A Time of Paradox

Reviews / Votes

A Time of Paradox is a majestic narrative of the twentieth century crafted by a superb historian at the peak of his career. Written with equal parts passion, wit, and humility, this book will engage and delight all students of American history. -- Kari Frederickson, University of Alabama This volume is a publishing 'tour de force' that encapsulates a critical era of United States history into a readable and very cogent narrative that will surely satisfy any reader who desires a deepened understanding of the American experience. Well-written, lively, and meticulous in its coverage, this book surveys a breathtaking variety of historical topics, all of which bring new light and enhanced awareness to the development of modern America. Complexity and paradox are counterpoised with a straightforward discussion of historical events in a manner that will delight both historical experts and introductory-level students of the era. -- Light T. Cummins, Austin College A Time of Paradox is an impressive work of synthesis, summarizing in narrative form many of the major works of American history from a variety of subfields. Political history tends to dominate, but cultural, social labor, gender, ethnic, military and religious histories are all represented. -- Stephen Sarvais * Express Milwaukee * Comprehensive in scope, A Time of Paradox offers a well-balanced view of the cultural, social and political climates and developments that helped to shape the 20th century as well as an in-depth exploration of the people that brought those developments about. -- Jason Seed * Shepherd Express * Student and teacher have gotten together to write what is being called the first sweeping history of America in the 20th century to take into account September 11, 2001 and its aftermath. . . . In their focus on people and events that shaped America and the American psyche in the 1900s, Jeansonne and Luhrssen have left no stone unturned, including everyone from General Electric co-founder Samuel Insull to pop stars like Madonna. -- Bobby Tanzilo, OnMilwaukee.com * Onmilwaukee.Com * In A Time of Paradox: America since 1890, Glen Jeansonne has captured the trauma, tragedy, and excitement of the 20th century American experience in a clear and balanced style. Jeansonne has written an important book that will be a major asset in any U.S. History course. -- Patrick W. Steele, Wisconsin Lutheran College Jeansonne has produced a finely crafted synthesis of U.S. history, 1890 to the present. More than just another textbook, this is a balanced, intellectual presentation of the people and events that shaped the U.S. during the nation's modern era. The chapters are both chronological and topical, and the author presents a broad history that he illustrates with biography, overarching themes, and insightful juxtapositions of the competing agents for change. Jeansonne lays out each chapter's framework in a logical format, and his masterfully crafted narrative conveys the complexity of the past with sensitivity and balance. Attention is given to ethnicity, gender, economics, diplomacy, and politics, as well as to the arts, technology, sports, and pop culture. College students, the intended audience, will appreciate such auxiliary features as useful chronologies, short biographies, and vignettes, which give added texture and depth to each period, and the well-developed, up-to-date, and thematic suggested readings bibliographic essays for each section. -- T. Maxwell-Long, California State University, San Bernardino * Choice Reviews * This book is highly readable, accessible to new students, engaging to interested readers, and stimulating for trained historians. Jeansonne presents the facts and statistics, but remembers that historical writing can be clear, vigorous, and fair-minded. He makes his narrative move, dealing with not only politics, but also architecture, education, labor, media, and a range of interdisciplinary subjects through the context of chronology. . . . A Time of Paradox is sure to engender the kind of interest and debate that Jeansonne encourages in his judicious presentation or provocative issues. He geographically captures both the hopes and failings of the American nation, drawing together periods of riches and happiness with times of trouble and bitterness, as well as renewal. * The Historian *