Clarence Carson presents U.S. history from a conservative viewpoint, southern in flavor. I have occasionally seen this series advertised as a Christian history program; however, I did not find much mention of Christian themes.
Mr. Carson gives us a unique slant on American history from a southerner's perspective. I found this very interesting and thought-provoking. I learned a great deal about the struggles the South experienced both before and after the War that I don't think I've ever run across in any textbook. Are all the other history experts out there Yankees or something?
I would not recommend these books for high school history curriculum, unless your student reads at college level maturity. The author seems to assume that the reader already has a good knowledge of U.S. history. Often, major events are mentioned, but not reported, as though the reader is already familiar with those events. The whys and wherefores behind what happened are then meticulously explained. The writing style is a bit rambling and should perhaps be more concise.
So, of what value are these books? For a teacher or student already well-versed in American history, A Basic History of the United States is a nice supplementary tool. Mr. Carson's in-depth commentaries on events and historical figures cannot be found in the average textbook. The avid history buff will certainly enjoy having this series as part of his library.
Back | Next 