The Story of America: Essays on Origins by Jill Lepore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The best parts of this book were wild romps through American history, opening my eyes to things I didn’t know much about (Kit Carson, Clarence Darrow beyond the monkey trial, etc.). I loved Lepore’s focus on historiography—detailing the role historians have played in generating, transforming, and debunking fundamental American myths. Some of the chapters, especially early on, strayed a bit from my expectations, but most were spot on. The book picks up steam as it goes and I read the final chapters in a breathless rush; I turned the last page with the regret of finishing a gripping novel. No mean feat for a collection of historical essays!