God's Hand on America: Divine Providence in the Modern Era

by Michael Medved

The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America’s destiny.

“A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways.”—Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author of Founding Brothers

Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the ’60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow—on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls—astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic’s providential protection.

In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including:

• A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln’s secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin’s knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States.
• A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, be­ginning in 1881, coincides with America’s rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those bless­ing Abraham’s children will themselves be blessed.
• Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life.
• At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan’s fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them.
• A behind-the-scenes “conspiracy of the pure of heart” by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president—an unstable Stalinist—with future White House great Harry Truman.

These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved’s bestseller about America’s remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God’s Hand on America con­firms that the founders were right about America’s destiny to lead and enlighten the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Christian, Politics, Religion, American History

432 pages, Hardcover

First published November 26, 2019

About the author

American radio show host, author, political commentator, and film critic.

MICHAEL MEDVED’s daily three-hour radio program, The Michael Medved Show, reaches five million listeners on more than three hundred stations coast to coast.

He is the author of twelve other books, including the bestsellers The 10 Big Lies About America, Hollywood vs. America, Hospital, and What Really Happened to the Class of ’65?

He is a member of USA Today’s board of contributors, is a former chief film critic for the New York Post, and, for more than a decade, cohosted Sneak Previews, the weekly movie-review show on PBS. Medved is an honors graduate of Yale with departmental honors in American history. He lives with his family in the Seattle area.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Michael Medved has always been a controversial character on both sides of the political aisle. He first came to prominence co-authoring a book of film reviews with his brother. There was some question over whether these teenagers actually watched the thousands of films reviewed--before they had VCRs. Burt Reynolds publicly called him out.

Since then, he went to Princeton, became a political columnist and talk show host. There's a large section of the right that thinks Medved is more than a bit of a fraud. The left reviles him because he's sort of on the right.

This book is about various signs of God's favor on our great country. Some of them are pretty interesting. Some of them not so much.

The point of the book seems to be the media should do more positive, upbeat stories about America. He's got a point there.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and interesting read! The hand of God is so evident in our history. I especially enjoyed the chapter on “Abrahamic Advantage” as that was new to me ! I did not know that many of the early founders, puritan leaders, colonial leaders really believed they were to be a place for the Jews to be honored and welcomed and that someday America would have a role in the Jews returning to their land. The Lord gave them that vision and then centuries later made it happen ! God gave impactful and accurate visions / ideals to so many of our leaders. And Gods story was moved forward by just inches in so many eras of our history !!! I enjoyed learning about how many of our leaders believed in the divine call on their life and on Americans role in the world. We truly have been given great grace and privilege in being Americans and with that comes great responsibility! This was published in 2019 - would love to see Medved’s epilogue after all we’ve witnessed the last 18 months. As he noted - our republic’s greatest concern (in 2019) was itself - and self inflicted harm . I think all we saw in 2020 really changed that thought in my mind and many others as well. I wonder if Medved would agree that what we’re seeing shows we have been infiltrated with a slow “virus” for many years that’s now coming to the surface and gaining traction.. only God knows which way the American story will go now.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very inspiring book points out several times in our nation’s history when unexplainable but we’ll-documented events happened that appear to be an example of God’s providential hand on the United States. Some were more obvious than others, but all were fascinating to contemplate.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read by Michael Medved. The last few chapters especially swelled my soul with American pride and gratitude and hope. A must read!

[Larry White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Providential or Fortuitous?

It seems evident to me, and to Michael Medved, that God has ordained a special role for America in His unfolding will for mankind. In spite of the flaws in our history (slavery, racism, displacement of native Americans as primary examples) the good which we have inaugurated has overshadowed the flaws and brought peace and freedom to countless peoples who otherwise would have existed under oppression as has been the fate of most of humanity throughout history. America has defeated evil forces in two global wars. It has prevailed against Godless communism. It has fought a bloody Civil War to end the hideous institution of slavery and has strived ever since to overcome its residual effects. It has set an example never before seen in human history of a nation founded on God-given freedoms. It has led the advance of human prosperity and wellbeing throughout the world. The list could go on and on. God indeed has had a providential role in America.

Nevertheless, Medved’s case for God’s direct intervention in the examples he presents are not so compelling as, say, his previous excellent book, The American Miracle, or David McCullough’s 1776, or even perhaps Cleon Skousen’s The 5000 Year Leap. That’s not to take away from this excellent book. I just think that there are other more compelling examples, so improbable as to defy other explanations, that make a stronger case for undeniable intercession by the Creator whose will always shall prevail.

