Defining A Nation

Bestselling author and historian, David Halberstam, brings together America's most celebrated historians, commentators and writers to identify the qualities that define America. While recent events in North America's history have prompted Americans to look at the histories and experiences of other cultures around the world, they have also lead to a process of self-examination. Defining a Nation , can be seen as part of this process as within each chapter Halberstam defines the key issues that have shaped the American character, from the rise of the meritocracy and the sheer physical size of the country to the legendary events that have left their mark on American mythology. Halberstam's introductions are followed by richly varied essays that cover subjects ranging from Manifest Destiny to John Wayne movies, from FDR's New Deal to Margaret Sanger and the birth control pill, from Paul Revere's ride to the Joseph McCarthy hearings. These inspiring and enlightening essays are accompanied by more than 300 exquisite photographs and illustrations. The result is a fascinating book that provides long sought-after and often surprising answers to the questions of how today's America emerged, and where the country is headed.