August 3, 2026
“These Truths” by Jill Lepore is an impressive one-volume history of the United States of America from 1492 to 2016. Lepore seeks to tell the story of an entire country, spanning nearly 700 years, in just under 800 pages. In order to do this, the lens of the book has to be narrowed by a significant degree. As with any one-volume history, certain historical characters, movement, and events are left on the cutting room floor. Lepore’s scope is intensely focused on the political history of the nation. The technology, institutions, and, especially, the ideas that have shaped American public and political life are the basis of this book.
Lepore’s book largely accomplishes its goals. It is an engaging, well-written, and carefully researched history of America’s civic institutions and the ideas that shape American public life. Its scope is laid out clearly in the introduction, which helps to ensure that its blind spots are not distracting. The portraits she paints of historical figures are vivid, balanced, and empathetic. She avoids simplistic characterizations of heroes or villains, instead treating her subjects as complex humans acting in specific moments of history.
“These Truths” is an effective and approachable history that can serve as both an introductory text to American history and a readable new perspective for seasoned readers. It should not be read in isolation, however. Taking in “These Truths” is most effective in the context of other stories and histories of the United States. For a social and grassroots history to compliment Lepore’s political focus, seek out Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States.” For a Native American perspective on many of the questions Lepore raises, look for “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
