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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
This was one of the most "me" books I think I've found in this entire journey. As someone who tracks how American history words changes and flow in children's book, I was thoroughly fascinated by this book. I listened to it on audio, and immediately bought a copy so that I can go through and highlight it. Some parts did feel like they dragged a little, but that also might be because I was more familiar with those areas of history. This book generally would be of interest to those who want to know how these two "big" American ideas have changed over time--and why. It's important to how we view their (and our) future.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Honestly kind of disappointed by my read of this book. While I feel there is a lot of information it trys to look into, especially in the 1916-1941 period of US history and even its look into rising facism in America at the time, it's pure undiluted into the terms of "America First" and the "American Dream" in my mind are quite the hinderance and kinda takes away from what other stories could be built upon instead of just these terms.
Mostly its comes down to the term, "The American Dream" and its changing meaning, while in it's own book I think it can be quite interesting, mixed together with everything else it makes it feel rather messy, especially when half the book in my mind feels a bit disjointed to the rest of the book. But these are more my views and still found some things in there that are worth digging into more.
Mostly its comes down to the term, "The American Dream" and its changing meaning, while in it's own book I think it can be quite interesting, mixed together with everything else it makes it feel rather messy, especially when half the book in my mind feels a bit disjointed to the rest of the book. But these are more my views and still found some things in there that are worth digging into more.
challenging
informative
fast-paced
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
The phrase “America First” is so loaded now that we forget the long and tainted history that’s associated with it. The author takes us through the background on this saying over the first 40 years of the 20th century stopping along the way to get a peek at some of the unsavory men who championed its use and abuse. She also looks at how other empty phrases such as “The American Dream” and other catchphrases that were also ginned up and planted in the American psyche. Currently those of us watching Roth adaptation of ‘The Plot Against America’ might have a difficult time buying into the “what-if” scenario had a figure like Lindbergh or one of the many other demagogues come to power in the 30’s or 40’s, but Churchwell gives the reader a dose of what the reality was like on the ground, and has photos at the end reminding us of the large rallies showing the Stars & Stripes propped up next to the Swastika. Scary stuff and scarier still to think of the times we’re currently in and the large portion of the country absolutely fine with this.
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Incredibly informative but slightly repetitive in some places, but I understand that was just to reinforce the point. Interesting and tidy conclusion. All around a good engaging read. Learnt lots.
Trump's "America First" motto has a long history, none of it good. Churchwell, along with other historians, argue that fascism, though first named and practiced as such in Italy, has its ideological origins in the United States. Churchwell also shows us how recent the concept of the American Dream as a synonym for financial prosperity is, and how misguided it is. A must read for anyone willing to peel back the façade of American exceptionalism and glimpse the rot underneath.