This concise introductory text of American church history was written to cover the history of ideas as well as factual information. There are many other texts on American religious history, but most are over 500 pages in length. While such books surpass the needs of most introductory level classes, The Church in American History is short enough to appeal to students in these courses. Introductory students will also appreciate Reule's simple writing style which makes the information contained in his book more readable and accessible. He explains each denomination's history by focusing on events which have shaped the nation. Such a methodology, again, expedites students' learning because students will already be familiar with the historical framework that the book presents. Reule covers the tradition of ten religious denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal. Pragmatic reference tools found in the book include a list of abbreviations and an index. This book will prove to be valuable reading for students needing a basic knowledge of the church's role in American history.