Review Detail

“America As It Happened: A Moment-by-Moment Journey through Time, From Prehistory to the Present Day” by What on Earth!, in collaboration with The Washington Post, is an amazingly detailed account of life from the years before 1600, through the centuries (1600s, 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s).

The book contains a wealth of articles from each time period, complete with a date for when the article could likely have been written, timelines, notes from the future about what happened after the time of the article, QR codes to articles that extend on the ones in the book, summaries, and so much more.

From articles about stalking giants sloths around 21,000 BCE in New Mexico to Roanoke Colony being abandoned in August 1590 in Virginia, to colonists demanding a voice in September 1865, Sitting Bull defeating Custer in July 1876, the Titanic sinking in April 1912, the end of the bus boycott in December 1956, Hurricane Katrina devastating New Orleans in August 2005, to the Land of Liberty turning 250 in 2026, there is something engaging for history lovers of all time periods.

The pictures that fill the pages of the book are colorful, relevant, and inspiring in terms of having the desire to learn more as a result of seeing them.

The back matter of the book includes an extensive glossary as well as a selected bibliography and quote sources, as well as an index to make searching more efficient. Lovers of history, current events, and general learning will find this book thoroughly thought-provoking.