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A review by momma_nilsen
America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder by Bret Stephens
2.0
Normally, as a rule, I'm not public about my political preferences (and I really hope this review doesn't reveal any of them in particularly). When I first started this book the introduction really put me off. The voice of the narrator was very pretentious and conceited. And I'll be even more honest, the guy just had a very bad way of illustrating a view I don't agree with. I do think, especially in political discourse, that you can have a difference of opinion as long as you have the evidence and language to back up your belief. To me, that is what this book sincerely lacked.
I originally found this book at the library because I began teaching a Civics class this semester and am doing a rather large unit on foreign policy. This book really did get the ball rolling and despite my disagreement with the author, there were some really interesting points made by the author. I just can't resonate with books where the author puts so much of their voice, their opinion into the narrative of the book. I really did feel like I got too much of Stephen's opinions and not much of the facts. In fact, after reading this I still don't understand why he believes we should be the world police, only that he strongly, strongly disagrees with Obama's current foreign policy plan (and never offers up a better one).
I mean, this is Bret Stephens' book so if he wants to put in his own political agenda into the novel than he can do it. But as far as its educational merit and how it can benefit someone trying to learn about our current foreign policy affairs, I just don't think it would cut it for my students.
Pop Sugar Challenge: A Political Memoir
I originally found this book at the library because I began teaching a Civics class this semester and am doing a rather large unit on foreign policy. This book really did get the ball rolling and despite my disagreement with the author, there were some really interesting points made by the author. I just can't resonate with books where the author puts so much of their voice, their opinion into the narrative of the book. I really did feel like I got too much of Stephen's opinions and not much of the facts. In fact, after reading this I still don't understand why he believes we should be the world police, only that he strongly, strongly disagrees with Obama's current foreign policy plan (and never offers up a better one).
I mean, this is Bret Stephens' book so if he wants to put in his own political agenda into the novel than he can do it. But as far as its educational merit and how it can benefit someone trying to learn about our current foreign policy affairs, I just don't think it would cut it for my students.
Pop Sugar Challenge: A Political Memoir