The American future : a history from the founding fathers to Barack Obama

Acclaimed historian and award-winning author Simon Schama offers an essential historical perspective on the crucial 2008 presidential election and its importance for reclaiming America's original ideal. It's not business as usual. Cultural hostilities more irreconcilable than any since the Civil War have divided America in two. In November 2008, the American people elected a new president, feeling more anxious about the future of the nation than at any time since Watergate. Our omnipotent military, the cornucopia of material comforts available, the security of our borders, and the global economy can no longer be taken for granted. In The American Future, historian Simon Schama takes a long look at the multiple crises besetting the United States and asks how these problems look in the mirror of time. In four crucial debates—on wars, religion, race and immigration, and the relationship between natural resources and prosperity—Schama looks back to see more clearly into the future. Full of lost insights, The American Future showcases Schama's acclaimed gift for storytelling, ensuring these voices will be heard again. "In November 2008 the United States will elect a new President. But the imminent collapse of twenty years of Republican conservativism means the country is already conducting an intense self-examination about the trajectory of its history; how it came to find itself in multiple crises and how an America that began as 'the last, best hope of earth' came to be so suspected and vilified around much of the world." "The American Future: A History, written by an author who has spent half his life in America, takes the long view of how the United States has come to this anguished moment of truth about its own identity as a nation and its place in the world." "In each of the chapters devoted to the most compelling issues facing Americans now - the projection of power ("American war") ; race, immigration and the problematic promise of e pluribus unum ("American skin"); the intensity of religious conviction in public life ("American fervour") ; the mystique of American land and its battles with the imperatives of profit ('American Plenty') - Schama traces the deep history of the present crisis." "Cumulatively the chapters build into a history of American exceptionalism - the 'American difference' that means so much to its people but which has led it into calamities as well as triumphs." "The American Future: A History argues that if you want to know what is truly at stake, you need to absorb these stories and understand this history - for understanding is the condition of hope."--Jacket In November 2008 the United States will elect a new President. But the imminent collapse of twenty years of Republican conservativism means the country is already conducting an intense self-examination about the trajectory of its history; how it came to find itself in multiple crises and how an America that began as 'the last, best hope of earth' came to be so suspected and vilified around much of the world. The American Future: A History , written by an author who has spent half his life there, takes the long view of how the United States has come to this anguished moment of truth about its own identity as a nation and its place in the world. In each of the chapters devoted to the most compelling issues facing Americans now - the projection of power ("American war") ; race, immigration and the problematic promise of e pluribus unum ("American skin"); the intensity of religious conviction in public life ("American fervour") ; the mystique of American land and its battles with the imperatives of profit ('American Plenty'- Schama traces the deep history of the present crisis. Cumulatively the chapters build into a history of American exceptionalism - the 'American difference' that means so much to its people but which has led it into calamities as well as triumphs. The American Future: A History argues that if you want to know what is truly at stake, you need to absorb these stories and understand this history - for understanding is the condition of hope. In November 2008, the United States elected a new President. But the collapse of twenty years of Republican conservativism means the country is already conducting an intense self-examination about the trajectory of its history; how it came to find itself in multiple crises and how an America that began as 'the last best hope for mankind' came to be so suspected and vilified around much of the world. "The American Future: A History", written by an author who has spent half his life there, takes the long view of how the United States has come to this anguished moment of truth about its own identity as a nation and its place in the world. In each of the chapters devoted to the most compelling issues facing Americans now - the projection of power ('American war'); race, immigration and the problematic promise of e pluribus unum ('American skin'); the intensity of religious conviction in public life ('American fervour'); the mystique of American land ('American Space') and its battles with the imperatives of profit - Schama traces the deep history of the present crisis. Cumulatively the chapters build into a history of American exceptionalism - the 'American difference' that means so much to its people but which has led it into calamities as well as triumphs. "The American Future: A History" argues that if you want to know what is truly at stake, you need to absorb these stories and understand this history - for understanding is the condition of hope Prologue : Iowa Waltz -- Part I : American War -- Veterans Day : 11 November 2007 -- The Fight For The Citadel : Soldiering And The Founding Fathers -- The Drop Zone Cafe, San Antonio, Texas, 3 March 2008 -- The Trials Of The Roman -- Taking Sides -- Father And Son -- The Quartermaster General 1861-1864 -- John Rodgers Meigs And Louisa Rodgers Meigs, October 1864-december 1865 -- Washingtom Dc, February 2008 -- Hamilton Resurrexit -- American War : Rohrbach-lés-bitche, The Maginot Line Near Metz, 10 December 1944 -- Part Ii : Americaqn Rervour -- Atlantic City, August 1964 -- Saved -- Raven, Virginia, 2008 -- Providence -- 'whereas Almighty God Hath Created The Mind Free -' -- Matopma; Som -- Jarena Lee -- The Sovereignty Of The Voice -- Easter Sunday, 2008, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta -- Great White Hopes? -- Ruleville, Mississippi, 31 August 1962 -- Part Iii : What Is An American? -- Twilight, Downing Street, June 2008 -- Citizen Heartbreak : France, August 1794 -- The German Threat -- The Chicken Club, South Texas, July 2008 -- The Immigrant Problem In Texas -- The German Threat -- Again -- The Importance Of Fred Bee -- Grace Under Pressure -- Jefferson's Quran -- Part Iv : American Plenty -- Running On Empty? -- Strawberry Fields, 1775 -- White Path, 1801-1823 -- 1893 -- The Church Of Irrigation -- Ghost House -- Roll Up That Lawn -- Windmills. Simon Schama. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [363]-370) And Index.

