本书内容主要包括英美两国的地理、历史、政体制度、教育、新闻媒体、风俗习惯、宗教信仰等。目的是通过学习，开阔学生的视野，扩大学生的知识面。
本书具有以下特点：1.知识介绍连贯、系统，重点突出，详略得当；2.语言叙述简练准确，通俗易懂；3.各章注释以提供背景知识为主，且大多是普通词典不易查到的内容；4.练习中的选择题和填空题为各章知识重点的浓缩，可用来检测学习者对知识的掌握情况；5.练习中的讨论题，注重培养学生分析和解决问题的能力，以及英语表达能力；6.章节编排科学合理，方便实用。
本书使用对象主要是英语专业大学生、英语自学考试者、英语专业考研生、欲出国留学者和涉外工作人员。
目录
Part One The United States
Chapter Ⅰ Geographical Features and Natural Resources
Chapter Ⅱ American Population
Chapter Ⅲ Discovery and Colonization of the New World
Chapter Ⅳ American Revolution
Chapter Ⅴ The Confederation and the Constiution
Chapter Ⅵ American Expansion and the Civil War
Chapter Ⅶ Reconstruction and the Birth of US Imperialism
Chapter Ⅷ World War I and the Depression
Chapter Ⅸ America During and After World WarⅡ
Chapter Ⅹ The Federal System and Congress
Chapter Ⅺ The President and the Judiciary
Chapter Ⅻ Political Parties and Elections
Chapter ⅩⅢ American Education
Chapter ⅩⅣ The Mass Media
Chapter ⅩⅤ American Family and Character
Chapter ⅩⅥ Religion in the United States
Part Two The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irland
Chapter Ⅰ Geographical Features and Natural Resources
Chapter Ⅱ Population of the United Kingdom
Chapter Ⅲ The Origins of a Nation
Chapter Ⅳ Feudal England
Chapter Ⅴ England Under the Tudors
Chapter Ⅵ The Bourgeois Revolution
Chapter Ⅶ Hanoverian England and Industrial Revolution
Chapter Ⅷ Party Politics and Colonial Expansion
Chapter Ⅸ Britain in the Two World Wars
Chapter Ⅹ British Monarchy and Government
Chapter Ⅺ Parliament and Judicial System
Chapter Ⅻ Political Parties and Election
Chapter ⅩⅢ Education
Chapter ⅩⅣ Mass Media
Chapter ⅩⅤ British Family Life，Character and Customs
Chapter ⅩⅥ Religion in the United Kingdom
Appendices
References
前言
