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The New American Story
“Politics is stuck,” writes Bill Bradley, in this insightful, informative, and provocative book about America at a crossroads, but “idealism isn’t dead. It can be reawakened.”
What will it take to make America a better, stronger, truer country? asks the bestselling author, former Knicks star, and onetime presidential candidate. Bill Bradley believes that America is at a teachable moment when we are compelled to reevaluate our political system, our leadership, our agenda as a nation, and ourselves as citizens. With clarity and urgency, Bradley shows why the story we are being told now about who we are as a people is not true. He then offers a new story about our nation, based on America’s rich heritage and his belief in the character of the American people. Bradley explores what changes need to be made in our parties, in our politics, and in citizen activism to ensure America’s future. He asserts that the American people are ready for the truth and suggests that the party that chooses to embrace this new story will be in power for a generation.
Writing from his own experience in politics and drawing on his knowledge of history, Bradley shows how the Republican Party has built a solid pyramid structure since the 1970s, at the base of which are money, ideas, and media, whereas the Democratic Party’s structure is an inverted pyramid, with too much emphasis put on the need for a charismatic leader to hold the pyramid up. Each party, for different reasons, fails to deal with the real issues that now confront America.
This informed and inspiring call to action is addressed not only to the parties and elected leaders, but to citizens as well. Bradley proposes things every American can do to shape our nation’s future. He points out that if eighty percent of the electorate voted, instead of fifty percent, it would be the most important change in American politics since women got the vote. Now more than ever, he says, we need to embrace an “ethic of connectedness,” a combination of collective action and individual responsibility, to solve our nation’s most pressing problems, and he argues that the fate of all countries is bound together as never before. Writing today with the freedom of a private citizen, Bradley provides this transformative and eye-opening book about the danger and the promise of America’s choice at this crucial moment in the nation’s history.
What will it take to make America a better, stronger, truer country? asks the bestselling author, former Knicks star, and onetime presidential candidate. Bill Bradley believes that America is at a teachable moment when we are compelled to reevaluate our political system, our leadership, our agenda as a nation, and ourselves as citizens. With clarity and urgency, Bradley shows why the story we are being told now about who we are as a people is not true. He then offers a new story about our nation, based on America’s rich heritage and his belief in the character of the American people. Bradley explores what changes need to be made in our parties, in our politics, and in citizen activism to ensure America’s future. He asserts that the American people are ready for the truth and suggests that the party that chooses to embrace this new story will be in power for a generation.
Writing from his own experience in politics and drawing on his knowledge of history, Bradley shows how the Republican Party has built a solid pyramid structure since the 1970s, at the base of which are money, ideas, and media, whereas the Democratic Party’s structure is an inverted pyramid, with too much emphasis put on the need for a charismatic leader to hold the pyramid up. Each party, for different reasons, fails to deal with the real issues that now confront America.
This informed and inspiring call to action is addressed not only to the parties and elected leaders, but to citizens as well. Bradley proposes things every American can do to shape our nation’s future. He points out that if eighty percent of the electorate voted, instead of fifty percent, it would be the most important change in American politics since women got the vote. Now more than ever, he says, we need to embrace an “ethic of connectedness,” a combination of collective action and individual responsibility, to solve our nation’s most pressing problems, and he argues that the fate of all countries is bound together as never before. Writing today with the freedom of a private citizen, Bradley provides this transformative and eye-opening book about the danger and the promise of America’s choice at this crucial moment in the nation’s history.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 13, 2007
A wonderfully non-partisan analysis of where our country has been and what needs to be done to get it on the right track for the future. Without any political agenda, Bradley focuses on what people on both sides of the aisle need to do to help our country regain a firm financial base as well as the respect of our neighbors around the world.
November 28, 2009
Bill Bradley's earnestness has always been appealing. This book is another expression of his earnest concern about the United States. He begins by noting that (page xiii): "I call this book `The New American Story' because I believe we've been told a story about American that simply isn't true. . .It's a story of no possibility--of too few resources and no political will; of fear and lack of compassion; of individual consumerist values at home and `America only' policies abroad."