God’s Hand on America, however, does show how good fortune (and that certainly might be the direct intervention of God, just not quite so dramatic) has shaped what otherwise would have been a vastly different history of America and, importantly, the world. It shows also that America and its leadership have often seen God’s hand in their own and our country’s destinies. We are indeed a Godly country at our core, which Medved demonstrates effectively.

Futhermore, this excellent book provides fascinating insights into the shadows of our history, the secondary or ancillary events or forces that influenced or threatened important historical outcomes. Who can say whether or not God deliberately guided these also? Certainly, He could, but certainly also He could otherwise achieve His will for mankind had events transpired differently. That is a great philosophical and theological conundrum. Understanding how such sometimes unremarkable events have profound impacts on great moments of history is humbling and thought provoking.

This fine book is highly recommended for those interested in American history or in God’s omnipotent hand in human history.

[Ruby Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

-As a follow up to his previous book, The American Miracle, the author has compiled a series of biographies of key figures in history who’ve made a profound impact on our country. The focus, though, is how each of these people were somehow protected from death, only to have later performed those great acts which have steered the country in an advantageous direction and which contributed to its reputation as being the leading country of the free world and the country that so many people around the world want to belong to.
-The stories are each filled with little known information and are like mini novels in themselves. Because most of these stories feature a miraculous escape from death, and sometimes, more than one, the involvement of a higher being that’s directing the action, becomes apparent.
-In one of the earlier stories, the focus is on the life of William Henry Seward, who ultimately became the Secretary of State for both Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. At the age of 24, he was involved in an accident, in which the horse drawn carriage he was in had overturned. Though injuries were minor, that accident fortuitously brought him together with Thurlow Weed, an influential newspaper editor. Weed recognized the talent of the young Seward and assisted him in entering politics where Seward ended up rising until he served as governor of New York for two terms. He was a candidate for President for the election that took place in 1860, a race which brought Abe Lincoln to the Presidency.
-After Lincoln won the election, the new President followed in the tradition of selecting the leading figure in his party to be the Secretary of State, which was Seward. Seward, who had earlier believed that he was the intellectual superior of all other contestants for the Presidential office, quickly recognized the brilliance of Lincoln and accepted that only as a united team could the President achieve what needed to be done, and Seward became Lincoln’s greatest supporter. At the same time, the two men became extremely close and became the best of friends.
-It was at almost the end of the Civil War that a second carriage accident almost took the Secretary’s life, but Seward did suffer multiple breaks in his jaw and a broken arm. A special metal brace had to be constructed to keep his jaw in place until it healed and during this time, the President was a regular visitor, where he discussed what was occurring in the country with his recuperating friend.
-It was just days after General Robert E Lee had surrendered, which signaled the end of the war, that the President went out to Ford’s Theatre, to enjoy a break in his schedule and watch a play. In a series of mishaps, the President’s regular secret service agent was off that night, and the replacement was not at his post, which gave John Wilkes Booth the chance to enter the President’s box and shoot Lincoln. Booth had arranged for multiple assassinations to be conducted that night, with a second killing to be that of Seward. Right about the moment that Booth was shooting Lincoln, a knock at the door of the Seward home was answered, and a young man in military garb said he had a package of special pain relieving medication that was given to him by Dr. Verdi, Seward’s doctor, and he was instructed to deliver it to the Secretary himself. Forcing himself into the home, the messenger, Lewis Powell, severely injured Seward’s son, Fred, who was blocking his path. Powell then proceeded to the room of the Secretary to kill Seward as planned.
-Seward, now in bed and unprotected, saw the man rushing towards him, with a knife in his hand. Though the first strike missed, the next strike to Seward’s head was deflected by the metal brace, but sliced the Secretary’s cheek. Seward still managed to hold off his assailant until help arrived in the guise of Seward’s other son. It was only because of the metal brace that Seward was forced to wear that his life was saved, though at the cost of a severe scar on his cheek.
-Seward, though, returned to work, this time for Andrew Johnson, and he made it his mission to acquire the large area of land known by the natives as Alaska. It was considered a wasteland by so many, but Seward alone in the Johnson administration had the foresight to arrange for the purchase. Several events ended up falling into place which made the purchase possible. The Czar needed funding at the time; the area was difficult to defend; and the people were in a victorious mood because of the end of the Civil War. Had Seward not met Thurlow Weed and entered politics, and if he had not survived the attack on his life, no other person would have pushed for the purchase. Had there been a delay of 10 years, Russia would not have sold the land and would still, today, have owned that property, which proved to be highly valuable for both defense of the US, and the mineral and oil wealth located within its borders. The history of the world would have been changed had the USSR been on our doorstep.
-Stories like this are presented which cover multiple events of the past.
*The author covers the completion of the railroad in 1869, which joined the east and west coasts of the US, and the role that Theodore Judah, the little known engineer who had the ability to figure out how to run a railroad over mountains and rivers, played in convincing Congress and investors to back him in the endeavor.
*A more in depth look at the many ways that Lincoln survived assassination attempts and the tense series of events that led to his death is presented, with the result being that Lincoln’s death helped to heal the rift between north and south better than could be achieved had he lived.
*One of the more interesting and frightening stories is that of the Battle of Midway during WWII, in which a series of extraordinary events during a 5 minute period changed a guaranteed major loss by the Americans into a strong victory, which now hobbled the Japanese fleet and changed the tone of the war in the Pacific.
*Teddy Roosevelt’s life is covered, which was a lot more nuanced and tragic than is commonly known. Stories of FDR, Churchill, and Martin Luther King, Jr follow and continues and ends with the tragic assassination of Bobby Kennedy.
-Each episode is filled with interesting details and the writing allows the reader to glide through the story. Though we think we know of those events, there is so much that is not commonly known and the author presents those facts in an excellent writing style. The point of the book is to recognize God’s hand in everything that happens around our lives in even the small occurrences. The purpose of everything that happens is to give us the ability to achieve more. There’s a quote in the book that presents this idea very well and it’s by Rabbi Joseph Soloveichik of Yeshiva University from 1956: “Woe unto the beneficiary of a miracle who does not recognize it for what it is, and whose ear is deaf to the echo of the imperative that arises out of this meta historical event.”