Nothing that has happened since the inauguration of Barack Obama has dispelled the sense that the election of 2008 was the kind of moment of truth in American politics and history that seldom comes along. Simon Schama, the acclaimed historian and award-winning critic, followed the campaign, but unlike other accounts, The American Future looks at that contemporary moment through the window of time. In four areas critical to the fate of the American republic-war; the place of religion in politics and culture; immigration; and the tenacious grip of expectations of permanent abundance-Schama looks back to see more clearly into the future. Full of lost insights and spellbinding tales, discovering men and women who have been forgotten in the big record, The American Future showcases Schama's unique gift of storytelling, ensuring these eloquent voices will be heard again as the nation moves forward into an uncertain moment in its history.

The New York Times Book Review - David Brooks

[Schama's] specialty is finding interesting midlevel characters from the buried mounds of history and telling their stories…These gripping portraits are grouped in broad categories—war, religion, race—but Schama has no argument to promote, just stories to tell and a sensibility to exude.

Historian Simon Schama offers an essential historical perspective on the 2008 presidential election and its importance for reclaiming America's original ideal. Cultural hostilities more irreconcilable than any since the Civil War have divided America in two. In November 2008, the American people elected a new president, feeling more anxious about the future of the nation than at any time since Watergate. Our omnipotent military, the cornucopia of material comforts available, the security of our borders, and the global economy can no longer be taken for granted. Schama takes a long look at the multiple crises besetting the United States and asks how these problems look in the mirror of time. In four crucial debates--on wars, religion, race and immigration, and the relationship between natural resources and prosperity--Schama looks back to find lost insights into the future.--From publisher description. This book offers historical perspective on the 2008 presidential election and its importance for reclaiming America's original ideal. Cultural hostilities more irreconcilable than any since the Civil War have divided America in two. In November 2008, the American people elected a new president, feeling more anxious about the future of the nation than at any time since Watergate. Our omnipotent military, the cornucopia of material comforts available, the security of our borders, and the global economy can no longer be taken for granted. The author takes a long look at the multiple crises besetting the United States and asks how these problems look in the mirror of time. In four debates--on wars, religion, race and immigration, and the relationship between natural resources and prosperity--the author looks back to find lost insights into the future.--adapted from publisher description

"With eloquence, wit, passion, and irony, The American Future traces the history of an idea: that of our national destiny....A book of beautiful writing, peppered with wisecracks, slashed with rapier thrusts." — Philadelphia Inquirer

A De Tocqueville for the 21 st century, Simon Schama, NBCC Award winning author of Rough Crossings offers an essential, historical, long view analysis of the American character in The American Future. Shama examines four themes—war, race and faith, immigration, and custodianship of the land—through the prism of the historic 2008 presidential election in a magnificent work that the Wall Street Journal calls a "celebration of American resiliency."Niall Ferguson says, "I hope Obama will have this book on his bedside table."

"With eloquence, wit, passion, and irony, The American Future traces the history of an idea: that of our national destiny....A book of beautiful writing, peppered with wisecracks, slashed with rapier thrusts." —Philadelphia Inquirer A De Tocqueville for the 21st century, Simon Schama, NBCC Award winning author of Rough Crossings offers an essential, historical, long view analysis of the American character in The American Future. Shama examines four themes—war, race and faith, immigration, and custodianship of the land—through the prism of the historic 2008 presidential election in a magnificent work that the Wall Street Journal calls a "celebration of American resiliency." Niall Ferguson says, "I hope Obama will have this book on his bedside table." Offers a view of how the United States has come to an anguished moment of truth about its own identity as a nation and its place in the world. This work focuses on topics including: the projection of power; the intensity of religious conviction in public life; and, the mystique of American land and its battles with the imperatives of profit. In November 2008 the United States of America will elect a new president. But the imminent collapse of 20 years of Republican conservatism means the country is already conducting an intense self-examination about the trajectory of its history. This book provides a timely & masterful history of this, the world's most controversial superpower This book examines the history of American exceptionalism tht means so much to it's people but has led into calamaties as well as triumphs. With the election of a new president in November 2008, the fate of America, by extension of the world will be hanging in the balance. Delves into America's past to reveal a fascinating collection of stories - of heroes and villains - that capture the spirit of a country built on migration and war. This book shows how the echoes of the past live on in the land of freedom and opportunity. A meditation on American history uses the starting point of the 2008 presidential election to look back on particular events, personalities, movements, and ideals that illuminate themes of the American story.