by Daniel Immerwahr
This book was recommended to me by my friend Zack. The basic thesis of this book is that unknown to most Americans, the United States has a literal empire and that empire has had profound effect on American history.
The best part of this book is that is a profoundly interesting examination of the evolving special status of American colonial possessions. Particularly emphasis is placed on the status of Constitutional protections to the territories, independence movements within the territories, and the use of the territories by the military. The discussion of the interwar period in the Philippines is especially interesting. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if Immerwahr entirely addresses his thesis, as his focus is squarely on the territories: while the effect that US domination has on the territories is addressed, the reverse is more ambiguous.
I was a little annoyed at the self-proclaimed motivation of the author: as he explains, he was unaware of this part of our history and, after realizing its importance, now seeks to draw greater attention to it. I certainly cannot speak for all my compatriots, but I was aware of many, if not most, of his I-bet-you-didn't know moments, e.g. the near assassination of President Truman by Puerto Rican nationalists or the US's brutal war with the Philippines. While I certainly appreciate someone sharing knowledge, it's a little infantilizing to assume that because the author didn't know something, I didn't.
I think this is a well written, if sometimes tendentious, history. I give this book 5/7.