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Medved's first book in this series, The American Miracle, was slightly better, but this book was intriguing as it presented a case for Divine Providence in situations like: the transcontinental railroad, the Battle of Midway, Harry Truman becoming FDR's VP, and Teddy Roosevelt, among others.
A few curious nuggets:
- During the fastest day of rail laying by the Central Pacific, a collaborative group of Chinese and Mormon teams laid parallel rails of 15 feet each every 12 seconds. (Ch. 3)
- The final solid 17.6 karat gold ceremonial spike driven at Promontory Point was inscribed with a prayer that said, "May God continue the unity of our Country as this great Railroad unites the two great Oceans of the world." (Ch. 3)
- Teddy Roosevelt's preservation from death during his assault on San Juan Hill in Cuba was miraculous in the view of many contemporaneous and current people. (Ch. 5)
- Bill Craig became the first agent in the Secret Service ever killed in the line of duty when riding with Teddy Roosevelt in a carriage that was struck by a trolley. (Ch. 5)
- In a period of 5 years, three different deaths intervened to propel Teddy Roosevelt to the presidency of the United States. (Ch. 5)
- It may be said that the American dive-bomber's success at Midway was made possible by the
sacrifice and earlier martyrdom of their torpedo planes. (Ch. 7)
- Only 4 individuals have been honored with federal holidays bearing their names: Columbus, Washington, Lincoln, and MLK, Jr. All shared the sense that their lives had been shaped by a higher power to serve grand purposes. (Ch. 9)

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a sequel to “The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic.” While I haven’t read that volume, I believe in it’s thesis: that God’s hand was involved in the founding of the United States of America. George Washington certainly believed it. In this follow-up volume, Medved continues to look at history through the lense of divine intervention, and while his examples are great historical accounts, and well told, I found the evidence less compelling. I was reminded of a quote from a speech given by historian, David McCullough, at Brigham Young University on 27 Sept. 2005. He said, “One of the hardest, and I think the most important, realities of history…is that nothing ever had to happen the way it happened. Any great past event could have gone off in any number of different directions for any number of different reasons. We should understand that history was never on a track. It was never preordained that it would turn out as it did. Very often we are taught history as if it were predetermined, and if that way of teaching begins early enough and is sustained through our education, we begin to think that it had to have happened as it did.” I think to a certain extent, Medved has bought in to this view of history.
I do believe in God’s hand in our national history and even in our current circumstances, but I don’t think Medved’s very interesting stories in this volume are necessarily evidence of such intervention. Just saying… 3.5 stars

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great perspective on divine intervention in American history. He chooses specific people in American history who played a key role in pivotal times in our nations past when it really mattered. Some of the characters I have issues with as far as what they did, understanding that I other areas they were the necessary alternative to what could have happened understanding God must work within mans agency. He has a positive and hopeful outlook on America and our destiny based on our past dates with destiny. Worth reading. Well written and informative. Michael Medved is a good author and highly intelligent.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooh, I wanted to love this book. It was boring, then amazing, then pretty good, and wrapped up boring. The author was spot on with the importance of each of the subject matters and how they impacted the growth and development of the United States. The author research facts and factors that were unknown to me and I soaked those up. I just felt the pace changed and maybe that was just my interest level changing.

