The Pity of it All The book itself is very interesting and mind-opening. But in some parts it is too estensive and repetitive, which makes it too long. Anyhow it is enlightening and worth-while reading.
Want to know American, read this book first! I'm a foreign student studying in this country for awhile. I have read a Chinese version of this book, and have been so eager to find an original one. Now I got it from Amazon for 10 bucks. By comparing them not only did I find the fun of learning English, but also learned a true scroll of American history, which helped me understand the democratic value and social development of this country.
More Storyteller than Scholar While Boorstin won the Pulitzer Prize for this book, it's odd that he plays loose with the facts. He absolutely is a gifted storyteller, but sad to say, that sometimes comes at the expense of historical accuracy. Do not rely on his account of facts as the end of the story. Read other writers, compare, and get a broader perspective on the era. Boorstin's weakness is that once he comes up with a theme, in this case, democracy, he edits the facts to fit with his preconceived storyline. That keeps a book interesting, but it doesn't necessary describe reality. Life is messy.
Another assumption that creeps in is that the author assumes everyone is as materialistic as he is. He attributes motives to people that may not have been present. Boorstin was in an affluent society. The era he writes about was not as prosperous. His assumptions blind him to historical context. Overall this book is an interesting read, I'm just not convinced of the validity.
A key idea about American civilization There is one idea of Boorstin that seems to me to explain a tremendous amount about American civilization. He claims that it is by small improvements in life, by the power of invention which made life better bit by bit American civilization moved ahead. Emerson's ' better mousetrap which all beat their way to the inventor's door to get'is Boorstin's key to American greatness. This work is filled with tremendous insight and knowledge into American reality.
Acerbic Critic Many have described Boorstin's "The Americans" series as being right-wing. I do not concur. He writes about a period, in reality our age, as if it is still happening because it is. The third and final book in the series shows that he is unsure if the changes from the Civil War to the present day have not all been for the betterment of mankind. Although written three decades ago, I would say that this book is more relevant than ever. I think that everyone should read "The Americans" series. There is a bit more of Boorstin's curmugeony personality in this last book, but don't let that disuade you from enjoying a very complex perspective of America in the Twentieth Century and, very possibly, the Twenty-First Century.
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
