I had thought David Walker Howe's "What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848" (2007) was the final word on this period of U.S. history. But having read Reynolds' excellent study of Whitman, I decided to give "Waking Giant" a chance. I was not disappointed. Walker's work is more comprehensive than Reynolds' - going deeper into the political and especially economic changes of the period. Reynolds' strong suit is social and cultural history. After reading chapter 4, "God's Many Kingdoms" - a fascinating journey through the religious upheavals of the time - I thought, this is the author's most solid contribution; this chapter alone makes the book. Then I read the following two chapters on reform movements, literature, the arts, fads, inventions - overall, a notably rich cultural survey. This is not to suggest that "Waking Giant" is merely a cultural history of the Jackson era. Over half the book is devoted to politics, and here the treatment is more than just competent. I gained several new insights into the phenomenon that was Jackson. Calhoun and Webster become a little more comprehensible. If Walker leans toward the Whigs, Reynolds is more of a Jackson man, presenting a sympathetic appraisal of a historically controversial figure. I offer one criticism of the book: Reynolds' writing style - though fluid, lively, rich, engaging - could here and there benefit by some minor editing.