American Stories: Living American History focuses on "personalized history" by incorporating engaging portraits of famous and less-well-known figures from 1865 to the present. Historical patterns and trends appear as they are seen through individual lives, and the selection of profiled individuals reflects a cultural awareness and a multicultural perspective.

"Ripper's cadence is brisk and refreshing, while his points of emphasis are provocative and entertaining. Readers who have endured the long list of dry, impersonal textbooks will find much to like here." — Jeff Woods, Arkansas Tech University (*)

"Jason Ripper seamlessly weaves together biographies of a broad array of people into the larger story of American historical development. He brings to life the famous and the obscure, enlightening American pathways and making us think and ask questions about history's multiple meanings." — Alan Gallay, Ohio State University