Publisher Description

Arnold J. Toynbee, the most famous professional historian of the twentieth century, is widely quoted as having declared that "History is just one damn thing after another." This book argues that history is not about "things" at all but is all about turning points—the decisions, acts, innovations, errors, ideas, successes, and failures on which the shape of a nation's life—our lives—depends. It presents the 100 points at which America's path decisively turned on its way to where we find ourselves today.



— Columbus arrives in the New World

— The first slaves arrive in America

— Independence is declared

— The Indian Removal Act is passed

— Female suffragists meet in Seneca Falls

— Harpers Ferry is raided

— Fort Sumter falls

— A transcontinental railroad is completed

— Edison lights his first electric lamp

— Prohibition makes America a nation of lawbreakers

— FDR offers a "New Deal"

— The B-29 Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima

— The Supreme Court decides Brown v. Board of Education

— Neil Armstrong sets foot on the moon

— President Nixon creates the EPA

— 9/11 … Obama … Sandy Hook … Russian election "meddling" … the Age of Trump …

These and many more are the crucial "plot points" in our grand national story, and best-selling historian Alan Axelrod presents them here.

Back Cover

Praise for Alan Axelrod's booksAbout Miracle at Belleau Wood (Lyons Press):"Axelrod brings us back vividly to the shocking casualties of 'the war to end all wars,' opening up fresh insights into the nature of the fighting and the decisions that shaped a generation."--Bing West, award-winning author of ten best-selling books about the Marines in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan "Axelrod is one of America's great military historians. He's done it this time with riveting non-stop action that reads like the best of Hemingway's frontline reports plus the Marine Corps novels of W. E. B. Griffin. Axelrod pushes you right into the action, onto the battlefield, and never lets up. You become a firsthand witness to one of the world's great battles, proud and heart-pounding as the elite force, the Devil Dogs, are born in a small forest outside Paris. This is one book I wish I'd written!"--Paul B. Farrell, JD. PhD, syndicated columnist for DowJones's MarketWatch and former staff sergeant, USMC"Alan Axelrod has perfectly captured the embodiment of U.S. Marines and their unparalleled esprit de corps ... As a former Marine, I find Axelrod's descriptions of the combat in that bloody battle for which the Corps became legendary--and which is the foundation of its mythic lore--compelling and gut-wrenching. Miracle at Belleau Wood puts the reader in the front row, witness to the heroism and ups and downs endured by the Marines as they defeated the Germans at overwhelming odds. A must read!"--Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman, USMCR (Ret.), best-selling author of From Baghdad with LoveIn ''Miracle at Belleau Wood: The Birth of the Modern U.S. Marine Corps," Alan Axelrod has demonstrated his mastery at portraying battle at its most brutal and bloodiest. The fight for Belleau Wood is like a bayonet in the belly every step of the way. The distant mirror that Alan Axelrod shows us reflects the fearful face of life and death in World War I. --Paul Weishaupt, Marines: The Corps' Official Magazine, October-December 2007About Patton's Drive: The Making of America's Greatest General (Lyons Press): "Like Patton at his best: [Alan Axelrod's writing is] polished, precise, and persuasive."--Kirkus Reviews

Flap

Just what made America the United States?Arnold J. Toynbee, the most famous professional historian of the twentieth century, is widely quoted as having declared that "History is just one damn thing after another." This book argues that history is not about "things" at all but is all about turning points--the decisions, acts, innovations, errors, ideas, successes, and failures on which the shape of a nation's life--our lives--depends. It presents the 100 points at which America's path decisively turned on its way to where we find ourselves today. Columbus arrives in the New World The first slaves arrive in America Independence is declared The Indian Removal Act is passed Female suffragists meet in Seneca Falls Harpers Ferry is raided Fort Sumter falls A transcontinental railroad is completed Edison lights his first electric lamp Prohibition makes America a nation of lawbreakers FDR offers a "New Deal" The B-29 Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima The Supreme Court decides Brown v. Board of Education Neil Armstrong sets foot on the moon President Nixon creates the EPA 9/11 ... Obama ... Sandy Hook ... Russian election "meddling" ... the Age of Trump ... These and many more are the crucial "plot points" in our grand national story, and best-selling historian Alan Axelrod presents them here. ALAN AXELROD, PhD, is the author of many books on history, leadership, and military history, including How America Won World War I: The U.S. Military Victory in the Great War--the Causes, the Course, and the Consequences (2018), Miracle at Belleau Wood: The Birth of the Modern U.S. Marine Corps (Revised Edition, 2018), The Gilded Age (2018), Lost Destiny: Joe Kennedy Jr. and the Doomed WWII Mission to Save London (2015), and Generals South, Generals North: The Commanders of the Civil War Reconsidered (2011). He has taught at University of Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Illinois), and Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina). He was most recently a creative consultant for "The Great War" in the PBS American Experience television series.

