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The Soul of America

the Battle for Our Better Angels
Dec 16, 2018sandraperkins rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book reviews American history, primarily from the Civil War to the present, focusing on difficult times in our past and how our Presidents and other leaders strove to lead us forward instead of backward, and to have hope instead of fear. Many of us think we are living in the worst of times today, but this country has suffered through dark times (and arguably worse times) before, and we have not only survived, we have made some of our greatest steps forward after (and perhaps because of) those dark times. And some of our greatest leaders have helped to lead us out of the dark and into better times. This book has so much to offer that it is difficult to summarize, so I will offer a few impressions. We have had good and bad presidents over the years. Even the best presidents had flaws, though they were trying their hardest to do what is best for the country. The worst presidents (e.g., Andrew Johnson) were pretty awful, but Congress reined them in to some extent. We have had demagogues before (e.g., Huey Long, Senator Joe McCarthy). They were able to excite crowds and manipulate the press. When I read about Joe McCarthy using television to get his message out, it reminded me of the use of social media today. Though demagogues have pontificated before and have attracted large followings, none were elected president (until now). So what are the lessons of this book? There is a constant battle between hope and fear; between generosity and selfishness. While America today is freer and more accepting than it has ever been, that very freedom causes a deep reaction from right-wing populists who feel threatened by it. Every advance in our history has been met with the forces of reaction; this is laid out clearly in this book. It is an eternal struggle, and we need to realize that it is an eternal struggle. It is tempting to feel superior to the past, but let’s all think about this: What injustices are we perpetuating today that will one day face the harshest of verdicts from those who come after us? So what can each of us do, to preserve the soul of America? Please read this excellent book to find out!