December 9, 2010
Book Review: The American Patriot's Almanac
Compared with other nations of the world, America's 200+ years of existence is a drop in the bucket. Yet these two centuries have been nothing if not eventful. Proof of this is The American Patriot's Almanac (Thomas Nelson, 550 pages plus index).
Former education secretary William J. Bennett has teamed up with John T.E. Cribb to put together a collection of 365 uplifting and informative stories from America's history. Each story corresponds with the day of the year on which it occurred. For example, the October 27th page contains an article about the publication of the Federalist Papers. Below the article are a list of other important events, like the birth of Theodore Roosevelt. (Inexplicably, they leave out another very important birth that took place on that date in Ithaca, New York in 1972...go figutre!) Some of the events covered are well-known (like Pearl Harbor on December 7th) while others are more obscure (like Peter Zenger's printing press on November 17th).
Each month also includes special essays on different aspects of American history, such as The History of the Stars and Strips (February), Fifty All-American Movies (March), and The Gettysburg Address (August). At the end is a list of all fifty states with their flags and essential data about each one.
Over all this work is very informative, although it does not (nor could it in this format) delve into the details of the many historical events. We have used it in our home as an educational tool for our two boys who, though they are Americans, have spent most of their lives abroad.
Talk back to the missionary: Read a good book lately? Let us know about it in the comments section.
Oblligatory Legalese: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze program, with the understanding that I would publish a review of it. I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
Posted by Andrew on December 9, 2010 6:03 PM.
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