Neil Baldwin, The American Revelation: Ten Ideals That Shaped Our Country from the Puritans to the Cold War

The American Revelation: Ten Ideals That Shaped Our Country from the Puritans to the Cold War

Neil Baldwin,

St. Martin's July 2006, $14.95

ISBN: 0312325444

The premise of these ten biographical essays is to concentrate on individuals who brought "fundamental Americanism", values at a time in which our leaders prefer polarizing the people to consolidate power via the money mechanism needed for re-elections. Readers may disagree on the choices (no presidents), which is part of the fun of this tome. For instance, this reviewer expected Lincoln as the influence of changing from state-centric to national-conscience, but instead he failed to make the cut, and some that were selected I have never heard of before. Historical buffs will enjoy reading about values of this country from the seventeenth century: John Winthrop; eighteenth century: Thomas Paine and Pierre Eugene Du Simitiere; nineteenth century: Ralph Waldo Emerson, John L. O'Sullivan, and Henry George; twentieth century: Jane Addams, Israel Zangwill, Carter G. Woodson, and George C. Marshall. Written somewhat like the required reading of an American History 101 course, Neil Baldwin presents a fascinating concept supported by his chosen ones, who he argues lived the American ideal of individual freedom and rights.