Revised and updated to include the Clinton and George W. Bush eras, this classic text presents a vivid rendering of modern America, tracing economic and urban growth, social and political change, the extension of civil rights and liberties, and the growth of the United States into a global superpower. A new chapter brings the reader up to the present and places the United States in its current world position with twenty-first century challenges. The overall length of the text has been reduced by approximately 50 pages to make this edition more readable and less expensive for students.

The sixth edition of The American Century comes with online access to a Digital Student Companion site featuring primary sources, videos and audio recordings, maps, images, and cartoons.

Also featured on the site are complementary essays that revisit historical moments of lasting significance—the Versailles Conference, the "Military-Industrial Complex" Speech of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the Tet Offensive—and ask whether this will be a Second American Century.

“The American Century is, quite simply, the best 20th century text available. This new edition does an even better job than past editions integrating social, cultural, and political issues within a national and international framework. The narrative remains crisp and compelling as it relates an increasingly complex story.” — Allan M. Winkler, Miami University (*)

"Instructors and students alike will welcome the latest edition of The American Century, crafted by some of the nation's finest practitioners of United States history. The book deftly blends political, social, cultural, intellectual, and economic history, while also containing revelatory biographies of popular cultural figures and events." — Robert C. Cottrell, California State University, Chico

“The significant difference between The American Century and other texts is how the material is presented. Highlights of the book come in the authors' coverage of modern American politics and history in the last two chapters. '1993-2000: The Road to the Twenty-First Century' provides a plethora of new and updated material about the Clinton administration and the major events that shaped the years leading to George W. Bush taking office. The final chapter '9-11: Causes and Consequences,' is especially useful, as students are often looking for a way to make sense of the current political situation and foreign affairs. These foreign policy issues are where LaFeber is at his best, and the reader can see how he skillfully weaves this into certain chapters of the book. ... If a professor wants a work that does an excellent job of weaving the major events of U.S. history into a format that is both enlightening and thought provoking, then this work is highly recommended. — Teaching History: A Journal of Methods