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Title: American

Subtitle: Beyond our Grandest Notions

Author: Chris Matthews

Narrator: Chris Matthews

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-08-02

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Fiercely independent, in love with freedom, convinced we can make it, we are like no other people on earth. We are a people reluctant to fight who become ferocious warriors when threatened or attacked. We are suspicious of governmental power, yet quick to embrace our flag in times of danger. A deeply practical nation, we loom as the world's great optimists.

What unites us Americans is not so much language or ethnicity, but a set of distinct notions about ourselves that comprise our American-ness. The self-made country. The constant rebel. The reluctant warrior. The lone hero. The pioneer. The optimist. You see them in the movies we make, the books we write, the history we have lived. What stirred the souls of our ancestors two centuries ago - and all the generations in between - still does.

In American, Matthews presents a portrait of a country that enters the world arena armed with an extremely potent weapon: the collective notions we carry of America at its best. It's a picture of more than just a nation challenged but a people ready and eager to prevail.

Members Reviews:

Not a fan of Matthews, but.......

I surprised myself by purchasing the audio version of this book even though I find Matthews annoying and counter to my ideology. I should mention I paid very little for a used copy on this very site so the risk was minimal.

The audio was enjoyable and devoid of obvious spin. As a history junkie the material presented held my attention. However,I did take issue with the organization of the material presented as the author jumped back and forth several times in the book. He would cover a topic, depart from it, only to return later with another point or a repeat of the same material presented earlier. I found myself checking the CD player in my car to make sure I had not hit the reverse button in error.

Skip the book, get the audio

I enjoyed hearing Matthews on the G. Gordon Liddy show discuss this book so much that I bought it. Well, I read Stephen Ambrose's final book just before this one and found Matthews' somewhat lacking. The two books are essentially the same in their goals, short essays on important highlights in American History. Some of the same topics are covered in both books. Ambrose just did a MUCH BETTER job. Ambrose was a skilled writer and Historian by trade, Matthews is a gifted gabber. So my suggestion is to listen to Matthews on Audio, but buy Ambrose's "To America: Personal Reflections of An Historian".

sunnycarcinoid

I recommend this book, it is only 200+ pages and very well documented. It could be very good resource material for a civic class, American history class, and should be required reading for American's. This book is NOT negative, but delves into why we are like we are and not like anyone else in the world. Chris comes up with ten, uniquely American notions and they are very interesting. IMHO (in my humble opinion) this is very worthwhile reading! Senator John McCain is one of his contemporary examples, but Chris goes back to before the Revolutionary War for other examples.

Five Stars

Great book.

History for ...

Matthews' book is for people who know absolutely NOTHING about American history. ...