[Riley Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about the modern miracles that have shaped America since the civil war. Many look at the time prior to that as miraculous and feel like "divine providence" hasn't continued to guide America, but Medved shows that it has.

He opens the book with the story of the Mountain of the Holy Cross in Colorado. When it was discovered in 1869 it was viewed as proof of God's blessing on America, but WWII training caused one side to collapse and made the cross less apparent. The author argues that this is symbolic of how many view God's blessing on a America, but it is not true. He talks about how William Seward was saved from assassination to purchase Alaska and Midway. It was viewed as a foley but saved America in WWII and the Cold war. He tells of the miracle of the transcontinental railroad well but quickly. One very cool point was how America has blessed the Jews with a home land and acceptance in America, and America has been blessed by the Jews in fulfillment of the Abrahamic blessing. He recounts how Teddy Roosevelt was preserved from multiple deaths in order to better America with his progressive movement, but was also not elected in 1912 preserving the 2 party stability.

One of the better chapters was about how Winston Churchill was almost killed when struck by a car in NY in 1931 and FDR was almost assassinated in 1933 in Miami. It is scary to imagine WW2 without them. He spends another chapter on the miracles of Midway. He tells the story of how Truman was made VP and in turn preserved Israel and saved American lives with the A bombs. Henry Wallace the previous VP or John Nance Gardner could have be very different presidents. He spends the final chapters on MLK and how Reagan was preserved. He tries to be impartial, but at times shows he was a liberal on RFK's campaign. It is clear he loved FDR which may be hard to read for some conservatives. Overall an excellent book showing that God still favors America and we need to show our gratitude in how we live our freedoms.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In one of the most divisive times in American history, Medved's book, God's Hand on America, directs readers to a reality that transcends partisan politics. Medved has brought to light key points in history when it was most obvious that Providence orchestrated events in astounding--sometimes even miraculous--ways.

Chapters are lengthy but can stand alone. So readers can pick and choose which events interest them most. Whether you read cover-to-cover or random selections, readers won't have to keep track of a litany of character through the whole book. Medved takes a laser focus to a particular figure or event and fleshes out the details in a highly entertaining, and scholarly way.

This isn't just a book for Christians; Medved being Jewish himself, has created a work that transcends individual religion and recognizes the God that Jews and Christians have in common. Medved traces the myriad ways that America has benefitted from God's protection, favor and blessing.

Some of the topics and historical figures covered include:
*Acquisition of Alaska
*Transcontinental Railroad
*Theodore Roosevelt
*Roots of alliance between America and Israel
*FDR and Churchill
*Midway: "The Five-Minute Miracle"
*Henry Wallace and Harry Truman
*Dr. Martin Luther King

This book would make an excellent gift for any history-lover. Buy a copy for yourself, one for a friend and another to donate to your public library so younger generations will be able to trace God's hand in the scope of American history.

Readers may also enjoy signing up for Medved's free weekly newsletter or checking out his podcast, In Light of History at www.michaelmedved.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of God's Hand on America from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

[Dav · Rating 4 out of 5]

.

God's Hand on America:
Divine Providence in the Modern Era

by Michael Medved
(Published 2019, about 400 pages)

OVERVIEW:
Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States?

Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the ’60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow–on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls–astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic’s providential protection.

In GOD’S HAND ON AMERICA author Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, in this provocative historical narrative.

Some of the stories include:

A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln’s secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin’s knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States.

A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, be­ginning in 1881, coincides with America’s rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those bless­ing Abraham’s children will themselves be blessed.

Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life.

At the Battle of Midway (WWII), U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan’s fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them.

A behind-the-scenes “conspiracy of the pure of heart” by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president (Henry Wallace)—an unstable Stalinist—with future White House great Harry Truman. [In later years Wallace admits he was duped by the Soviets and acknowledged their global threat].

These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved’s bestseller about America’s remarkable rise (published in 2016). The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time.

GOD’S HAND ON AMERICA confirms that the founders were right about America’s destiny to lead and enlighten the world. (edited)

.

Begins with the story of the Mount of the Holy Cross, in the 1860s and 1870s. This giant cross, formed by snow in rock crevices of the Rocky Mountains, was seen as a Centennial inspiration to many and was eventually depicted on a u.s. postage stamp. After its collapse some 75 years later, it may be a warning of the "nation's dissolving faith."

