American : Beyond Our Grandest Notions

Rating:
Summary: With Pride and Prejudice
Review: Chris Matthews' new book, American - Beyond our Grandest Notions, is a gem. It's a quick read, and for that reason alone may appeal to students, parents who want be able to explain to their kids why America is truly the land of the free and home of the brave and perhaps most importantly - this book will give boomers and seniors a much needed booster shot of pride in this nation.

The prejudice comes in because it frankly and without pretense champions the citizens of the USA. Not a bad combination in today's world where it is fashionable to take the pseudo-intellectual position of seeing the rest of the peoples of the earth as victims of Americans and beating their chests with feigned mea-culpas. We've had decades of post-modern, deconstructionist cynicism. It is entirely appropriate at this time in our history to remind ourselves that Americans have some unique qualities and why this is so. The 10 people Matthews chose to demonstrate these characteristics come from nearly 250 years in our past to the present.

Want to have some damned good, honest responses to share with the next boor who whines about the demise of your homeland? Treat yourself and people you care about to a copy of American.

Rating:
Summary: pretty much a long junior high essay
Review: I usually don't write reviews, and I am not much of a reader myself, but I am greatly disappointed in this book. First, the book has the style of a high school paper. The book has a lot of stories of individuals who kind fit the author's thesis, but no big picture analysis of America. In the end this book says nothing.

The only reason why this book is so popular is because it says everything we want to hear. It has the author's main points of "some basic-and sometimes contradictory-precepts, are pugnacious but anti-militaristic; they admire gun-slinging loners and heroic men of action, but love the little guy and underdogs; they are optimists with a manifest destiny and an eye for personal reinvention." The book describes some Americans who were optimists. But there are equally important Americans, like Alexander Hamilton, who are not optimists. The book also claims that America loves the underdog. Why are the Yankees so popular then? Or that we are reluctant to go to war. Iraq, Spanish American War, War of 1812??? There are a lot of reasons why America is such a dominate power. In my opinion, the reasons why America has dominates is because we have a lot of natural resources, a lot of freedom that allows us to go from rags to riches, massive immigration, and a lot of luck. Rome lasted for over a millennium. America has barely lasted two centuries, and our dominance is more recent that that. I love this country; let's just keep things in prospective.

Rating:
Summary: A fun and insightful read
Review: If you enjoy politics, American history, and movies, check out this read. What makes America great? Chris Matthews tells us. From the infinitely sagacious leadership of George Washington to the tantalizing, yet almost palpable, American dream symbolized by Jay Gatsby to the idealistic moral indignation of Jefferson Smith, Matthews smoothly runs the gamut of the great American landscape. Matthews exalts such seemingly common men as Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and Harry Truman who exhibited, in what was no accident, truly uncommon leadership.

Lincoln was said to have rebuked those who complained of Grant's heavy alcohol consumption. Find out what he drinks and give it to the other generals, the president told them. "I can't spare this man. He fights."

Truman, sworn in to office as Vice President just 3 months prior to assuming the Presidency, was, as Matthews states, "a regular fellow who just as easily could be standing behind the counter when you went to buy a new pair of socks," became an extraordinary leader in a time of extraordinary crisis. Truman, along with Lincoln, had the guts to do what he thought was right. In using the atom bomb to end WWII Truman, in effect, avoided a million American casualties in an ensuing invasion. The result was a dismal 23% approval rating when he left office. As Matthews so aptly states, "Tough decisions don't always make friends." History, however, would be a better judge; Truman now is rightfully revered as one of the greatest Presidents of the 20th century. Matthews, being intellectually honest, honors the maverick leadership of John McCain and the eternal optimism of Ronald Reagan as well. Overall, a fun and stimulating read that I recommend you check out.

Rating:
Summary: America and Americans at their best
Review: What makes America the greatest country and Americans the greatest people? Chris Matthews of Hardball fame takes those attributes and concepts of Americans from Abraham Lincoln to Jerrerson Smith (of Mr smith goes to Washington movie). There are real life people and fictional characters like Bogie's Rick Blaine from Casablanca. What makes America what it is? and how are we unique in the world? In this compelling and thought provoking story Chris Matthews tells us about ourselves. In this world particularily since 9-11, the warm feelings of Patriotism are appreciated. If I said this was a history lesson, perhaps a lot of people would be turned off. but this book is better than that its a history books that's not dull or boring and gives us, dare I say, a historical prespective without being the dull and boring "H" word.