The Lessons of the American Civilization tells the American story, from its tenuous beginnings to its confident rise to become the world's most dominant civilization. Historian Thomas Del Beccaro illuminates America's past and present with fresh comparisons to history's other great civilizations,illustrating the characteristics and lessons that civilizations share as they come together, rise, and fall. He then tells of the American experience, from Plymouth Rock to the technological revolution, in light of many important lessons of the past.

Along the way, Del Beccaro provides needed perspective on such topics as: