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Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent
Our Divided Political Heart will be the must-read book of the 2012 election campaign. Offering an incisive analysis of how hyper-individualism is poisoning the nation’s political atmosphere, E. J. Dionne Jr. argues that Americans can’t agree on who we are because we can’t agree on who we’ve been, or what it is, philosophically and spiritually, that makes us Americans. D
ebook, 288 pages
Published
May 22nd 2012
by Bloomsbury Publishing
(first published January 1st 2012)
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I was intruiged by the title, but was prepared to quit in the first few pages as I was aware fo the writers political leanings and was wary of polemic rather than thought. What I found was, I thought, a well reasoned, in general well thought out presentation of the history of shifting tides in politics.
Yes there were a few sections of polemic, but on the whole I appreciated the authors (E. J. Dionne) attempt to wade through this countries years of political history and strive to present a relat...more
Yes there were a few sections of polemic, but on the whole I appreciated the authors (E. J. Dionne) attempt to wade through this countries years of political history and strive to present a relat...more
This book contains valuable (and copious) information on the political history of the United States. I also appreciated (and more or less agreed with) the author's main points--it's astute to make individualism/communitarianism the crucial axis of the current and ongoing debate to define what this country has been in the past and what it hopes to be in the future. The only reason this book received a mediocre rating was that it was repetitive, and its brute force approach to proving a point thro...more
I only understood about 60% of this book. It was super hard with long, complex sentences and lots of history I didn't really learn. Books by professors... Anyway it does explain that the root of our dilemma partially rests with Glen Beck and his incorrect portrayal of American history -- easy to read and sensational. Dionne also points a finger at the Tea Party's inaccurate understanding of the philosophy of our founding fathers and the framers of the Constitution. The Tea Party's philosophy of...more
Dionne does an outstanding job of debunking the myth of America's rugged individualist past. While he readily acknowledges the individualist inclinations of Americans from our founding to the present, he interweaves that element of our history with its important balance: community. Beginning with the preamble to the Constitution, he emphasizes that the work starts with "We the People," establishing us as a nation of individuals working toward common goals--a common good. Dionne's overarching the...more
A study of the conflict between individualism and communalism in our nation's history and how that conflict has attained an intensity which threatens to undermine our political institutions and many of our supposed political ideals. The notion of unfettered individualism is fairly new, and although mostly an imaginary concept, according to Dionne, it is at the crux of our inability to know who we are or to agree even our history. Communalism has hithertofore tempered our cries for individualism...more
We all know that America is a country of rugged individualists, but we also forget that there is a very consistent theme of community that has united us from the Puritan pilgrims to the abolitionists to the Christian progressives and populists to the coalition that created the original New Deal.
Dionne sketches a clear history of that very American story, and details how the unbalancing of the tension between community and individual may be a leading cause of the gridlock in our political cultur...more
Dionne sketches a clear history of that very American story, and details how the unbalancing of the tension between community and individual may be a leading cause of the gridlock in our political cultur...more
It's not a particularly original book, but it provides a necessary corrective to the historical narrative espoused by conservatives, especially those of the Tea Party variety. I enjoyed it immensely. I relearned old things and learned new ones. The main idea is that today's conservatives are wrong to claim the United States has always been defined by individualism. Dionne provides a march through political, judicial, and philosophical history to show that individualism and communitarian tendenci...more
I begin this review of “Our Divided Political Heart” (ODPH) with a sort of heads up. This is not a book for political or historical rookies. Professor Dionne presents the current poisonous and dysfunctional Washington atmosphere in a format of not only the discussion of present political issues between warring parties, but within the whole context of decades old political historical and social movements which he weaves into his narrative, and have now both incrementally morphed into the most hy...more
If rational, balanced thought ultimately loses in the marketplace of ideas for America's future, E. J. Dionne's disappointing "Our Divided Political Heart" may serve as an object lesson into why. Dionne confronts the passion and the historical fiction excesses of the Tea Party and recent conservative radicalism with such a cool, emotionally inert equanimity that one's nodding agreement quickly turns into nodding off.
Dionne's central frame -- that we Americans have been struggling with the twin...more
Dionne's central frame -- that we Americans have been struggling with the twin...more
Dionne is an ideologue. He makes no bones about it. He does have a tendency to set up the Tea Party as a straw man to punch around. He also has a tendency to fall victim to the very faults he complains about in others, specifically that of viewing history through blinders. He wants all the good guys to be like him and is very selective about what parts of history and the historical figures he uses as examples (for instance Jackson's treatment of the Cherokee and Creek Indians, FDR's stacking of...more
I picked this up expecting a liberal polemic. An intelligent one to be sure, coming from E.J. Dionne, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find so much more than a polemic. Mr. Dionne argues that we Americans must reclaim our very history. And he does so with great scholarship, surveying the work of some of our greatest historians, all the way from the Revolution to the present day. Dionne's main point is that the two aspects of our national character, individualism and communitarianism, are o...more
3.5 - He does a wonderful job at discussing the historical past and transformation of the American political system. I gave it an overall 3 because I think it could have been a little more bipartisan and not focused so much in some areas (i.e. the Tea Partiers). In the last chapter he spends some time looking into the new "millenium" generation and where they have the potential to make reforms. Thought provoking and a good history lessons for those who need it.
