Isaac Asimov Presents From Harding to Hiroshima

Presents facts and trivia on national events, regional news, foreign affairs, sports, and entertainment from 1923 to 1945

Reminiscent of Frederick Lewis Allen's Only Yesterday, this readable volume makes the assumption that everything that happens is history. Thus Boardman, an advertising executive, covers not only such major events as the stock market crash of 1929, the Depression and World War II, but also matters of lesser consequence like women's hemlines in the '20s, '30s and '40s and happenings in the worlds of books, theater, movies, business and sports. There are accounts of the funeral of Rudolph Valentino, the first Academy Awards, the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, the consecutive-games record of Lou Gehrig, the building of Hoover Dam, the repeal of Prohibition and life on the home front during World War II. A lively, entertaining book.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A selection of anecdotes for a 23-year period of U.S. history. The events are arranged chronologically and then by subjectweather, national news, medicine, people, etc.but each subject is not necessarily included each year. Much of the information could be described as trivia, e.g., the top income earner of 1935 or the five favorite soap operas of 1933. Other events, e.g., Franklin Roosevelt's election in 1932, are described in detail but still in an anecdotal style. Boardman's book cannot be compared to other trivia books because of its limited coverage, but it is entertaining and might inspire some high school students to enjoy U.S. history. Index not seen. Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.