History Nation

A Citizen's Guide to the History of the United States

By: David Hanna

Narrated by: David Hanna

HISTORY NATION joins the best aspects of E.H. Gombrich's A Little History of the World with Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Multiple-award winning teacher and author, David Hanna, makes sense of our nation's history by connecting past to present, and reminding us of our best and worst moments as teaching tools for the future. This volume's economy of style and surprising details will make it enjoyable for people who enjoy reading history, as well as those who usually don't. There's a little bit of something for everyone in this "guide" to our common past.

©2024 David Hanna (P)2024 David Hanna

Another chapter in the story Herodotus started

Dave Hanna tells the story of the United States. He seamlessly weaves past and present in this history. This allows the reader to put events in context. Hanna delivers a strong, even toned reading. The words and the history are the story not the performer.
This allows the listener to form their own opinions. There are also side trips to places the author clearly loves, such as jazz, Miles Davis, sports, and military history. Anyone who has ever driven across the country knows the most memorable part of the adventure are the side trips. It is refreshing to see how important history is to help us understand events, and it is for that reason he stops the story with Reagan's farewell address. According to Hanna, we need time distance and perspective to honestly look at the period from 1988 to present. This simply is a story well told.

5-Star Story! It's the story of the U.S.!

Have you ever wondered why Mr. Hanna's students love him so much and say he is "The G.O.A.T."? Well, now you can get an idea of what it's like to be in his class and hear him talk about EVERYTHING that makes us, U.S.!
This is a story I know well and I am heartened to know that Mr. Hanna tells the story I know so well in a way that is familiar but not sugarcoated. I especially enjoyed the weaving of the music history into the story because it IS important and so interesting, and enjoyable!
I learned some things, of course; as I listened I had to pause now and then to look something up or to order another book that was mentioned, but I didn't hear anything that didn't make sense, and in a world where things seem to be increasingly not making sense I found this book to be a relief. It made me feel more grounded when I was listening to it. It made me a little more inspired and proud than I was before reading it.
Mr. Hanna has a nice voice - I think he was getting over a cold in the beginning, but, it didn't make me want to stop listening and it doesn't last that long. I think this book is perfect for what it is and I have gifted copies to family members who I hope will enjoy it as much as I have.

History Nation: A Historical Sensation

David Hanna's "History Nation" excels at exactly what it sets out to be. It is a compact, principled account of the history of the United States that distinguishes itself from the sea of historical polemics and laudations. From Washington to Reagan, Hanna judiciously analyzes facets of these figures who have shaken the core of our nation from a much-needed non-partisan perspective.

What is most admirable about Hanna's book is his mission to portray all types of history that have undergirded the United States: social, cultural, artistic, political, and so forth. Through this approach, whether one is an avid U.S. historian or a casual reader, one can effectively digest the nation's complexities and better understand the spirit of each era. Even better, Hanna's own narration provides a guiding cadence that gives each chapter a steady rhythm, perspective, and historical intimacy. A must-read and listen.