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Title: Informative, but lacking in style and usefulness.
Review: Prof. Chudacoff and Smith's book is concise in its discussion of events and personalities. In this sense it is an ideal _textbook_--but even though it is in its fifth edition it could use some editing! There are problems with textual flow and art, and in useful conclusions: saloons provided an outlet for "the musical expression of the black soul." Or how about the oft-mentioned but never defined or measured "rugged individualism" of Americans?
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