#14. "The Unfinished Journey: America Since World War II" by William H. Chafe

It is both a compliment and an issue that American History has so much to offer. With the majority of History classes stopping somewhere around the 1960's, it's difficult for the average learner to understand what's happened in the 50 years since. In his book "The Unfinished Journey," historian William H. Chafe does an excellent job of creating a survey of key events between World War II and President Barack Obama's first term in office. While some events are more generalized, it's an impressive feat to turn close to 80 years of history into an accessible text that will inform as well as give a deeper appreciation to information that the reader already likely knew. It may not be the definitive text on any of the issues, but it's still pretty thorough.

One of the key things to know about Chafe's book is that it largely takes perspective from the American homestead. While the first few chapters cover World War II's impact on the homeland, Chafe's best points come the furthest away from the war. There's the economic boom of the 1950's, the political turmoil of the 60's, the economic turmoil of the 70's, the religious movement of the 1980's, the scandals of the 1990's, and the controversial war of the 2000's. All of this is covered in detail that is both precise and enjoyable. Chafe never takes the easy way out and instead goes for lengthy descriptions that bring each event to life. Even if some events are covered in mere paragraphs, they at least have plenty of striking details to back it up.

"The Unfinished Journey" is a solid textbook for anyone wanting to learn more about American history throughout the decades. It may not give all that you want to know about any given event, but it will open history up in new ways. Almost everything significant from the late 20th century is covered here, and there's chances that there's things that the reader doesn't know. It's a worthwhile read for anyone wanting to know why American history deserves to cover more than it already does in the classroom. A lot of fascinating events have happened, and it's about time that they got their due. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5