He begins by writing of what he sees as a dreary story continually sold to the American people (very briefly summarized in the previous quotation; for more detail, see pages 8-13). Bradley goes back to Thomas Jefferson for the fountainhead of his "New American History." Chapters 3-8 explore what a new vision might look at, in policy arenas such as America's role in the world, the economy, oil and the environment, pensions, health care (where he sort of waffles between a couple different positions), and education. It would be too tedious to run through these various proposals. However, the reader can get a punchy summary of his proposals and--perhaps as important--how to pay for these in a summary, running from pages 179-183. he calculates that the policies he would like to see enacted (e.g., increasing research investment, protecting pensions [including Social Security:], establishing a federal institute to determine cost-effectiveness of medical advances, to increase teachers' salaries in areas which are hard-pressed to deliver top quality education, and so on). How to pay for these initiatives (which Bradley calculates to cost $540 billion to $740 billion, depending on which health care option is selected [with single-payer as one of those:]? Some suggestions: extend Social Security taxes higher income levels of the wealthy than is currently the case; cut farm subsidies for the wealthiest farmers; raise income tax progressively, which also reforming the tax code; create a tax on carbon/gasoline. He calculates that such measures as he suggests would raise $807 to $907 billion in additional revenue, thereby paying for his new proposals.
One key aspect of his argument in this book is the importance and value of politics, including the importance of discussion and compromise. He begins to close with an interesting brace of chapters--one on why Republicans cannot produce a new story for the future. More poignantly, given his long record as a Democrat, he contends that Democrats "don't" produce a viable and coherent alternative (e.g., Democrats are terrified of being labeled soft on defense; Democrats are too secular and find it hard to take religious Americans seriously--especially evangelicals and fundamentalists; being too wedded to certain interest groups).
Nonetheless, in the end, he remains optimistic that a new story can reenergize American politics. Will readers be convinced? That will have to be addressed reader by reader. But this is an interesting book by an earnest political figure.
He begins by writing of what he sees as a dreary story continually sold to the American people (very briefly summarized in the previous quotation; for more detail, see pages 8-13). Bradley goes back to Thomas Jefferson for the fountainhead of his "New American History." Chapters 3-8 explore what a new vision might look at, in policy arenas such as America's role in the world, the economy, oil and the environment, pensions, health care (where he sort of waffles between a couple different positions), and education. It would be too tedious to run through these various proposals. However, the reader can get a punchy summary of his proposals and--perhaps as important--how to pay for these in a summary, running from pages 179-183. he calculates that the policies he would like to see enacted (e.g., increasing research investment, protecting pensions [including Social Security:], establishing a federal institute to determine cost-effectiveness of medical advances, to increase teachers' salaries in areas which are hard-pressed to deliver top quality education, and so on). How to pay for these initiatives (which Bradley calculates to cost $540 billion to $740 billion, depending on which health care option is selected [with single-payer as one of those:]? Some suggestions: extend Social Security taxes higher income levels of the wealthy than is currently the case; cut farm subsidies for the wealthiest farmers; raise income tax progressively, which also reforming the tax code; create a tax on carbon/gasoline. He calculates that such measures as he suggests would raise $807 to $907 billion in additional revenue, thereby paying for his new proposals.
One key aspect of his argument in this book is the importance and value of politics, including the importance of discussion and compromise. He begins to close with an interesting brace of chapters--one on why Republicans cannot produce a new story for the future. More poignantly, given his long record as a Democrat, he contends that Democrats "don't" produce a viable and coherent alternative (e.g., Democrats are terrified of being labeled soft on defense; Democrats are too secular and find it hard to take religious Americans seriously--especially evangelicals and fundamentalists; being too wedded to certain interest groups).
Nonetheless, in the end, he remains optimistic that a new story can reenergize American politics. Will readers be convinced? That will have to be addressed reader by reader. But this is an interesting book by an earnest political figure.
