This great time capsule of a book captures the abundant popular history of the United States from 1932 to 1972. It encompasses politics, military history, economics, the arts, science, fashion, fads, social change, sexual mores, communications, graffiti—everything and anything indigenous that can be captured in print.
Masterfully compressing four crowded decades of our history, The Glory and the Dream relives the epic, significant, or just memorable events that befell the generation of Americans whose lives pivoted between the America before and the America after the Second World War. From the Great Depression through the second inauguration of Richard M. Nixon, Manchester breathes life into this great period of America’s growth.
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"Manchester is a tremendously gifted writer, and possesses the enviable capability of infusing his passionate enthusiasm for his historical subjects into the pages themselves, endowing his thick tomes with a vibrant energy that truly makes these period pieces and their actors come alive. The Glory and the Dream opens in the Mean Thirties with a description of the Veteran's march on Washington; a fitting launch pad for an in-depth exploration of four decades in American life, one that draws from a cornucopia of resources and material and is subsequently distilled through Manchester's brio into the Snap! Crackle! Pop! of this epic achievement. Bravo!"
— Chris (5 out of 5 stars)
“Magnificent.”
— New York Times“Manchester has an uncanny ability to give his readers an almost tactile sense of the past and to make them feel, ‘So that’s how it was!’”
— Christian Science Monitor" I have bought and given away many copies of Manchester's Narrative American history. This is an excellent introduction to 20th century history. A truly great book, at least for me. I read this sometime in the 1980s.... I don't know for sure because my copy is, again, on loan. "
— John, 2/20/2014" Long history lesson. But readable and important. I never learned so much of all the things I should have learned in school, but was too skipped over and dry/boring. I liked this book, as well as liking having read it. I don't read books again, but I would read this again, and learn more. "
— Natalie, 2/3/2014" Wonderful take on American social history-- a great and gripping read, but a bit pop history. "
— Charles, 1/4/2014" Just amazing--Manchester's grasp of events. Such fun to read. His anecdotal style is like nothing I have ever encountered in literature. We have nobody who writes like he wrote. Pick up anything by him and you will see what I mean. "
— Dpwarzyn, 12/23/2013" For those of you who slept through modern American History and now feel ignorant, this is a great place to start feeling smart. The book spans those forgotten times between WWI and Watergate, and it is full or really interesting information. Manchester adds details about popular culture, that make history come alive. This is a book i might read again "
— Lynn, 12/15/2013" This is the book that cemented my love of history, particularly American history. The best book I can indeed recommend on American history. You probably don't know what the Bonus Army march was, right? Let Willie M. tell you. You'll be freakin' shocked. "
— Rich, 12/10/2013" Very interesting narrative on the history of America from the viewpoint of the 1970's. Helpful to put historical events into context with a good description of the viewpoints and habits of people in the past. It's also helping me to brush up on the American history that I glossed over in school... "
— Diana, 12/4/2013" A big and comprehensive history of U.S. politics and culture from 1932 to 1972. Written in the mid-1970s, part of what is interesting is the perspective from that time about the events of the preceding 40 years. "
— Susan, 10/14/2013" A history of the U.S. between 1932 and 1972. Well written, informative. A whole lot you didn't know. One of the best overall histories with a wide sweep. "
— Mel, 9/15/2013" Do you want to understand the 20th Century? Well? Do you? "
— Elizabeth, 8/3/2013" Best mid-twentieth century history book ever written. Period. I first read it in junior high school. Really. I own it and go back to it often. Brilliant work. "
— Wendy, 8/2/2013" I absolutely love this book as one of our texts in my high school freshman year American history class. Not exactly light night ready. "
— Kate, 7/22/2013" Read this when it first was published - at a time when our country seemed to be coming apart (or so I naively thought then). Really put things in perspective for me - and I've always been thankful for that. "
— Barb, 7/3/2013" This is one of my favorite works of history, I have read it many times. "
— Meg, 6/23/2013" Book 2 (pg 847 - 1,596), the mid-50's, Eisenhower, through 1972, the Nixon Administration & Watergate. A good, quick interesting and objective perspective of American history. "
— SteveR, 9/17/2012" I realized that history written this way is not dull, or tedious. Rather, it is interesting and very personal. I loved the stories in this book. I wished for this book not to end. "
— Paula, 5/7/2012" Find this. Read this. Nuff said... "
— Yosef, 2/28/2012" A history of the late depression, with a focus on FDR and his program. I had no idea that the country was so close to revolution or civil war at that time. Interesting facts - goal of $12 week as minimum wage, and one county in Texas went from 40,000 to 1,000 population in less than 1 year. "
— Ahf, 9/30/2011" My dad got a copy of this in the mid-1970s. I started reading parts of it then, and have since read through it many times. It's another of the books (along with Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich) that stirred my interest in history. "
— Bob, 9/12/2011" The most dramatic history book I've read so far. Reading the book is like watching movies in a cinema. The feeling is more real and subtle than watching a movie. "
— Maggie, 7/1/2011" I have bought and given away many copies of Manchester's Narrative American history. This is an excellent introduction to 20th century history. A truly great book, at least for me. I read this sometime in the 1980s.... I don't know for sure because my copy is, again, on loan. "
— John, 1/15/2011" History that reads like a novel. Manchester is a good writer who is fun to read. "
— James, 8/17/2010" A big and comprehensive history of U.S. politics and culture from 1932 to 1972. Written in the mid-1970s, part of what is interesting is the perspective from that time about the events of the preceding 40 years. "
— Susan, 3/30/2010" A history of the U.S. between 1932 and 1972. Well written, informative. A whole lot you didn't know. One of the best overall histories with a wide sweep. "
— Mel, 9/27/2009" I realized that history written this way is not dull, or tedious. Rather, it is interesting and very personal. I loved the stories in this book. I wished for this book not to end. "
— Paula, 4/16/2009" Two points should underscore how great this, and its companion (Volume 2) are: <br/> <br/>1. I read them twice. <br/>2. My wife's grandparents, born in 1915 and 1926, felt Manchester captured the spirit of the times better than any other author they had read. "
— Aaron, 2/4/2009William Manchester (1922–2004) was an award-winning American author, biographer, historian, and a professor emeritus of history at Wesleyan University. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal and the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award. Among his many New York Times bestselling books are two which made the #1 spot on the list: The Death of a President and The Last Lion: Alone.
Jeff Riggenbach (1947-2021) narrated numerous titles for Blackstone Audio and won an AudioFile Earphones Award. An author, contributing editor, and producer, he worked in radio in San Francisco for more than thirty years, earning a Golden Mike Award for journalistic excellence.