All About U.S.

On July 4, 2026, the United States of America celebrate their Semiquincentennial: 250 years of inde-pendence. To mark this milestone, this book highlights pivotal moments from this period, opposing ongoing attempts to rewrite the history of the United States – and thus also of that of Europe. All About U.S. challenges standard assumptions and myths, such as the founding of the U.S. on seemingly uninhabited land, populated by a selection of extraordinary people who committed them-selves to the world’s first liberal constitution. Participation in the transatlantic slave trade, a deeply ingrained sense of unlimited expansionism and the spread of half-baked technological innovations mark U.S.–European history as a shared, fraught project.Through its concise, transparent graphic language and facts-based narrative, the book provides insights into the current state of America, Europe and the world, embedded in a historical context. By assessing the successes and challenges of the United States, the book aims to remind us of the need for optimism – one of the most striking qualities of American culture. Yet, a better future can only emerge if we recognize mistakes, learn from them and face difficult times with unity.

THEO DEUTINGER (1971) is an architect, writer and curator. He is the founder and head of The Department (TD), a practice that combines architecture with research, visualization and artistic thinking. Deutinger is known for his theoretical writings on the transformation of European urban culture and his socio-cultural studies such as the Handbook of Tyranny. BRENDAN MCGETRICK is a writer, curator and designer. He has curated major design exhibitions in South Korea, the UK, Italy and the UAE. Currently he serves as Creative Director of the Museum of the Future in Dubai.