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Now in an updated and expanded new edition, The American Book of Days features 850 essays marking important anniversaries and the birthdays of history-making Americans throughout the 366 days of the year (including February 29th). All American holidays and pivotal moments are noted as readers can delve into fascinating and often overlooked accounts connected to otherwise familiar facts of American history from the discovery of American by Europeans down through to today. Cross-references and an extensive index make information easy to find, while expanded appendices feature historical documents. A highly recommended, core title for school and community library American history and reference collections, The American Book of Days is enhanced for students and researchers with approximately one hundred photographs and other illustrations.

Review from: Choice, March 2001

The fourth edition of a reference standard, Christianson's updating of The American Book of Days continues a tradition begun by G.W. Douglas (1937) and revised by H.D. Compton (1948) and J.M. Hatch (CH, Jul'79). Essays on events in US history are organized by the day of occurrence for all 366 days of the year. Most days have two or three events, and a handful have five or more. Events include battles, disasters, holidays, treaties, statehood recognition, and birthdays of notable Americans. Essays are well-written, enjoyable to browse, and average about 800 words in length.

With each revision, outdated entries are dropped and topics of current interest added. Features include a list of days and events, an excellent index, and appendixes about the calendar, days of the week, the US Constitution, etc. The historical and calendrical material in Days can be found in encyclopedias, almanacs, and on the Internet. Holidays are covered by other reference books, including Holidays and Anniversaries of the World, ed. by Beth A. Baker (3rd ed., 1999), Bernard Trawicky's Anniversaries and Holidays, (5th ed., 1997), and George Schaun and Virginia Schaun's American Holidays and Special Days (2nd rev. ed., 1997), but Days is unique in presenting basic US history and popular culture by day of occurrence. Since the events and birth dates chosen are highly selective, the book might be improved by listing without essays additional birth dates and events important to US history that occurred on the 366 days. Probably most valuable for school, community college, and undergraduate libraries. --- W. P. Hogan, Eastern Michigan University
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