A Short History of America

From Tea Party to Trump

By: Simon Jenkins

Narrated by: Simon Jenkins

Brought to you by Penguin.

The global powerhouse that is the United States of America is younger even than the British Museum, Guinness and the flushing toilet. In 2026 it will celebrate its 250th birthday. How did this vast land, long inhabited by diverse indigenous cultures, come to be dominated by English speakers? How has it grappled with the stark contradictions between its ideals of liberty and the grim reality of genocide and slavery?

This extraordinary collection of fifty distinct states has weathered immense – and recent – challenges, including a Civil War that was still raging as the first London Underground station opened. How did this melting pot of peoples and ideas not only endure but rise to dominate global politics, commerce, culture and warfare? What insights does this rich history offer about an increasingly divided nation – and the world that moves to its rhythm? Is this the twilight of American supremacy, signalling a shift toward a more introspective nation?

A Short History of America is rich with vivid characters – from arrogant conquistadors and idealistic revolutionaries to imperial presidents – and presents a narrative so astonishing it often feels like fake news. This is a gripping must-read for anyone seeking to make sense of our world today.

© Simon Jenkins 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

The author’s ability to maintain deep knowledge despite brevity

The author kept me captivated from beginning to end. For such a massive topic, he avoided the many rabbit holes and cul-de-sacs that I’m sure must have been tempting to take the read down, for the sake of sustaining a narrative that seamlessly transitioned through American political, economic and social history from its founding to the present. No mean feat. I simply love his books and approach to the telling of history