<![CDATA[The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country]]>

false <![CDATA[The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255580125m/6314492.jpg 2253280 3 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.” Advance 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 2259161 22 4 2008 The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country total:71|5:7|4:29|3:23|2:8|1:4| 71 240 220 24 4 1 false false Thu Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 16 16:25:09 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 23 14:02:11 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 12:00:40 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 07 16:37:37 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 14:40:14 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 25 17:47:29 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 16 14:56:20 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 21 13:12:29 -0700 2009 more...]]> 1 0 false false Fri May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 15 17:31:38 -0700 2009 Fri May 15 17:38:19 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Jul 22 06:25:16 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 10 13:45:09 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 22 06:25:16 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat May 09 12:32:12 -0700 2009 Sat May 09 12:33:55 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Jul 16 09:26:10 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 16 09:35:21 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Jun 01 10:16:46 -0700 2008 Sat Jun 07 20:21:34 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Mar 23 14:27:43 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 23 14:28:54 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 29 17:14:28 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 29 17:22:19 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Dec 27 20:01:37 -0800 2008 Sat Dec 27 20:02:15 -0800 2008 5 0 false false Sun May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon May 05 11:08:14 -0700 2008 Mon May 05 11:12:21 -0700 2008 more...]]> 2 0 false false Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Nov 23 22:07:57 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 12 13:04:37 -0800 2008
In short, so far its a nice overview of American issues. ]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jun 25 08:55:40 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 25 09:02:51 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Oct 21 13:18:12 -0700 2008 Tue Oct 21 13:25:39 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu May 15 07:52:02 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 13 08:02:20 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 03 18:49:06 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 13 16:14:37 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Mon Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 22 06:37:33 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 01 04:44:28 -0700 2008 more...]]> 0 0 false false Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Apr 27 14:41:29 -0700 2008 Sun Jun 15 14:59:59 -0700 2008 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=6314492