许鲁之主编的《新编英美概况》(第4版)主要有以下特点：(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，图文并茂；(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、英语专业考研生、翻译硕士考研生、英语自学考试者、欲出国留学者和涉外工作人员。

Part 0ne
The United States of America
Chapter 1 Geographical Features and Natural Resources
1．Location and Geographical Divisions
2．Climate
3．Natural Resources
Chapter 2 American Population
1．Composition of the US Population
2．Population Distribution
3．Internal Migration
Chapter 3 Discovery and Colonization of the New World
1．American Indians and Great Discoveries
2．Colonization of the New World
3．Governmental and Social Structures 0f the 13 Cnlonies
Chapter 4 American Revolution
1．Britain’S Policy to American Colonies
2．The Road to the Revolution
3．The Outbreak of War and the Second Continental Congress
4．Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War
Chapter 5 The Confederation and the Constitution
1．Articles of Confederation
2．Constitutional Convention
3．Opinions on the Ratification Issue
4．The New Government and the Louisiana Purchase
5．The War of 1812
Chapter 6 American Expansion and the Civil War
1．Monroe Doctrine
2．Westward Movement
3．Economic Antagonism Between North and South
4．The Way to the Civil War
5．Civil War
Chapter 7 Reconst ruction and the Bi rth of US Imperiali sm
1．Reconstruction in the South
2．Becoming a Great Industrial Power
3．Becoming an Imperial Power
Chapter 8 World WarIand the Depression
1．World WarI
2．America’S Entrance into the war
3．Peace Conference of 1919
4．Era of Prosperity and the Coming of Great Depression
5．Franklin Roosevelt and His New Deal
Chapter 9 America During and After World War 11
1．From Isolation to Intervention
2．Important Conferences During World War 1I
3．The Cold War and Civil Rights Movement
4．From Eisenhower to Clinton
5．George Walker Bush and Barack Obama
Chapter 10 The Federa l System and Cong ress
1．The Three Basic Principles of US Political System
2．The Membership and Powers of Congress
3．Leadership and Committees in Congress
4．How a Bill Becomes a Law
Chapter 11 The President and the Judicia ry
1．The President and His Powers
2．The Organization of Exeeutive Branch
3．The Federal Court System
4．The State Court System
Chapter 12 Political Parties and Elections
1．The Development of Political Parties
2．The Structure and Function of Political Parties
3．Differences Between Democrats and Republicans
4．Voting and Elections
5．Electing President
Chapter 13 American Educat ion
1． Introduction
2．Elementary and Secondary Education
3．Higher Education
Chapter 14 The Mass Media
1．Evolution of Newspapers and Magazines
2．Radio and Television
3．The Information Highway
Chapter 15 American Fami ly and Character
1．American Family
2．American Character and Customs
Chapter 16 Rel igion in the United States
1．Christianity
2．Christian Religion in America
3．Non-Christian Religions in America
Part TWO
The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Chapter 1 Geographical Features and Natural Resources
1. Geographical Features
2．Climate
3．Rivers and Lakes
4．Natural Resources
Chapter 2 Population of the United Kingdom
1．The English
2．The Welsh
3．The Scots
4．The Irish
5．Immigrants
Chapter 3 The Origins of a Nation
1．Early Settlement
2．Roman Britain
3．Anglo Saxon Times
4．The Danish Invasion
5．The Normans
Chapter 4 Feudal England
1．Consolidation of Monarchy
2．The Great Charter and the Beginning of Parliament
3．The Hundred Years’War
4．The Black Death and Peasant Uprising
5．The Wars of the Roses
Chapter 5 Eng land Under the Tudors
1．The Consolidation of New Monarchy
2．Reformation
3．Elizabeth工
4．The English Renaissance
Chapter 6 The Bourgeois Revolution
1．The Absolute Rule of the Stuarts
2．The Civil Wars，
3．The Commonweahh
4．The Restoration and the“Glorious Revolution”
Chapter 7 Ha