The End of the MythThe End of the Myth
Score Modern
What it's about
For most of its history, Greg Grandin argues, America has used its ever-expanding frontier as a safety valve: a place to send its conflicts, inequalities and violence outward rather than resolve them. When the frontier closed, the idea moved to foreign wars and free trade, and now, with nowhere left to expand, it has turned into the dream of a border wall.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. It's a bold reinterpretation of American history.
You'll love it if you liked
A People's History of the United States
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American WestGood to know
It's an argument-driven history with a clear point of view.
By the numbers
- Readers90 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics77 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller3 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz14 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #30 of the 198 history books we rank
- #96 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #176 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Greg Grandin
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Educated: A Memoir
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Quick answers
Is The End of the Myth worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. It ranks #176 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 84.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The End of the Myth about?
For most of its history, Greg Grandin argues, America has used its ever-expanding frontier as a safety valve: a place to send its conflicts, inequalities and violence outward rather than resolve them. When the frontier closed, the idea moved to foreign wars and free trade, and now, with nowhere left to expand, it has turned into the dream of a border wall.
How long does it take to read The End of the Myth?
About 10 hours (385 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The End of the Myth won?
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) winner (2020).
What should I read after The End of the Myth?
If you liked it, try A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer or Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown.