American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions

Well, I finally got around to reading this book.I note from the reviews they have been very mixed culminating in an average of 3 stars.I also note that there were only 2 in 2005 and 2 in 2004 ;so I guess it has pretty well run its course.Actually, I found it a good exercise in covering the values that made United States the greatest nation the world has ever seen .Sure ,she has seen dark days ,but in the end, the thing that all freedom loving people in the world associate with America always prevails;namely the pursuit of Life,Liberty and Happiness.Over her history, there have been a great variety in the men who held the office,and the fact that they all believed in their country gave them the strength to arise to meet the challenges,no matter how difficult they were. Although a Canadian,I realize that much of the good fortune we have had is because of the fact we have benefited from living beside the best country in the world.We tend to follow American politics because it has such a great impact on us.In my lifetime ,I believe that there were 4 Presidents that stood out to meet the challenges.Those being;Truman,Kennedy,Reagan and now Bush.Whether other Presidents would have been as great faced with the same problems--who knows? I also thought Matthew's use of books and movies to show they reflect what happened over the years. There are many wonderful ideas presented in the book,but on page 139,there is as good a summary of what makes America different than any other country. While there is a lot of America bashing going around the world these days,what other country could such a book like this be written?Just imagine that there was no America,what would the world be like today.To understand what made America this book shows it was the people ,not the government,that made it happen. In other words "By the People,For the People and in God We trust." Though not a lot of new ideas,this book is a great reminder of what America is all about.

I read most of the reviews already posted, particularly the negative ones. I am not sure what people were expecting from Chris or the book but I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read. If I wanted a history textbook, I would have bought one. I wanted to read an optimistic, positive book about America that doesn't resort to the "liberals are traitors" thumping we hear from the Right. Chris mildy and briefly reveals his reservations about President Bush but he doesn't bash him. I don't expect Hardball to be sole source of political information, nor did I expect "Americans: Beyond out Grandest Notions" to be my sole source for American history. I probably won't refer to it again but it was a pleasurable read that stands way above the partisan name calling books we get from Coulter, Franken, Hannity, Limbaugh, and Moore. Casablanca may not be my favorite movie, but who cares? Some Americans identify with it. Chris did, and he's the author. I'm okay with that. Thanks for lifting my spirits Chris. America isn't as bad as some people say we are.

Okay, so what makes the audio version of a book better than the bound version? Why, the reader, of course! How about if the reader is the guy who actually wrote the book? Even better, right? Suppose the guy has a highly rated show on MSNBC? Hmmm...intriguing. If you're a Hardball fan, you've come to expect a certain delivery from its mildly quirky host, Chris Matthews. Here we have a gathering of Matthews' favorite moments in American history. They may not necessarily be your favorite moments, but who cares? It's just fun listening. Matthews succeeds in bringing historical perspective and American attitude to what he considers to be important moments in cinema, politics, and events, which have shaped our country and its development. He could have continued with the idea, and possibly have written ten times the volume of work, but he kept it short and sweet. Here's the beauty of the concept. Sequels, sequels, and more sequels. Matthews has left the idea wide open for endless opportunities to add to the collection. I for one will be there to purchase every audio CD version as it becomes available. When you listen to Matthews reading his own stuff, you can occasionally catch a glimpse of the emotion he wants you to feel. Probably the same emotion intended during the writing process. He tried to keep it subdued, and during the first disk he appeared to consciously keep it under the speed limit. But with everything he does the intensity level creeps up on you, and he takes it up a notch. You really can't help but get into it. Why is Chris Matthews so successful, well respected, and yes feared by certain political and media figures? Because they don't take the time to research what his passions are before they appear on his show. My advice to guys like Kerry, Dean, and Gephardt is simple. Read or listen to Matthews' book before going on Hardball. If you're not good at thinking on your feet or taking the control away from the host (good luck), then you run the risk of being eaten alive like one Dennis Kucinich. Now the guy won't even appear on Matthews' series of shows from the Kennedy School of Government. Have a nice life, Dennis. If you're a guy like Joe Biden, however, who happens to be one of the guys that Matthews can't seem to touch, then you don't need the prep. Kerry should have read this book. I'm typing this before the Howard Dean show. Can't wait for the fireworks. They really need to let Chris moderate one of these debates. Wouldn't that be fun? One day MSNBC will smarten up and put Matthews up against O'Reilly. Anyway, you won't be disappointed with the book in any version unless you can't stand the guy. But if you're not a fan of his stuff then what are you doing even reading this review? I'm not trying to be a Chris Matthews suck up, or maybe I am, but I happen to like the guy. His idealistic albeit liberal approach reflects true patriotism. It is not only patriotic to question one's government, but i

Chris Matthews' new book, American - Beyond our Grandest Notions, is a gem. It's a quick read, and for that reason alone may appeal to students, parents who want be able to explain to their kids why America is truly the land of the free and home of the brave and perhaps most importantly - this book will give boomers and seniors a much needed booster shot of pride in this nation.The prejudice comes in because it frankly and without pretense champions the citizens of the USA. Not a bad combination in today's world where it is fashionable to take the pseudo-intellectual position of seeing the rest of the peoples of the earth as victims of Americans and beating their chests with feigned mea-culpas. We've had decades of post-modern, deconstructionist cynicism. It is entirely appropriate at this time in our history to remind ourselves that Americans have some unique qualities and why this is so. The 10 people Matthews chose to demonstrate these characteristics come from nearly 250 years in our past to the present.Want to have some damned good, honest responses to share with the next boor who whines about the demise of your homeland? Treat yourself and people you care about to a copy of American.

I recommend this book, it is only 200+ pages and very well documented. It could be very good resource material for a civic class, American history class, and should be required reading for American's. This book is NOT negative, but delves into why we are like we are and not like anyone else in the world. Chris comes up with ten, uniquely American notions and they are very interesting. IMHO (in my humble opinion) this is very worthwhile reading! Senator John McCain is one of his contemporary examples, but Chris goes back to before the Revolutionary War for other examples.