Summary
Jill Lepore's These Truths: A History of the United States is a groundbreaking one-volume account of American history. Published in 2018, this ambitious work traces the nation's story from 1492 to the present day, examining whether the United States has lived up to its founding ideals of political equality, natural rights, and popular sovereignty.
Spanning 960 pages, These Truths offers a comprehensive look at American politics, law, journalism, and technology. Lepore, a Harvard historian and New Yorker writer, places the concept of truth at the center of her narrative, exploring how various forces have shaped Americans' understanding of what is true over time.
The book has received widespread critical acclaim, earning praise from major publications and winning several awards, including the Arthur Ross Book Award and the Massachusetts Book Award. Lepore's work stands out for its inclusion of often overlooked voices in American history and its examination of how the nation's past continues to influence its present and future.
Plot
Jill Lepore's These Truths presents a comprehensive single-volume history of the United States, spanning from 1492 to the present day. The book is structured around three fundamental ideas that Thomas Jefferson referred to as “these truths": political equality, natural rights, and the sovereignty of the people. Lepore examines how these principles have shaped American history and the extent to which the nation has lived up to its founding ideals.
The narrative is divided into four major sections, each covering a distinct era of American history. “The Idea” explores the period from 1492 to 1799, detailing the early colonization of America and the formation of the new nation. “The People” focuses on the years 1800 to 1865, encompassing the expansion of democracy and the Civil War. “The State” covers 1866 to 1945, examining the country's growth into a world power and the challenges it faced during that time.
The final section, “The Machine,” spans from 1946 to 2016, analyzing the technological and social changes that have transformed American society in recent decades. Throughout the book, Lepore pays particular attention to the role of truth in American history, exploring how various forces—including journalism, propaganda, and technology—have influenced the way Americans understand and define truth.
Lepore's work also highlights often-overlooked figures in American history, including women and people of color, to provide a more inclusive and nuanced perspective on the nation's past. The author weaves together stories of well-known historical figures with those of lesser-known individuals, creating a rich tapestry that illustrates the complexities and contradictions of American history. By examining both the triumphs and failures of the United States in living up to its founding principles, These Truths offers a thought-provoking exploration of the American experiment.
Themes
American founding ideals and their historical realization
Evolution of democracy and political institutions
Impact of technological progress on society and governance
Persistent struggles with racial inequality and injustice
Changing nature of truth and information in American discourse
Tensions between unity and division throughout U.S. history
Contributions of overlooked figures in shaping the nation
Setting
These Truths spans over five centuries of American history, from the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 to the present day. Lepore's sweeping narrative covers the entire geographical expanse of what would become the United States, from the early colonial settlements on the Atlantic coast to the expansion westward across the continent.
While the book touches on events across the country, it pays particular attention to key locations that shaped the nation's development. These include the original thirteen colonies, Washington D.C. as the seat of federal power, and sites of pivotal moments like Gettysburg during the Civil War. Major cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia feature prominently as centers of political and intellectual discourse.
Key Figures
Jill Lepore: The author of These Truths. Lepore is a renowned historian and writer for The New Yorker. She meticulously researched and wrote this ambitious one-volume history of the United States, aiming to examine the country's founding ideals and their impact over time. Lepore's approach combines rigorous scholarship with engaging storytelling, making complex historical concepts accessible to a wide audience.
Thomas Jefferson: One of America's Founding Fathers and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson coined the phrase “these truths” to refer to the foundational ideas of political equality, natural rights, and popular sovereignty. His complex legacy, including his role as both a champion of liberty and a slave owner, is explored in the book.
John Winthrop: An early Puritan leader who played a crucial role in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop's vision of America as a “city upon a hill” is discussed as an early articulation of American exceptionalism.
Frederick Douglass: A formerly enslaved person who became a prominent abolitionist, orator, and statesman. Douglass's life and work are examined as a powerful critique of America's failure to live up to its founding ideals, particularly regarding racial equality.
Pauli Murray: A civil rights activist, lawyer, and Episcopal priest. Murray's groundbreaking work on intersectionality and her contributions to both the civil rights and women's rights movements are highlighted in the book.
Phyllis Schlafly: A conservative activist known for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. Schlafly's role in the conservative movement and the culture wars of the late 20th century is discussed.
Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President of the United States, who led the country through the Civil War. Lincoln's presidency is examined as a pivotal moment in the struggle to realize America's founding truths.
Jane Franklin Mecom: Benjamin Franklin's sister, whose life is used to illustrate the experiences of women in early America. Mecom's story provides insight into the limitations placed on women's education and opportunities during the colonial and revolutionary periods.
Maria Stewart: An African American journalist, teacher, and activist. Stewart's work as one of the first American women to speak publicly on political issues is explored, highlighting early intersections of race and gender in American activism.
Quick facts
The book covers over 500 years of American history in a single volume.
Its title comes from the Declaration of Independence phrase “we hold these truths to be self-evident".
At 960 pages, it is one of the longest single-volume histories of the United States ever published.
Lepore wrote the book in just 18 months, an incredibly short time for such a comprehensive work.
It was named one of the 10 best books of 2018 by The New York Times.
The audiobook version is over 29 hours long.
Lepore intentionally structured the book to double as a civics textbook.
It highlights often overlooked historical figures like Jane Franklin Mecom and Maria Stewart.
The book is divided into four main sections: The Idea, The People, The State, and The Machine.
It won the Massachusetts Book Award and the Arthur Ross Book Award from the Council on Foreign Relations.
About the Author
Jill Lepore is a distinguished American historian and journalist, currently serving as the David Woods Kemper '41 Professor of American History at Harvard University. Born in 1966 in West Boylston, Massachusetts, Lepore's journey to becoming one of the most respected voices in American history began with an undergraduate degree in English from Tufts University. She later earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University in 1995, specializing in early American history.
Lepore's academic career has been marked by significant achievements and recognition. She has taught at prestigious institutions including the University of California, San Diego, and Boston University before joining Harvard in 2003. Her scholarly work has earned her numerous accolades, including the Bancroft Prize for her first book, The Name of War, and the American History Book Prize for The Secret History of Wonder Woman. Lepore's research interests span American history, law, literature, and politics, with a particular focus on uncovering missing evidence in historical records.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Lepore has established herself as a prolific writer and contributor to public discourse. Since 2005, she has been a staff writer at The New Yorker, where her essays blend historical insight with contemporary relevance. Her writing has also appeared in other prestigious publications such as The New York Times and The Times Literary Supplement. Lepore's ability to make complex historical topics accessible to a broader audience has made her a sought-after speaker and commentator on American history and culture.
Lepore's impact extends beyond academia and journalism. She has served on the boards of the National Portrait Gallery and the Society of American Historians, and has been a consultant for various public history projects. Her work consistently challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of American history and its relevance to current issues. Through her books, essays, and public engagements, Jill Lepore continues to shape the conversation about America's past, present, and future.
