In this lively and provocative synthesis, distinguished historian Glen Jeansonne explores the people and events that shaped America in the twentieth century. Comprehensive in scope, A Time of Paradox offers a balanced look at the political, diplomatic, social and cultural developments of the last century while focusing on the diverse and sometimes contradictory human experiences that characterized this dynamic period. Designed with the student in mind, this cogent text provides the most up to date analysis available, offering insight into the divisive election of 2004, the War on Terror and the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Substantive biographies on figures ranging from Samuel Insull to Madonna give students a more personalized view of the men and women who influenced American society over the past hundred years.

"A Time of Paradox is an impressive work of synthesis, summarizing in narrative form many of the major works of American history from a variety of subfields. Political history tends to dominate, but cultural, social labor, gender, ethnic, military and religious histories are all represented." - Express Milwaukee

"Comprehensive in scope, A Time of Paradox offers a well-balanced view of the cultural, social and political climates and developments that helped to shape the 20th century as well as an in-depth exploration of the people that brought those developments about." - Shepherd Express

"Student and teacher have gotten together to write what is being called the first sweeping history of America in the 20th century to take into account September 11, 2001 and its aftermath. . . . In their focus on people and events that shaped America and the American psyche in the 1900s, Jeansonne and Luhrssen have left no stone unturned, including everyone from General Electric co-founder Samuel Insull to pop stars like Madonna." - Onmilwaukee.Com

"Jeansonne has produced a finely crafted synthesis of U.S. history, 1890 to the present. More than just another textbook, this is a balanced, intellectual presentation of the people and events that shaped the U.S. during the nation's modern era. The chapters are both chronological and topical, and the author presents a broad history that he illustrates with biography, overarching themes, and insightful juxtapositions of the competing agents for change. Jeansonne lays out each chapter's framework in a logical format, and his masterfully crafted narrative conveys the complexity of the past with sensitivity and balance. Attention is given to ethnicity, gender, economics, diplomacy, and politics, as well as to the arts, technology, sports, and pop culture. College students, the intended audience, will appreciate such auxiliary features as useful chronologies, short biographies, and vignettes, which give added texture and depth to each period, and the well-developed, up-to-date, and thematic suggested readings bibliographic essays for each section." - CHOICE

"This book is highly readable, accessible to new students, engaging to interested readers, and stimulating for trained historians. Jeansonne presents the facts and statistics, but remembers that historical writing can be clear, vigorous, and fair-minded. He makes his narrative move, dealing with not only politics, but also architecture, education, labor, media, and a range of interdisciplinary subjects through the context of chronology. . . . A Time of Paradox is sure to engender the kind of interest and debate that Jeansonne encourages in his judicious presentation or provocative issues. He geographically captures both the hopes and failings of the American nation, drawing together periods of riches and happiness with times of trouble and bitterness, as well as renewal." - The Historian