World Famous Comics: The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country
The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country
By: Howard Fineman Publisher: Random House Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Random House Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 320 Publication Date: April 22, 2008 Release Date: April 22, 2008
Product Description: "The Thirteen American Arguments is a thought-provoking, engaging study of the great American debate, and a highly worthwhile read."–RealClearPolitics.com
“Insightful and enjoyable . . . . In The Thirteen American Arguments, Howard Fineman lifts readers above the fog of modern politics . . . and offers a unique vantage point from which to see that the debates that shape American politics are timeless and profound.” --The Washingtonian
Howard Fineman is one of our best-known and most trusted political journalists. Mixing vivid scenes and figures from the campaign trail with forays into four hundred years of American history, Fineman shows that every debate, from our nation’s founding to the present day, is rooted in one of thirteen arguments that–thankfully–defy resolution. It is the very process of never-ending argument, Fineman explains, that defines us, inspires us, and keeps us free. At a time when most public disagreement seems shrill and meaningless, Fineman makes a cogent case for nurturing the real American dialogue.
Shouting is not arguing, Fineman notes, but often hot-button topics, media “cross-fires,” and blogs reflect the deepest currents in American life. In an enlightening book that cuts through the din and makes sense of the headlines, Fineman captures the essential issues that have always compelled healthy and heated debate–and must continue to do so in order for us to prosper in the twenty-first century. The Thirteen American Arguments run the gamut, from issues of individual identity to our country’s role in the world, including:
• Who is a Person? The Declaration of Independence says “everyone,” but it took a Civil War and the Civil Rights and other movements to make that a reality. Presently, what about human embryos and “unlawful enemy combatants?” • Who is an American? Only a nation of immigrants could argue so much about who should become one. There is currently added urgency when terrorists are at large in the world and twelve million “undocumented” aliens are in the country. • The Role of Faith. No country is more legally secular yet more avowedly prayerful. From Thomas Jefferson to Terri Schiavo, we can never quite decide where God fits in government. • Presidential Power. In a democracy, leadership is all the more difficult — and, paradoxically, all the more essential. From George Washington to George W. Bush, we have always asked: How much power should a president have? • America in the World. Uniquely, we perpetually ask ourselves whether we have a moral obligation to change the world — or, alternatively, whether we must try to change it to survive in it.
Whether it’s the environment, international trade, interpreting law, Congress vs. the president, or reformers vs. elites, these are the issues that galvanized the Founding Fathers and should still inspire our leaders, thinkers, and citizens. If we cease to argue about these things, we cease to be. “Argument is strength, not weakness,” says Fineman. “As long as we argue, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, we will argue.”
Praise for The Thirteen American Arguments “A spectacular feat, a profound book about America that moves with ease from history to recent events. A talented storyteller, Howard Fineman provides a human face to each of the core political arguments that have alternately separated, strengthened, and sustained us from our founding to the present day.” –Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals
“With a marvelous command of the past and a keen grasp of the present, Howard Fineman expertly details one of the great truths about our country: that we are a nation built on arguments, and our capacity to summon what Lincoln called ‘the better angels of our nature’ lies in undertaking those debates with civility and mutual respect. Few people understand politics as well as Fineman does, and this work is an indispensable guide not only to the battles of the moment, but to the wars that will go on long after this news cycle is long forgotten.” –Jon Meacham, author of Franklin and Winston
“In an impressively thought-provoking original approach, Fineman revisits the great defining arguments that will deepen your understanding of America.” –Newt Gingrich, author of Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works
“Howard Fineman proves that few things are as compelling as a well-argued debate. This book offers a thought-provoking way to look at America, its history, and our evolving public discourse.” –Arianna Huffington, author of Right Is Wrong
“A perfect antidote to the old horse-race political journalism–a timely (and timeless) reminder of what’s really at stake in the race for the presidency.” –Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court
“Howard Fineman guides the reader through the controversies that have haunted this nation since its inception. In the process he creates a fresh context for making sense of the 2008 campaign. Both scholars and students of politics can learn much from this book.” –Kathleen Hall Jamieson, co-author of unSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation
“A stimulating book that should be read by anyone who cares about the idea and arguments that made this country great, and which are critical to our future direction.” –David Boies, author of Courting Justice
"America is “The Arguing Country, born in, and born to, debate,” claims veteran journalist Fineman in this brisk look at 13 debates that have driven (and riven) the nation from its inception, and continue to do so today. Arising from fundamental questions like “Who is a person?” or “What can we know and say?” or “What does it mean to pursue a more perfect union?” these 13 debates are perennial, undergirding each of the nation’s political controversies, and they are constitutive, defining nothing less than America’s national identity. If American political discourse frequently runs hot, it is because Americans are as passionate about these fundamental questions as they are different in their answers. Knowing that Fineman is an occasional guest on MSNBC’s Hardball, it is perhaps tempting to read this book as a particularly eloquent and historically informed apologia for the fiery point-counterpoint duels often seen on cable news channels. Yet Fineman openly acknowledges that the media sometimes hinders open debate, and it would be more accurate to describe Fineman’s work as itself an argument, urging perspective and optimism amid today’s overheated debates."–Booklist
The Thirteen American Arguments offers a lot of potential but doesn't deliver I heard Howard Fineman on the radio discussing this book one day and scribbled the book title down in my little notepad as I was driving down the road. The idea behind this book is truly great - find 13 central arguments that have been passed down over time and look how different eras of Americans have addressed them.
