Synopses & Reviews
Bennett, a secretary of education under President Reagan and author of The Book of Virtues, offers a new, improved history of America, one, he says, that will respark hope and a conviction about American greatness and purpose in readers. He believes current offerings do not give Americans an opportunity to enjoy the story of their country, to take pleasure and pride in what we have done and become. To this end, Bennett methodically hits the expected patriotic high points (Lewis & Clark, the Gettysburg Address) and even, to its credit, a few low ones (Woodrow Wilson's racism, Teddy Roosevelt's unjust dismissal of black soldiers in the Brownsville judgment). America is best suited for a high school or home-schooled audience searching for a general, conservative-minded textbook. More discerning adult readers will find that the lack of originality and the overreliance on a restricted number of dated sources (Samuel Eliot Morison, Daniel Boorstin, Henry Steele Commager) make the book a retread of previous popular histories (such as Boorstin's The Americans). This is history put to use as inspiration rather than serving to enlighten or explain, but Bennett does succeed in shaping the material into a coherent, readable narrative.
Synopsis
The second volume of Bennett's overview of U.S. history begins with the events leading up to WWI, tracing the progress of the U.S. through the end of Reagan's presidency. Bennett (The Book of Virtues) has a long history of government service-he was Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H.W. Bush-and the overall tone of the book reflects the deep respect he holds for America's leaders, history and institutions. Bennett is a leading figure in the neoconservative movement, so his interpretation of America's last 90 years is informed by that perspective. But while he wears both his patriotism and politics on his sleeve, Bennett avoids flag-waving or talk-radio-style generalizations. This is a breezy, heartfelt survey, written with the average listener in mind, that will appeal broadly to those looking for an America-friendly introduction to 20th century U.S. history.
Synopsis
America: how well do you know your history? Which president was willing to have France written over his dead body? What was the first movie ever shown in the White House? Whose sleek, black, silent train was code named Amerika? Which presidential candidate was described as the little man on the wedding cake? In his Farewell Address, Ronald Reagan said that if we forget what we have done, we will forget who we are. Like the previous volume of America: The Last Best Hope, Volume II responds to Reagan's heartfelt call for an informed patriotism, telling the riveting story of the last century's great wars, the rise of world Communism, the struggle of freedom at home and abroad, and the triumph of liberty.
Synopsis
Like the previous volume, this audio responds to Reagan's heartfelt call for an informed patriotism, telling the riveting story of the last century's great wars, the rise of world Communism, the struggle of freedom at home and abroad, and the triumph of liberty.