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A review by real_life_reading
Seven Miracles That Saved America: Why They Matter and Why We Should Have Hope by Chris Stewart, Ted Stewart
1.0
I just could not get into this book. First off, the entire book is based on the premise that America is better than everywhere else; while I agree that America is a blessed nation, I don't feel like we're that much cooler than everyone else. The author's seem to correlate a belief in God with why those who founded and helped our country along throughout history as being exceptional. While I can buy that men like the Founder Fathers and Abraham Lincoln were helped out by God, it's hard for me to see how a belief in God made them any greater than others.
The author's also make statements like these (speaking of Christopher Columbus): "On the one hand he is afforded a national holiday. On the other, he is viewed as the raper and destroyer of a paradise. The passion with which his detractors assault Columbus often clouds an honest examination of the man."
I would like to add that the passion with which people defend Christopher Columbus (which the author's do vehemently) often clouds an honest examination. Columbus discovered great things. He also destroyed entire nations of Native Americans. You can't take that stuff lightly.
Speaking of America, the authors go through chapters on Columbus, Jamestown, and half way through a chapter about the creation of the Constitution before they even mention slavery. For something that is such a foundational part of our nation's growth and development through it's first 250 years, to mention it in passing is not really appropriate.
Lastly, the authors tell the story with a mix of historical writing (for which footnotes are barely used, I might add), and first person narrative. I felt it was very jarring to be reading from our modern day prospective, and then suddenly get thrown back into Abraham Lincoln's head. And they aren't very good at first person narration, often using modern day phrases that really puts me off when reading historical fiction.
In short, life is too short to be reading stuff like this. I wouldn't waste my time.
The author's also make statements like these (speaking of Christopher Columbus): "On the one hand he is afforded a national holiday. On the other, he is viewed as the raper and destroyer of a paradise. The passion with which his detractors assault Columbus often clouds an honest examination of the man."
I would like to add that the passion with which people defend Christopher Columbus (which the author's do vehemently) often clouds an honest examination. Columbus discovered great things. He also destroyed entire nations of Native Americans. You can't take that stuff lightly.
Speaking of America, the authors go through chapters on Columbus, Jamestown, and half way through a chapter about the creation of the Constitution before they even mention slavery. For something that is such a foundational part of our nation's growth and development through it's first 250 years, to mention it in passing is not really appropriate.
Lastly, the authors tell the story with a mix of historical writing (for which footnotes are barely used, I might add), and first person narrative. I felt it was very jarring to be reading from our modern day prospective, and then suddenly get thrown back into Abraham Lincoln's head. And they aren't very good at first person narration, often using modern day phrases that really puts me off when reading historical fiction.
In short, life is too short to be reading stuff like this. I wouldn't waste my time.