection has made up for the lack of listening hours handsomely. Yes, a textbook. But thankfully, it does not read as a standard dry methodical recitation of times and places.

In his 42 hours much longer than all previous 5 selections together , Mr. Johnson opens up the American country with the lively vantage of a Brit who is enamored with our, at least historically, unparalleled nation. It is a completely engrossing survey. Essentially beginning with the Puritans and working non-stop to the Clinton years, the political, economic, and interpersonal stories of individuals are opened up with a keen insight.

His heights are his explorations of the Presidents which he basically uses as windows to the soul of America. Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln come to life as he connects the cultural dots to the decisions that these men made.

His seemingly inexhaustible optimism is set off brilliantly by the surprising vitriol he has for FDR, Kennedy, and Johnson — the men he views as ruining American ideals. In each case, the reader wants to know more about the subjects not less. One caveat: there is plenty of editorializing in this book. This makes for some of its strongest sections and its weakest. Johnson is something like a free market individualist with a social heart. His last hundred pages of commentary after the strict chronology is done were my least enjoyable.

However one of its main points, which I can agree with, is that modern Americans are losing maybe giving up to political correctness their rights to assert their opinions. He does and with gusto. I can at least applaud his conviction. A wonderful gift, and one I highly recommend.

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About Paul Johnson. Paul Johnson. Paul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author. He was educated at Stonyhurst School in Clitheroe, Lancashire and Magdalen College, Oxford, and first came to prominence in the s as a journalist writing for, and later editing, the New Statesman magazine.

He has also written for leading newspapers and magazines in Britain, the US and Europe. Paul Johnson has published over 40 books incl Paul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author.

Books by Paul Johnson.