Medved makes the case for America's supernatural significance: a series of happy accidents and coincidences were evident at the country's beginning and later (post Civil War) providential events were taken for granted and expected.

The stories listed in the OVERVIEW are presented with all the details, including their providential significance. And there's a number of other inspired and monumental events.

There were significant challenges involved in building a rapid transit across the country and through the mountains (1869) and many coincidences that made it possible. Travel by train provided fast access to remote regions and the West Coast--a providential marvel of the time.

FDR and Churchill both narrowly escaped tragedies that could have ended their influential roles in history if it weren't for Providence. Churchill stepped into the path of a car in New York and was hospitalized, but fully recovered.
(Being a Brit perhaps he looked the wrong way as he cut across the busy street. That's just one of the many times Winston proved to be very lucky or blessed).

FDR (with Harry Truman as his VP) began his unprecedented fourth term as president in January of 1945. He died just 82 days later making Truman our 33rd president (1945 to 1953). Truman accomplished great things that may have never happened if Wallace had remained the VP (NATO, the Marshall Plan, the state of Israel...). Wallace at the time had been pro-soviet and believed in sharing our new atomic technology with Stalin's USSR.

Medved provides a detailed biography of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. King grew up with the nickname M.L. or Little Mike and survived a couple of dangerous accidents that could have ended him. He went to school, got married, was called into the ministry, got involved with the Montgomery Bus Boycott (Rosa Parks) and so much more. It also covers the FBI targeting MLK, exposing his infidelity, innumerable death threats, a bomb at his house, being stabbed by Izola Curry, his controversial anti-vietnam stance, etc and his assassination (April 4, 1968) the day after he delivered his somewhat prophetic I've Been to the Mountaintop speech.

Chapter 10. The author now considers: God might have withdrawn his blessing from America. He begins with the shooting of Bobby Kennedy (June 1968) at LA's Ambassador Hotel. The nineteen-year-old Medved was there as a volunteer for RFK's presidential campaign when the shooting took place.

OUR “SICK SOCIETY” The months and years that followed brought so much bad news that it seemed entirely plausible that our once specially blessed Republic had become uniquely cursed (e.g. urban rioting, Vietnam death tolls, the Manson Murders, drugs, conflicts around the world etc). He contrasts these with a trend of positive events: the moon landing, Reagan survives a bullet, the evil empire and cold war come to an end, peace throughout Europe, etc).

Conflicts and blessings right up to the present are considered, including the Trump presidency and the many who accept this as God's Providence. Of DJT Medved says, "He can't make America great again because we never ceased being great...", making the case for God-granted grace and american success that has brought prosperity to the world. Assuring both sides in our current political civil-war, Medved says, "...the Republic will survive, and prosper, having endured far worse trials..."

[I wonder, considering our acceptance of depravity and attacks on the moral]

.

Medved's point seems to be: the people / participants in the stories were aware of the Providence; supernatural involvement in America's affairs is obvious and we all are uniquely blessed, having been born in the USA and should thank God for it.

Mostly engaging history with some bouts of tedious wordiness.







..

[Lisadiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love history you will love this book. I think it would be a good gift for any history buff. I received it as a Goodreads giveaway.

The book is coherently put together well and I enjoyed the various glimpses of God’s hand woven throughout our history. Michael Medved seemed to do his research for this book well.

[Ben Lobaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the Audible version, which is read by the author. This book was great! I thought I knew the history of America fairly well but Medved dug deep and I learned a lot of new things about our history that I had not known before. Medved is a conservative, but this book presents the history of the nation in neutral manner.

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more details about the historical events in this book. The author shows how little decisions have changed the course of American history. While he tied these events to divine providence, I appreciate that the book didn't beat you over the head with it. There's plenty of history involved, too.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing book that reads like a novel. Little known building blocks leading to great moments in American history expose divine providence.

[Shawn Wyble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some things I knew. Some I didn't.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not engaging, tried to read it but just couldn't get into it. Maybe you will?

[Jenna]

DNF 2% Meh

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the first book in this series to be much more interesting.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book. I found it enlightening and thought provoking.

[Allison Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needed. Such an amazing history and makes one proud to be an American.

[Bill Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Medved's use of the English language draws one into the narrative and makes it come alive. Highly recommended.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many concrete events to ponder!

[Jon Cheek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting content. Someone who believes in divine Providence (as I do) would have no problem with Medved’s ideas. Those who do not believe in divine Providence, however, would chalk up most of Medved’s content to luck or chance or coincidence.

[Tommie · Rating 2 out of 5]

i only got to page 107. not the page turner i hoped it would be. i got slogged down in the chapter about "the abrahamic advantage." was overly tedious.