A New Republic: A History of the United States in the Twentieth Century
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Book Overview
An eminent historian offers his views on American democracy
In A New Republic, one of America's most respected historians offers a major statement on the nature of our political system and a critical look at the underpinnings of our society. American democracy, says John Lukacs, has been transformed from an exercise in individual freedom and opportunity to a bureaucratic system created by and for the dominance of special groups. His book, first published in 1984 as Outgrowing Democracy, is now reissued with a new introduction, in which Lukacs explains his methodology, and a new final chapter, which sums up Lukacs's thoughts on American democracy today. Reviews of the earlier edition"A rich, subtle, and often ingenious argument . . . an eloquent, provocative, but disturbing book."--Edwin M. Yoder, Jr., Washington Post Book World
"Mr. Lukacs is an original and subtle historian, and this book] is an engaging intellectual surprise party. . . . I was continuously enchanted by the play of his ideas--by the sharpness of his distinctions and the acuteness of his descriptions."--Naomi Bliven, New Yorker
"It has been a long time since Americans were offered such a provocative interpretation of their historical predicament. . . . We would be foolish not to examine it closely."--Laurence Tool, Society
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0300104294
ISBN13:9780300104295
Release Date:October 2004
Publisher:Yale University Press
Length:480 Pages
Weight:1.55 lbs.
Dimensions:1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Refreshing viewpoint on 20th Century US History
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
John Lukacs is one of the best historians in the field, though most of his work deals with 20th-Century European history. This book warrants being read in connection with his excellent history of Philadelphia in the first half of the century. In this book, Lukacs takes a rather negative view of cultural trends in the United States since 1900. These negative trends include: 1) the growing bureaucratization, not only of government, but also the professions, which can be seen as a weakening of the national character; 2) de-urbanization, the result of the automobile, and the implications of a less urban society; and 3) Inflation (and thus devaluation) of money (an economic issue) but also, of ideas -- a complicated concept. (The argument is that the huge increase in printed material and expansion of the media in the 20th century has created an "inflation" of words and thus ideas.) Lukacs might best be described as a small-c conservative; he has many critical things to say about the Eisenhower and Reagan administrations, especially re: the gaps between their rhetoric and their actions when it came to the issue of the size and role of the federal government in the nation's life.
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