A review by libra17
Washington's Farewell: The Founding Father's Warning to Future Generations by John P. Avlon

5.0

I found this while browsing in my local library, and read it because the nature of the topics seemed both interesting and relevant. Ultimately, I finished the last page feeling like I learned a lot more about American history and current events from Washington's farwell 'address' than in any history class. It is one thing to talk to people - be they high school students or adult citizens - about American history as our past. In my experience, at least, the vast majority of people will simply say 'So what? That happened centuries ago. It's not relevant to me or to America today.' Avlon's book puts American history into context that ties together history and current events so as to illustrate for readers the importance of events passed and the bearing wise advice should still have on our future. Washington's Farewell is divided into three main parts, each with its own purpose. The first part relays the context of the birth of the US and the experience upon which Washington drew to write his farewell address. The second part analyzes each of the 'pillars' of the farewell address. The third part brings put a selection of examples of how the farewell address has shaped the views of subsequent Presidents, how it has long provided the framework of American politics in general, and how the farewell address and its advice are - in many ways - forgotten by most of the American public for whom the address was written. Acknowledging a holistic view of Washington and not pretending at a whitewashed version of history, Avlon presnets the importance of George Washington's farewell address in understanding America's past and how we can observe his advice in order to shape our future into something better for the average citizen.