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Respected scholar William Bennett reacquaints America with its heritage in the second volume of America: The Last Best Hope (Volume II). This engaging narrative slices through the cobwebs of time, memory, and prevailing cynicism to reinvigorate America with an informed patriotism.

Like the previous volume of America: The Last Best Hope, Volume II responds to Reagan's heartfelt call for an informed patriotism, telling the riveting story of the last century's great wars, the rise of world communism, the struggle of freedom at home and abroad, and the triumph of liberty.

Reviewer: Panggle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Review: America: The Last Best Hope (Volume II)
Review: I gave this book 5 Stars because I think the author did exactly what he set out to do: present a light, airy, easy to read narrative of American history covering the period from WWI to the end of the Cold War. Because this is not a text book and is limited in size and scope constraints likely placed on it by the publisher (530 pages), it necessarily raises as many questions as it answers. Considering those constraints, I found the presentation to be fast, fair, fun, educational, interesting, and accurate.

Reviewer: John Doe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Review
Review: Must read

Reviewer: king_sago
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Reads Like a Good Adventure Story
Review: It's hard to find something to say that hasn't been already said in privious reviews. This book reads like a good tale, so it's not dry and boring. Dr Bennett's love for his country shines through, but he doesn't sugar coat the warts in our historical past either. A good, honest appraisal of who we are as Americans and how we came to be as a country. Anyone who listens to Dr Bennet's daily radio program Morning in America knows that he treats opposing points of view with respect, and so this book is a trustworthy account which respects our differences.

Reviewer: Scott
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A good, readable U.S. history book
Review: This book is a perfect follow up to the first volume. Bennett continues his readable writing style. Even those that marginally like history should find the book enjoyable to read.While the first volume covers over four centuries, this second volume covers about three quarters of a century. With 533 pages of reading material and 41 pages of bibliography, it is still necessary to drastically limit scope. This is perhaps the most difficult task for a history writer. It necessarily means that some issues are touched upon only lightly.Bennett's sense of what to include lends to the book's readability as much as does his writing style. He cleverly weaves in human interest stories that help draw the reader in. These vignettes demonstrate America's strengths and weaknesses, but overall they provide an optimistic view of the U.S.Another device Bennett uses for limiting scope is to largely frame the book around national politics, and particularly around presidential administrations. This is highly useful in providing insight into the kind of people Americans have elected to govern them, which provides a glimpse into the thinking and experiences of Americans at regular historical intervals. But this device also tends to lightly treat some important issues that are not well addressed in national politics.Bennett's personal feelings regarding historical figures was evident in the first volume, but it seems to me that this shines through much more clearly in the second volume. Perhaps this is because Bennett personally experienced many of the later events and has even had dealings with some of the people he discusses.For example, Bennett's respect for Eisenhower and Kennedy are apparent, as is his undisguised disgust with Johnson and Nixon. Nowhere is Bennett's loathing more apparent than in his treatment of the withdrawal of American support from Southeast Asia in the mid 70s that resulted in the deaths of over two million human beings.One of the highlights of the book is Bennett's handling of World War II. I felt a palpable sense of what average Americans in the pre-war years were experiencing as the free world hurtled toward a showdown with fascism and militarism. Not only did I feel a sense of how average Americans experienced the war, but I gained fresh insights into the personalities and interconnections of the movers and shakers in the war.More than anything else, this book helps explain the whys behind historical events. And it does so in a pleasantly readable way. I assume that some history professionals would dismiss Bennett's book as lacking some of the elements they have come to expect in scholarly offerings. Bennett, himself a professor of history, says that most such history tomes are dry and deplorable. He argues that few Americans understand history because few good and readable history texts are available. With this book and its predecessor volume, Bennett does a good job of making sure that at least some factual, readable, and optimistic American history books are available.

Reviewer: CPT Clem
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Living History
Review: Bill Bennett's writing makes history relevant to us in the 21st century. He relates what was going on in today's term or English language usage. Let's face it, there were periods of our past that not much happened, according to the folks that wrote our Jr. High, High School and college texts. But, with Bill's writing it is revealed that there is 'stuff' goin' on all the time! It is difficult to find books about the period from 1800 to 1860; Bill fills in the void in Vol. 1 very well. To many of us, history started with WWII, Bill fills in what really was going on that pulled us into WWI. A history that reads like a novel, but all is true (and footnoted)! Exciting reading.

Reviewer: Bonnie Wince
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Best Historical Buy
Review: I had to buy this book for my US History class but it was one of the best history books I've ever read. I love the narrative style of Bennett and this book covers pop culture as well as political history which was really beneficial for me to read and absorb more of the time period.

Reviewer: PoliSciJunkie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Wonderful History Without Expected Political Leanings
Review: Bennett's book taking us through most of the 20th Century, from World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Civil Rights, etc... is well done. Though he was Reagan's Education Secretary, none of these volumes is agenda-driven history.

Reviewer: Perry R. Arnold
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great History
Review: I have read both volumes of Bill Bennett's history of the U.S. America, The Last Best Hope is filled with celebration of the greatness that is America. Please read this book and learn what has made America the last best hope, the dreams of all those who have sought America as their refuge, who have come here not to denigrate or change America but to revel in our greatness. I am so thankful that Dr. Bennett put forth the effort to teach history as it should be taught, not as so many social historians want to teach it, i.e. all is wrong with America and that we are a failed experiment. Highest recommendation.

Reviewer: Mark Owdeesh
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A Must read for a thorough and concise look at American history in the 20th century. Very elucidating and enjoyable to read!

Reviewer: Ross
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A very readable account of US presidents from Washington to Reagan. It does not ignore the disappointing times or failed leaders but the same challenges about justice and what tge consitution isvall about is so relevant to d ay.

Reviewer: Ioannis Koritidis
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A nice overview of american history, by a historian who believes in the "american dream". You 'll find a good narrative, a lot of love for the US and no fancy theories here.