by Tom Brokaw
First published 2011
Tom Brokaw confronts a troubling question about his homeland. The veteran journalist sees an America that feels foreign to him, a nation that has strayed from the values that once defined it. Drawing from his South Dakota roots and decades of reporting, Brokaw examines how the country has changed since the era of thrift in which he grew up. He explores shifts in education, public service, housing, technology, and core values that have reshaped American society. The book weaves together stories of ordinary Americans who work as change agents in their communities with episodes from Brokaw's own family history. He argues that America needs a renewal of family bonds, community spirit, and civic participation comparable to the transformation that secured victory in World War II and built postwar prosperity. Brokaw presents practical ideas for restoring the American Dream and offers hope for a country facing reduced expectations and deep divisions.
Genres: american, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, social-commentary
Setting: South Dakota, United States
Period: 21st Century
320 pages · Hardcover · Random House