This might make a good high school or elementary college text, but as a serious reader of history I found it disappointing. American exceptionalism is clearly a topic with a lot of current political importance, and had hoped for an illuminating discussion of the ways in which America really is different. The author points out the obvious differences -- a limited government, loosely disciplines political parties, individualism and localism -- and takes a quick look at their possible sources, and their potential implications. There is, however, little in the book that was new or thought-provoking. Indeed, it is to a large extent a review of existing literature, and not a very useful one. ( )