About the Author
James E. (Jim) Strickler grew up in Grinnell, Iowa, earned a B. A. from Grinnell College, and received an M.A.T. from the University of Chicago. He has spent most of his adult life in Chicago and an adjoining suburb, Evanston.
During his career writing and editing social studies textbooks, Jim contributed to best-selling books for all major publishers as well as smaller firms. He estimated that at least 30 million students have read his words—or at least been assigned them.
In a time of polarization, Jim reaches across traditional divides:
His family has included only dogs, but he also likes cats. All animals are equal . . . .
He is a Cubs fan, but he is also a White Sox advocate. Location, location, location.
He doesn’t put ketchup on his hot dogs, but he doesn’t criticize those who do. Life is short—find joy where you can.
Also, he attends the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Evanston: make of that what you will.
What Does History
Teach Us?
The great lesson of history is that those who ought to know better often don’t.
Why another book about the American Civil War?
Historians have produced a great wealth of excellent books about the American Civil War. But ones for general readers rarely provide much global context. And ones with global context are usually written for scholars. I wanted to write a book for general readers that was grounded in scholarly research and provided global context.
Why another book about American exceptionalism?
I think many claims about what does or does not make the United States unique among countries don’t stand up to scrutiny when viewed from a global perspective.
Some writers claim the American Civil War was exceptional in ways it wasn’t: they declare its death toll was enormous—by global standards of the 1860s, it wasn’t.
Some writers suggest the war was typical in ways it wasn’t: Can you think of another national government that has named military bases after officers of a defeated secessionist movement?