Dangerous Nation: America's Place in the World from Its Earliest Days to the Dawn of the Twentiet...
From the author of the immensely influential and best-selling Of Paradise and Power—a major reevaluation of America’s place in t...
read full description
reviews
Jan 29, 2009
Whitaker
rated it: 
From the other reviews and blurbs, it will be clear that Kagan adopts a stance that is at variance with conventional wisdom. In his reading of American history, he asserts that American foreign policy has generally always been expansionist instead of isolationist. While I'm not in a position to evaluate the soundness of Kagan's thesis, I did find this to be a very readable and accessible history of America's conduct of foreign policy from its inception to the Spanish-American war at the end of t
More...
Dec 06, 2011
Christopher
rated it: 
A wonderful look at America's foreign policy from the earliest days of the colonies (yes, the colonies had a foreign policy) to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. Anyone who reads this book may have their views on American history completely altered. The only drawback to this book is that I think he spends way to much time discussing the impact of slavery on American foreign policy. While it certainly played a major role in the shaping of policy in Antebellum America, the time and focus h
More...
Apr 30, 2008
Billy
rated it: 
In Dangerous Nation, Washington Post columnist and former U.S. state department employee Robert Kagan makes a case for a new way to interpret the history of U.S. foreign relations. Most scholars contend that America’s foreign policy up until the early twentieth century best be described as “isolationist” in nature, a potential global power which only unleashed its global influence when threatened by two world wars and a fifty year Cold War. Kagan, conversely, argues that the United State More...
Feb 12, 2011
Susie
rated it: 
Read this a few years ago and found it really interesting. While I may not agree with all of its conclusions (and it is very one-sided and ideologically driven) it did make me want to read more about American foreign policy over the years. It also sparked the Hamilton/Jefferson slash in my mind, which can only be a good thing. Right?
Oct 13, 2010
Jacob
rated it:
Robert Kagan's book is a challenging one to read. However, it is very fascinating and captivating. It reinforces the notion that the 19th century was the crucial in the development of the American national heritage and ideological perspective. It is a "tour de force" of historical knowledge and implications. Kagan shows how America, from its founding days, was not an isolationist power, but one with a unique ideology. Its messianic and martial character led it to be viewed as dange
More...
Mar 04, 2009
Bruce
rated it:
Theme based on US constant involvement in spreading itself and its creed.
Dec 30, 2010
Ted
rated it:
An important book... Essential reading for understanding today's challenges.
Oct 05, 2007
Banning
rated it:
A well-written, in-depth look at American foreign policy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Ten years in the making, Robert Kagan describes America’s not-so-isolationist leanings from the country’s founding through the Spanish-American War of 1895. I gave it four instead of five stars, however, because in the last page and a half, Kagan insists on giving his neo-conservative opinion of why America took this stance.
Nov 08, 2010
Zach
rated it:
I expected to have to wade through the book written by the leading proponent of the Iraqi surge. However, Kagan is no dolt. His history of America is fun to read, and does not ignore or glaze over the ugly inherent in the rise of the US. Yet even in acknowledging US expansionism and aggression, he still manages to find a certain potential, a hope which stemming from our unique, though imperfect, past.
Jul 14, 2008
Tonya
rated it:
Who wants to read about early American history from a prominent neoconservative intellectual and foreign policy ideologue who cofounded, with Wiliam Kristol, the Project for the New American Century?
I think you do, no really, you do.
I think you do, no really, you do.
Dec 01, 2008
Eleanore
rated it:
An interesting and different perspective on the history of US foreign policy. It is both well written and brings to light various events, incidents, and arguments that have often been overlooked by conventional history.
Aug 25, 2007
Mowry
rated it:
It's the most thorough, authoritative history of US international relations that I've ever read...it's 416 pages and it only covers pre-colonial to the Spanish-American War!
Oct 28, 2007
Bill
rated it:
An incredible look at American foreign policy from colonial days to the Civil War. Explores the myths and truths behind American power. Utterly fascinating.
Dec 16, 2009
I'm going to finish this f-ing book if it kills me...though it is now packed away in a box somewhere. A fate it definitely deserves...
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 04, 2012
Jan 24, 2012
Jan 12, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Jan 08, 2012
