There is no idea quite like America. It is skyscrapers and open highways, Hollywood and the Old West, Coca-Cola and Levi's, the roar of a crowd and the quiet promise whispered to every generation: you can be anything you want. Now, as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Assouline captures that extraordinary spirit in one landmark volume.

America: The Imagination of a Nation is not a history book. It is a road trip through the cultural landmarks, iconic imagery, and pioneering energy that have made America the greatest beacon of imagination and reinvention the world has ever known. From the founding fathers to Marilyn Monroe, from James Dean to Michael Jordan and the Williams sisters, the pages move with the same restless, adventurous rhythm that defines the nation itself.

With an introduction by Joel Stein, longtime staff writer and columnist for Time magazine and author of celebrated works including Man Made and In Defense of Elitism, this volume brings wit, depth, and genuine authority to its subject.

For dreamers, adventurers, and anyone who has ever felt the pull of the American Dream, this is the book that holds it all in one place. The whole magnificent, improbable, unstoppable story of a nation built entirely on imagination.

Page count

200 pages

Number of illustrations

150

Language

English

Released on

June 2026

Dimensions

W 10 x L 13 x D 1.5 in

Cover materials

Linen Hardcover