Book Log 2014 #14: The Men Who United the States by Simon Winchester
Winchester, a newly-minted American, takes this opportunity to discuss the men - and it's pretty much only men - who worked to united the states that make up the US, not politically but geographically and commercially. Using the five unifying forces from Chinese cosmology, he discusses thinks like the Lewis and Clark exploration, the interstate highway system, and the Internet, and how they've all made the US what it is today.
A lot of this is familiar, but each new item helps to show how the changes to our connectivity helped to shape the other changes that fueled America's growth. I do think it lagged a bit towards the end (perhaps we're a bit too frayed now to be seen as truly unified), but overall it's an enjoyable read. Winchester peppers the history with his own personal history, which adds a personal dimension of how he became united with his new country. Worthy of a read, especially if you want to learn more about this view of American history.
24 August 2014
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