Where We Stand: 30 Reasons for Loving Our Country

Incredibly funny. Wise. Roger Rosenblatt's writing style is clever and lovely - I think he's the e.e. cummings of essayists. Try his new book "Anything Can Happen: Notes on My Inadequate Life and Yours" where he ponders "is there an illegal pad? who was Absorbine Sr.? Where exactly is Magnesia?" yet also writes lines like "To True Lovers Who Lament the Fact that They Cannot Live Forever: You already have."

There is nothing wrong with being liberal. Being liberal means putting people above political dogma no matter which country it is in.There is nothing sneaky about Rosenblatt's prose. His poetic style carries his ideas across clearly and with grace.What suprises me is that people are actually threatened by this book. How absurd! It is a wonderful book and a joy to read.But hey, maybe everyone who didn't like this book can burn it along with "Catcher in the Rye".

Like many people, I tend to find authors whose opinions I share brilliant and great writers, so I can't be very objective about Roger Rosenblatt's new book. I'm a big fan of his, having fallen in love with his essays after reading "The Man In The Water" several years ago. Mr. Rosenblatt convinces me that he is just as much a patriot as, say, the current White House inhabitants, perhaps more so. In these 30 essays, many of which were written before 9/11, a fact that shouldn't be overlooked, Mr. Rosenblatt tells what he finds good about this country.There are essays on gun control-- Mr. Rosenblatt believes it is an idea whose time has come-- baseball, lawyers-- he says we are glad for them when we need them-- he even includes a chapter on being out of this world... Rosesnblatt writes with wit, good humour and a gentleness even when he is describing a theory or person he disagrees with completely. There is much that even arch conservatives should like in these essays.In a sweet, nostalgic essay called "We're Old-Fashioned," the author describes three aged spinsters who took him in as a five- year-old boy and read to him, taking him into the "kindom of words." Such a phrase is a perfect way to describe this fine collection, Mr. Rosenblatt's Love Letter to America.

This is perfect timing for this book. In "Where We Stand", Roger Rosenblatt takes a look at the things that make our country great, and puts them in a post-Septemer 11 context. And he doesn't take the easy road, writing about perfect sunsets and the Fourth of July (not that they're bad, either). This book takes an insightful look at some of the less obvious things to love about America, such as the freedom of speech that allows our politicians to say incredibly dumb things yet remain the leaders of the free world.Not only does Rosenblatt take a sharp, clear look at these things, but he does so with a great sense of humor throughout. This is a great read for summer, and it can't help but cheer you up about America today.