Author Biography

Alan Axelrod is the author of more than 100 books on history, military history, leadership, management, corporate history, career, general business, and other nonfiction. After receiving his Ph.D. in English (specializing in early American literature and culture) from the University of Iowa in 1979, Axelrod taught early American literature and culture at Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Illinois) and at Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina).

He has been a creative consultant (and on-camera personality) for The Wild West television documentary series (Warner Bros.), Civil War Journal (A&E Network), and The Discovery Channel, and he has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, CNNfn, CNBC, Fox Network affiliates in Philadelphia and Atlanta, and numerous radio news and talk programs, including National Public Radio. He and his work have been featured in BusinessWeek, Fortune, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, Inc., Atlanta Business Chronicle, and many newspapers, including Atlanta Journal-Constitution and USA Today. Axelrod has served as consultant for the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum (Rochester, New York), the Airman Memorial Museum (Suitland, Maryland), and the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum (Winterthur, Delaware).

Review

, ,
About Miracle at Belleau Wood (Lyons Press, 2007): "Axelrod is one of America's great military historians. He's done it this time with riveting non-stop action that reads like the best of Hemingway's frontline reports plus the Marine Corps novels of W. E. B. Griffin. Axelrod pushes you right into the action, onto the battlefield, and never lets up. You become a firsthand witness to one of the world's great battles, proud and heart-pounding as the elite force, the Devil Dogs, are born in a small forest outside Paris. This is one book I wish I'd written!"
--Paul B. Farrell, JD. PhD, syndicated columnist for DowJones's MarketWatch and former staff sergeant, USMC "Alan Axelrod has perfectly captured the embodiment of U.S. Marines and their unparalleled esprit de corps ... As a former Marine, I find Axelrod's descriptions of the combat in that bloody battle for which the Corps became legendary--and which is the foundation of its mythic lore--compelling and gut-wrenching. Miracle at Belleau Wood puts the reader in the front row, witness to the heroism and ups and downs endured by the Marines as they defeated the Germans at overwhelming odds. A must read!"
--Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman, USMCR (Ret.), best-selling author of From Baghdad with Love "Axelrod brings us back vividly to the shocking casualties of 'the war to end all wars, ' opening up fresh insights into the nature of the fighting and the decisions that shaped a generation."
--Bing West, correspondent for The Atlantic, award-winning author of ten bestselling books on the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, former Marine, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense In ''Miracle at Belleau Wood: The Birth of the Modern U.S. Marine Corps," Alan Axelrod has demonstrated his mastery at portraying battle at its most brutal and bloodiest. The fight for Belleau Wood is like a bayonet in the belly every step of the way. The distant mirror that Alan Axelrod shows us reflects the fearful face of life and death in World War I.
--Paul Weishaupt, Marines: The Corps' Official Magazine, October-December 2007 About Patton's Drive: The Making of America's Greatest General (Lyons Press, 2009): "Like Patton at his best: [Alan Axelrod's writing is] polished, precise, and persuasive."--Kirkus Reviews
,

Long Description

Arnold J. Toynbee, the most famous professional historian of the twentieth century, is widely quoted as having declared that "History is just one damn thing after another." This book argues that history is not about "things" at all but is all about turning points--the decisions, acts, innovations, errors, ideas, successes, and failures on which the shape of a nation's life--our lives--depends. It presents the 100 points at which America's path decisively turned on its way to where we find ourselves today. Columbus arrives in the New World The first slaves arrive in America Independence is declared Female suffragists meet in Seneca Falls Fort Sumter falls A transcontinental railroad is completed Edison lights his first electric lamp FDR offers a "New Deal" The B-29 Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima Neil Armstrong sets foot on the moon President Nixon creates the EPA 9/11 ... Obama ... Sandy Hook ... Russian election "meddling" ... the Age of Trump ... These and many more are the crucial "plot points" in our grand national story, and best-selling historian Alan Axelrod presents them here.

Details