The Americans: The Colonial Experience -

: He traces the origins of the American military tradition to the practical need for colonists to defend their own homes rather than relying on a professional standing army. Accolades Winner of the Bancroft Prize (1959).

: Boorstin argues that Americans are essentially a "practical" people who abandoned European abstractions in favor of what worked on the ground. The Americans: The Colonial Experience

You can find the full text of the work available for digital lending on the Internet Archive or purchase modern editions from retailers like Amazon or Strand Books . : He traces the origins of the American

: Examines the failure of philanthropic and utopian ideals when faced with the harsh realities of frontier life. You can find the full text of the

The book is divided into four main sections, or "books," each focusing on a different colonial community and their "experience" in the New World:

: He discusses how the vastness of the continent and the lack of traditional universities led to a more democratic and widely dispersed form of knowledge.

: Analyzes how their refusal to compromise on pacifism led to their withdrawal from political power.