Fineman's 13 arguments are:
1. Who is a person? 2. Who is an American? 3. The role of faith 4. What can we know and say? 5. The limits of Individualism 6. Who judges the law? 7. Debt and the Dollar 8. Local v. National Authority 9. Presidential Power 10. The terms of trade 11. War and Diplomacy 12. The environment 13. A fair, "more perfect" union
He adds to these by noting 5 groups that often have competing visions about what to do with each of these: the State, the Church, the Market, the Tribe and the Academy (Science). (pg. 18)
So far, so good. Sounds like an interesting book. But, Fineman's desire to apply each of these arguments to the modern world provides the opportunity for him to interject his own personal (liberal) biases into the mix. It was sort of like reading a serious piece of historical interpretation intermixed with a modern-day blame game analysis book like the sort that is written by Ann Coulter, Michael Moore, Sean Hannity or Alan Colmes. It is not a good mix and quickly I grew very tired of the author's biases (gun control - p. 105; cheap, snotty shots at Dick Cheney - pp. 213, 214, 225 and so on) and sometimes outright fabrications, such as when he asserted that everyone running for the Republican nomination was pro-life - despite the fact that Giuliani is pro-choice.
Sometimes his own personal "stories from the road" were supportive (although biased), but other times they meandered around and had very little to do with what he was supposed to be talking about. He spends 5 pages talking about a campaign manager in the "A Fair, 'More Perfect' Union" section. While sort of interesting, I failed to see the relevance, unless it is that we would have been a more perfect union had we elected Howard Dean in 2004.
In one thing Fineman is dead-on correct - in politics, "arguing is good - in fact, indispensable." (p. 14) The arguments must continue on, just be aware that Fineman is not neutral in his presentation - he is arguing strongly for his views throughout.
brilliant required reading howard fineman, of newsweek and who appears on nearly all of those nbc shows as a journalist - pundit, shows here tremendously greater brilliance than i had ever before seen or read from him. in reading robert steele's detailed analysis of this book, i found many quotes that i, myself, had found noteworthy. i, too, found fineman's work here at least on par, if not more refined, with that of the young, naive, idealistic Tocqueville, in his descriptive text of Democracy. throughout the book, fineman sifts over various re-occurring matters that we americans keep re-visiting throughout our history. the heart of the matter, as fineman seems to argue, is that democracy is founded upon the principle of participation and all of us ought, in fact, must, argue our positions on relevant points in order for an extreme, participative democracy to exist. of the several thousand books that i've read, this work is within the top 15. this comes highly recommended to anyone who cares about democracy, our government, or who simply wants to better understand how democracy ought to operate. thank you for writing this excellent book!
retitle this: 13 Slanted Arguments I saw Mr. Fineman's inteview on "Today Show" which piqued my interest in this book. The concept that there are 13 core 'arguments' which have endured and evolved since the founding of our country is intriguing and the author makes a good case for each, citing examples throughout our history. Unfortunately, it seems that each chapter rapidly digresses into a 'liberal diatribe' of our current administration. Too bad. What may have been a solid entry into the historical/political arena, ala Brookshier's "What Would the Founder's Do?" turns out to be simply another chapter in the war between increasingly divided factions in our nation.
Worthy read for everyone Unlike other reviewers, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The approach is refreshing and very informative and has made me think about many aspects of American life.
The individual arguments and their presentation are very intriguing and enlightening. Each argument is worth reading and thinking about because, as Mr. Fineman points out, they don't go away, nor should they. But addressing these issues also requires honesty in presenting the facts of what has happened, which is done with honesty and candor. I found the interjection of the economic realities, and the resulting ideologies they produce, as they relate to the arguments to be particularly interesting.
I believe the author achieves the goals he set: He pulls out of America's past thirteen fundamental questions that we constantly face. They are fundamental questions because they center on exactly what it means to be American. These issues are ones that we should all be thinking about. For that reason, the end of each chapter does feel like something is missing because the debate is not resolved. However, I don't think this can be changed without affecting the integrity of the purpose.
Some may find this a little less than comforting, after all we are taught in school to believe in the ideology of America. But I think more is gained by acknowledging our shortcomings as well as our successes; if we as a nation are open to looking for solutions. America is a discussion, and I believe a worthwhile one. With that in mind, I think this book provides a great starting point for us as citizens to engage in the discussion that is America.
Not a Good Buy For those readers looking for a non-partisan and intelligent observation and analysis about the "13 American Arguments" or similar topics pertaining to faith in politics and the role of government etc. this is NOT the book for you. The author presents no interesting or new facts. Expecting some answers to the "13 American arguments" you'll notice that the author falls extremely short and often poses rhetorical questions at the end of almost every chapter- questions that clearly relay his partisan positions which are often induced with very few facts and a lot of slick bickering.
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