About Forrest Tower
As we go through our educational experiences, most of us learn the basics of American history. Although these provide a foundation for our knowledge, there is more to every event you have read about. My goal is to provide insights into the critical junctures in the evolution of the American story in a way that interests you and makes you want to learn more.
I can remember the exact moment when I first became interested in American history. As a freshman in college, a friend handed me a book and said something to the effect that “I think you will really like this book.” Which book was it? James Michner’s Centennial. As a historical novel, it was so interesting, but even more important, it was educational. This book changed my life, and I was hooked on history. In college, I took as many elective American history courses as I could.
Although my educational background includes a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Management and Supervision, I have explored historical novels and non-fiction books on American history ever since reading James Michener's novel. I have read and studied many overviews and technical books on the country’s founding, the Civil War, other seminal American events, as well as biographies of great Americans — especially Presidents — and other famous figures.
My career was in the pharmaceutical and medical device fields. Starting in pharmaceutical sales, I advanced into a range of management roles at three of the largest drug companies. After the last company I worked for was acquired, I voluntarily left and started a health care consulting business focused on health economics. I spent almost 40 years in the pharmaceutical/medical world and then retired. I soon realized that many of the skills I developed during my working years were transferable to research and writing. After reading a few quick-read American history books, I thought to myself, “I can do this,” and thus began my writing adventure.
My first foray into writing is a series of books with the overarching scope: “American History In A Nutshell.” Using this moniker, there are many avenues of American history to explore. The objective is not just to present American history in the usual textbook fashion. Instead, I want to offer my readers easy-to-read, entertaining, microlearning books. Each book is designed so the reader can pick it up and read a snippet (chapter) in just a few moments, either sequentially or individually, and get something out of it. A fact, a story, or an idea that you can tell your friend, partner, or convey at a party. These books are meant to make history approachable, 2 memorable, and fun, while also offering thought-provoking concepts that take readers back in time.
Whether it's about how American leaders make decisions, their greatest successes and failures, what they said, or the known and unknown men and women who founded the nation, these books offer readers new, thought-provoking ways to enjoy American history. For example, a future book, The U.S. Supreme Court: Decisions of Consequence, takes the reader through the history of the most critical and meaningful Supreme Court cases, as “told” by the Chief Justices. In each of my books, I also take you on a journey on how each subject impacted American society. This way, you can relate to how these historical events affected the country then and now.
I hope you learn something from my writings, and, more importantly, that you learn to love American history as much as I do. Enjoy!
Forrest Tower