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peasandkaris's review against another edition
1.0
There were a lot of things wrong with this book and it’s oversimplification of the divide in America. One of the most egregious was the justification of slavery as an necessary evil, the claim that racism is not at all institutional and only moral, and the idea that white people did not benefit economically from slavery because “slave labor is more expensive than free labor”.
I read this book for work, not for pleasure.
I read this book for work, not for pleasure.
josiahrichardson's review against another edition
3.0
Decent. Shapiro is usually insufferable for me, not because I typically disagree with him, but because I do agree with him and it makes me look arrogant by association. He is constantly in mocking mode and will take any personal jab he can to prove his point. Yeah, I get it. Facts don't care about my feelings.
There's also something to say about his religious convictions that cause him to miss the true and underlying reason why America has already been destroyed. Per usual with Shapiro, he is more than adequate in pointing out issues and their root causes, but he sucks at trying to tell us how to prevent and/or rebuild what was lost.
There's also something to say about his religious convictions that cause him to miss the true and underlying reason why America has already been destroyed. Per usual with Shapiro, he is more than adequate in pointing out issues and their root causes, but he sucks at trying to tell us how to prevent and/or rebuild what was lost.
aemitch1213's review against another edition
It did not align with my political views
carolinastrong1994's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Filled to the brim with information and heart.
mj470's review against another edition
4.0
This is an exhaustive history of American philosophy and how it has shaped policy starting with the Founding Fathers. Shapiro is very good a speaking to different political motivations and breaking down each argument. He uses all kinds of historical quotes and facts to formulate his arguments which are very interesting and informative to read.
shaundell's review against another edition
5.0
Love this book! He offered some great views about the way people perceive America today and then offered the advice that we need to work together to solve problems or there just might not be a country left.
jedwardsusc's review against another edition
2.0
As a conservative study of history or economics, this book offers a mostly predictable narrative that regularly wanders off into the absurd. The author intersperses some well-trodden stories and selective data with a steady drip of ad hominem attacks, either/or framing, slippery slope arguments, and straw person mischaracterizations of the other side.
That said, the book really has very little to do with history or economics. It’s not a text meant to inform or persuade; it’s a work of rhetorical affirmation directed at a particular group of conservative readers. The author writes to assure these readers that the policies they support are not racist; their fears about democracy are rational; and they are perfectly justified in continuing to support the Trump administration (even if they wish he didn’t use so many bad words) because he and they are part of the great “unionist” struggle to preserve American exceptionalism from the mob.
That said, the book really has very little to do with history or economics. It’s not a text meant to inform or persuade; it’s a work of rhetorical affirmation directed at a particular group of conservative readers. The author writes to assure these readers that the policies they support are not racist; their fears about democracy are rational; and they are perfectly justified in continuing to support the Trump administration (even if they wish he didn’t use so many bad words) because he and they are part of the great “unionist” struggle to preserve American exceptionalism from the mob.