America: The Story of Us    by Kevin Baker Order:  USA  Can A & E Television Networks, 2010 (2010) Softcover     Reviewed by Bob Walch The companion book to the History Channel's America: The Story of Us, this volume offers a look at the pivotal events in the making of the United States. As with any book of this nature, you'll discover information on the Revolutionary War, westward expansion, the development of industry, the Great Depression and the two major world wars the U.S. fought in. There are also short chapters on the 9/11 attacks, Barack Obama's election and the current state of the economy. Given the sweeping scope of this book and the fact that there are barely 400 pages of text, short is the operational word for each of these chapters. Don't expect any depth since all the author can provide is a limited overview hitting on a few key points. You might ask yourself, 'Why would I want to purchase a history book of this nature?' The answer resides in the intriguing graphics, charts, maps, historical photos and drawings that accompany the text. Whether it is a map with icons showing where the major victories were during the Revolutionary War, a cutaway of the Hoover Dam or a chart illustrating the skyscraper race, these add-ons make the book appealing. The author also uses yellow to highlight some passages of the book so that unusual facts jump out at the reader. If you are looking for a general history book that will provide a cursory look at the important events, movements and the individuals who shaped American history, this would be a volume you would certainly wish to consider purchasing. It would be a good way of starting off a young person on an exploration of the topic. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews