[hodgesrm]

When I saw your initial comment I figured this was the tome. It's outstanding. I got onto it after hearing an interview with Richard White. He's opinionated and some of the opinions are very insightful.

In the interview he said that there's no such thing as cycles in history (pace Spengler). Instead there are unresolved issues that keep bubbling up over generations. That completely describes America's problems with racism, starting with the original sin of slavery. States rights is another example. The gilded age illustrates many others.

I was sold on the book based on that 30 seconds of the interview alone.

[DubiousPusher]

I am loving it. It's dryer due to its focus on economics but "The Rise and Fall of American Growth" covers a similar era and is worthwhile too.