Workshop of Democracy V 2: The Amer Experiment

James MacGregor Burns. Vintage Books USA, $25 (670pp) ISBN 978-0-394-74320-2

This second volume of Burns's American Experiment series covers the nation's postCivil War development and turn-of-the-century growth as a significant power on the world stage. PW found that the author ""delineates the political, economic, cultural and even spiritual forces underlying the American drive to realize `liberty.' ''(November)

Featured Nonfiction Reviews

Craig Unger

Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign really did make a deal with Iran to delay the release of 52 American hostages until after the election, according to this labyrinthine Continue reading »

Edmund White

With his trademark irreverence, White (The Humble Lover) celebrates more than six decades of sex in a candid memoir that doubles as an indispensable work of queer history. A Continue reading »

Jason de León

Smugglers who help Central Americans traverse Mexico and cross into the U.S. are not the “slick haired... kingpins” portrayed in popular media but are usually themselves poor Continue reading »

Dorian Lynskey

This sweeping cultural history from journalist Lynskey (The Ministry of Truth) chronicles how films, novels, and other media have imagined the apocalypse from ancient times Continue reading »