by Simon Schama
First published 2010
Simon Schama examines the American national character by focusing on four central themes: war, race and faith, immigration, and environmental stewardship. The NBCC Award winning historian uses the 2008 presidential election as his analytical framework, treating it as a lens through which to view these enduring aspects of American identity. Schama approaches his subject with both scholarly rigor and literary flair, combining historical analysis with contemporary observation. The book traces how these four themes have shaped American destiny from the nation's founding through the present day. Written with wit and passion, the work offers readers a comprehensive view of American resilience and character. Schama positions himself as a modern observer in the tradition of Alexis de Tocqueville, providing both historical perspective and contemporary insight into what defines America as a nation.
Genres: history, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: contemporary-observation, historical-analysis
Setting: America, United States
Period: 2008, Founding, Present Day
475 pages · Paperback · Olympus