The American Soul: Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders

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OneMansView, May 13, 2010 (view all comments by OneMansView)
Fanciful (3.5*s)

To the author, America, as an ideal, still represents the standard which nations attempt to emulate, yet he finds an inauthenticity, a shallowness, in the actual practice of Americans and America in regard to such ideals as freedom, community, democracy, well-being, and the like, which, in his estimation, reflects a culturally-sanctioned paucity of character, the lack of a well-developed inner-selves. He uses the examples of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson to demonstrate how those with strength of character can have large public impact, while asking for little in return.

To the author, America has always, at least in its finest moments, represented a search for the Good, or that which is best for mankind. The Constitutional Convention of 1787, in its extensive, wise deliberations, is the perfect exemplar of what men with strong personalities can achieve for the greater society. For him, the Constitution provides a practical framework for the external commercial, legal world, but more importantly gives space, or freedom, for the sanctity and growth of individuals.

But he finds that commercialism, materialism, and militarism have overwhelmed the promise of America. Democracy has become essentially a tool to manipulate for self-gain or questionable agendas. Furthermore, there is the cynical view that the Founders were no less self-interested. The author also decries the fact that Americans have not and do not fully appreciate just how out of step the massacre of America’s indigenous population and the enslavement of millions were with our ideals. Basically, it is both an illusion and hypocritical for Americans to maintain that America, in its actual practices, represents the height of human society.

The author’s call for a renewed ascendance of America’s soul seems fanciful. He wants us to re-mythologize the past, especially our heroes, deemphasizing their shortcomings. It is their inner-selves that we need to emulate. There are no suggestions as to how such a transformation will occur. Furthermore, the author does not address the permeation of American society by the values and control of huge corporations. In our land of downsizing, unemployment, and foreclosure, where are the supportive democratic communities that he extols? How does personal growth occur in a dog-eat-dog world?

The detailed look at some of the writings, speeches, and actions of the Founders, as well as Frederick Douglas, is not without interest, but seems overly long and ultimately somewhat pointless. The author sincerely wants to see an America different from what it has become and what he believes it may have once been. He has a rather quasi-religious faith that perhaps America will change, will come to its senses and reflect our founding ideals. For those with similar hopes, the book will likely be appealing. For others, beyond the interesting history, the book will seem delusional.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781585422265

Author:

Needleman, Jacob

Publisher:

Tarcher

Location:

New York

Subject:

General

Subject:

United states

Subject:

Ethics

Subject:

Spirituality

Subject:

Social values

Subject:

National characteristics, american

Subject:

United States - 18th Century

Subject:

Spirituality - General

Subject:

US History - 20th Century

Subject:

US History-General

Copyright:

2002

Edition Number:

1st pbk. ed.

Edition Description:

Paperback / softback

Series Volume:

GTR-588

Publication Date:

20030631

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Grade Level:

from 12

Language:

English

Pages:

400

Dimensions:

9 x 6.02 x 1.04 in 0.92 lb

Age Level:

from 18