EJ Dionne pulls off the toughest trick of writing an intellectual history; he manages to succinctly summarize the arguments and ideas of others while never losing his own generous, distinctive voice. He argues convincingly that America is a country of both individualistic and communitarian beliefs, and that “at a moment of so much…angry political polarization...restoring balance between our two sides may be the most radical option to offer”. He fleshes out this argument with compelling looks at...more
Very thoughtful analysis of how we came to be where we are in our polarized society. Dionne's far-reaching intellect transcends the tendency of so many to over-simplify history and to concretize "the" American Idea. His humanity transcends the tendency to demonize those with whom we disagree. Highly, highly recommended to anyone who cares about where we, as a society, might go.
America has always struggled to balance our love of individual freedom and our devotion to community. It's easy in our partisan battles to forget this very real balance. Most interesting was the radical shift in each party's platform that left conservatives and progressives taking up the other side of the argument. Perhaps if people realized the history of their own party they would be less likely to dismiss or attack the "opposition." Our founding fathers compromised in hopes of finding a balan...more
This is one of the most inspirational books I have read regarding my political beliefs. Dionne does an amazing job of explaining how our politics has become so polarized today. Our polarization today is a result of radical individualism espoused by the Tea Party that has effectively taken control of the GOP. America's history is defined by beliefs in both individualism and communitarianism. This is the balance we must return to.
In depth discussion of the two essential elements of the American experiment: the tension between individualism and community. Seriously looks at many sides of each issue and is clear that his bias is toward the liberal/progressive...which we all know from reading his fine essays/opinion pieces. At times a bit slow going, but ultimately felt that I had such a deeper understanding of not only the process of the American political and social processes, but of my own part in it. Definitely a recomm...more
MSNBC contributer E.J. Dionne takes us into a look on why the American political system is one filled with division and how both sides of the aisle misinterpret history to bolster their causes. Dionne takes a look at the arguments between individualism vs. communitarianism and how modern-day conservatism has evolved from one that emphasized republican (small-r) causes to one that stressed individualism and big business. Dionne, who is sharply critical of the Tea Party protests of early 2010, als...more
Interested in this because it is praised as a truly bipartisan look at the deep political divisions in this country and a plea for a return to what the author calls the "Long Concensus," a period that covers most of the 20th Century in which Americans balanced two core values--love of individualism and love of community.
EJ is terrific.
His argument here is that there's always been a tension, or a balancing act, between two competing values in our history. Individual liberty and community. We've always valued allowing people as much freedom as possible, and we've always done things together that we can't do alone. The Tea Party right now, and conservatives over the last 30 years or so, have lost track of the second element. They've focused selectively on the parts of our history that support their view (as we all...more
His argument here is that there's always been a tension, or a balancing act, between two competing values in our history. Individual liberty and community. We've always valued allowing people as much freedom as possible, and we've always done things together that we can't do alone. The Tea Party right now, and conservatives over the last 30 years or so, have lost track of the second element. They've focused selectively on the parts of our history that support their view (as we all...more
I liked the premise of this book and the historical thread that supports it. I tend to agree with most of the author's ideas. However, I found the book difficult to get into. It seemed to slow for me and I am not sure why. It is useful material, but I would have found it to be just as useful if I had skimmed it.
I came back to the US after 30 years abroad and found myself utterly mystified by the assumptions and attitudes in economics and politics. E.J. Dionne explained so much. I may go back and read it again. Especially in connection with Ellis's First Family about John and Abigail Adams.
This is a thoughtful and well-articulated explanation of how the Republican Party has morphed from the party of emancipation to the Tea Party and how that transformation has divided our country's heart. E.J. Dionne exposes the cynicism of the takeover of the Republican party by individualists, evangelicals, and birthers. As well, he shows how Liberals and Democrats were unprepared. An excellent read, especially if you're a history geek like I am.
Powerfull concept. Using the first word in the US Constituion "We" and how today the US political culture has brutally diminished this defining chacteristic of what made the country such a powerful force for freedon, social and economic progress globally. I look forward to reading it.
Dionne comes to this book with a wealth of impressive credentials. A really well done look at our political history and it's relevance to our current 'divided political heart'. Based on the recent election, some people must have been reading this. Excellent.
I have enjoyed watching E.J. contribute his vast political knowledge on many political news programs. He goes through a long history of American political theory leading up to the Long Consensus. This is a very interesting and masterful book about political history and theory.
This is a book about the history of politics in the US. It's a bit detailed but parts of it were really fascinating especially in this election year. It was a slog at times, but I'm glad I read it and besides I really like EJ Dionne.
A literate, non-partisan discussion of the twin threads of the American fiber: individualism and community. The book is an enlightening review of the shifting interpretations of history throughout the years. While we are currently "divided" as a nation, Dionne proposes that this division need not be permanent or destructive. Discourse, debate and healthy disagreement are integral parts of the great American Experiment and they always will be.
I actually have not finished but it seems like a good overview of how we got where we are. Knowing this can we figure out how to move on?
The difference between E.J.Dionne and myself is that when explaining our divided political heart, he is extremely intelligent while I am a basket case. This book went a long way to help me put things in perspective.
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| Who Are We: Liberty, Community, and the American Character | 1 | 2 | Mar 08, 2013 10:17am |
