The Penguin History of the United States of America (2nd ed)

This one-volume history - from early British colonization to the fall of President Nixon - captures all the vivid personalities and events as well as the broad sweep of America's triumphant progress.

Hugh Brogan looks at the period leading to Independence from the American and British points of view, explores the permanent features, both good and bad, of the "American character" and produces a synthesis of all the current research to show how the USA developed so rapidly from small beginnings to global dominance.