December 27, 2010
I liked Bradley, and think he's astute, intelligent, and dedicated to improvements in American society. He presents many good and reasoned ideas to accomplish his vision, although I found many others overly hopeful and idealized vs. practical and readily achievable. And just as his speeches and public appearances failed to captivate the public during his failed bid for the presidential nomination in 2000, his writing isn't all that exciting either, and I found my mind drifting at times. Also, while some have billed this book as non-partisan, the bulk of his criticism is directed at the Republican Party, particularly the Bush Administration and the GOP of today. So if you're a die-hard party loyalist, you may have trouble separating from the criticism and fail to see the quality of his arguments and logic of his reasoning. But you may end up gloating about his failed theory that the Republican election losses in 2006 could be the beginning of things to come following an unpopular Bush Administration. Certainly, the election of 2010 proved that a false prediction. But after seeing so many books recently about how Bush should be prosecuted as a war criminal, or how Obama is an America hating communist, it's good to see a book by a politician, current or past, who actually has ideas and a plan and doesn't rely on mind-numbing party ideology.
September 5, 2008
Well, I don't agree with Bill on all his policy proposals, but I can agree with his intentions. He does a good job of defining the old story, what we've been told by the Bush Administration, and what we can be doing, the new story. His arguments are logical, assuming you respect his desired results. I would say that I'm fairly liberal, but I find that some of his policy proposals conflict too much with my sense of personal interest and the American people.
After finishing, I was very impressed with chapters analyzing where the Republican and Democratics parties, respectively, came from, what they stand for, and where they could go. Tons of information and fairly bipartisan critiques of both parties. I will definitely read something else by Bradley.
After finishing, I was very impressed with chapters analyzing where the Republican and Democratics parties, respectively, came from, what they stand for, and where they could go. Tons of information and fairly bipartisan critiques of both parties. I will definitely read something else by Bradley.
December 1, 2008
Bill Bradley is one of those politicians that brings all the right skills and mentality to politics but lacks the magazine cover appeal and media celebrity that seems to be a requirement to run for high office today. While the book falls a bit short in details around how Bradley's policies could come to fruition it does capture a vision that many Americans could easily get behind. The book is a compelling read and will get you thinking about how to get involved in your own community.
September 11, 2009
What an insightful, level headed person he is. I'm sorry he has dropped out the public's view and wonder what he is doing now. With new leadership in DC, this book will not seem so unusually reasonable today, but it was a breath of hopeful air when I read it a couple of years ago. I hope he reappears as an advisor or commentator or something.
June 30, 2009
If only this book had been more widely read prior to the finacial troubles we are currently experiencing. Bradley outlines a number of things that we as a nation should be looking to do to help achieve our New American Story. Progressives and conservatives alike will find something in this book.
June 27, 2008
After the first 100 pages, this book is in the long list of "Bush-bashing" books by Democratic Party hopefuls. I'll give it another 100 pages to see if anything reasonable and creative is offered. Bradley is an intelligent man but I'm disappointed so far.
January 15, 2009
Another great book that I had the privilege of having Bill Bradley coming to my school and speaking about the American values of today. Great read, got his autograph that i brag a lot about today hahahahaha.
October 12, 2008
A hopeful and thinking book. Practical answers to our HUGE problems in the US and reasons why no one is acting. I felt empowered by this book.
October 17, 2008
Political, sensible, but not enough action recommendations.
May 2, 2009
I <3 Bill Bradley! Way to articulate a progressive, productive view of the potential of American society!
July 30, 2011
Maybe I expected more, but I felt it came up short. Didn't follow through with some thoughts, etc.
August 6, 2011
decent overview of where we stand as a country in reference to the ideals of a democracy in action and a plan towards the future...well worth a read.
October 8, 2011
Inciteful analysis on why our political system is impeding our government from accomplishing anything needed and ideas for changing that.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews