From a World at War to the Triumph of Freedom 1914-1989

America: The Last Best Hope #2

by William J. Bennett

Respected scholar William Bennett reacquaints America with its heritage in the second volume of "America: The Last Best Hope (Volume II)." This engaging narrative slices through the cobwebs of time, memory, and prevailing cynicism to reinvigorate America with an informed patriotism.

Like the previous volume of "America: The Last Best Hope, " Volume II responds to Reagan's heartfelt call for an informed patriotism, telling the riveting story of the last century's great wars, the rise of world Communism, the struggle of freedom at home and abroad, and the triumph of liberty.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, The United States Of America, Historical, World War II

592 pages, Hardcover

First published April 17, 2007

About the author

William J. "Bill" Bennett is a politician and author who served in the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, as chief of National Endowment for the Humanities and later Secretary of Education under Reagan, and Drug Czar under Bush. He is a nationally well-known figure of political and social conservatism and authored many books on politics, ethics, and international relations.

Reviews

[Tim P · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a Zinn fan, this will be the worst book you have ever read. Bennett focuses on American History from a reverent perspective, painting it, as he says "With warts and all...but not only warts."

A great read for teachers, as it's chock full of little-known anecdotes. My favorite? A "cup of joe" is named after Josephus Daniels...who got rid of the Naval rum ration in favor of coffee. My friends are very tired of hearing me bring this up on Sunday mornings.

[John Harder]

Volume Two of Bennett’s history survey takes us from the turn of the century through Reagan’s second term. Bennett is a patriot, so you Howard Zinn fans will hate this book – if you like American you may find this refreshing. Bennett presents our history warts and all, but avoids the continual bashing that some textbooks focus. Probably the best example of this patriotic but balanced history is the coverage of the Vietnam War. Yes, we widened the war when we made incursions into Cambodia, but most texts ignore that the Cambodians wanted us there since the Viet Cong were invading their country. Further the bombings were successful and helped lead to the Paris peace accords. Bennett discusses our shameful behavior after we left Vietnam. We agreed to lend air support in order to defend the South Vietnamese. When the North realized that we were cutting and running, the south fell within two years, the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia and 2 million died; all this because we wouldn’t do a little high altitude bombing. Most texts cover this incident in just the opposite fashion -- it was bad to widen the war, but it was honorable and right that we abandoned the South Vietnamese and Cambodians.

[Leyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always thought Paul Johnson's American history texts were the best BUT----THIS is better! I finally know what WWI was about, and Korea, etc. No liberal revisionist history here. A breath of fresh air. Highly recommended!

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent second volume to Bennett's history series. Bennet balances well a quick survey of American history while still highlighting the important details that allow even an avid history reader to learn a few things. By providing a conservative take on history helps the reader avoid the common liberal interpretations and allows the truth of the events to shine through. Great 2-volume series for high schoolers and history lovers.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

A readable, but more ideologically slanted history of the US from WWI to the end of the Reagan Era.

Bennett's first volume of his "Last Best Hope" series was an evenhanded, primarily positive view of American history up to WWI. Other than a generalized "America is pretty great" sense, Bennett described ideological differences among historical characters/factions but never obviously took a side. He fails to be as disciplined in this second volume.

This time around, we're exclusively in the 20th century and almost exclusively, at war. As America fought 5 major wars during the 20th century, this is a necessary focus. Especially with WWII, Bennett offers up a warmed over history of WWII rather a history of *America* during that time that barely touches on the Pacific theater and spends nearly all its time following FDR around as he chats up Churchill and Stalin.

The Korean war and Eisenhower administrations get slightly better treatment but after that is is when Bennett's history really lets his square flag fly. At this point, the book has two topics: The Cold War and the Culture War. We get LOTS of foreign policy vis a vis the fight against Communism (though the Cuban Missile Crisis is barely touched, weirdly) and we get standard takedowns of conservative culture war shibboleths like hippies, Jane Fonda, and Jimmy Carter-- but all the that great conservative hope, Reagan, is in the background, waiting to save the day (no seriously, he keeps name-dropping Reagan in places that don't warrant it).

Look, I like Reagan but Bennett's history might as well been called "How We Got to the Reagan Revolution" as everything post WWII seems written to help explain the rise of the the Reagan Republicans. That's a fine topic on its own, but it's out of place in a book that purports to be an overall history of the US (rather than of a particular ideological movement).

Near the end, Bennett does a rather silly self-insert where, in describing Reagan's first term, spends several pages describing that dynamic young new Secretary of Education....William J. Bennett....and his various initiatives. Again, as a history of the Reagan cabinet or administration, fine. But multiple pages on Bennett's policy initiatives that ultimately failed (ex: school vouchers) does not belong in a history of the United States writ large and is gratuitous.

Bennett is not a historian (his over-reliance on secondary sources makes that clear) and he admits he was probably a little too close to the action in the latter half of the 20th century to write about it fairly. Nevertheless, his first volume was an excellent treatment of American history with an an obvious patriotic (but not ideological) bent. This second volume adds the ideology and suffers for it.

[Stharris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I read this book, I am having to stop every few pages and really consider things. This book is definitely pro FDR, pro interventionist, not so hip on Patton....ideas that maybe would not be my first opinion. I am beginning to formulate an idea...need much more research....but I am beginning to see that one perpetual theory is not always the answer. Perhaps, there are two forces, maybe we could call them Capitalistic Aristocracy, and Communistic Bureacracy, one on each side of the idealogical debate that vie for power in this world, and the trick is to keep balancing back and forth to keep the freedom for the people. I really need a mentored approach through this study. I really no longer accept the whole, left-right, republican-democrat arguments. I think that true liberty is so much more fragile than we assume, and our only hope is to have leaders who deeply understand these principles, genuinely value liberty, and can keep the precarious balance aligned.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett's narrative of America's history and its world role slows in Vol. 2 to concentrate exclusively on the 20th century between WWI and the end of Reagan's presidency.

Again, Bennett freely acknowledges his own closeness to the later events he describes as Reagan's secretary of education. He acknowledges explicitly his admiration for Reagan and his ideological convictions. Admitting one's bias is important in any work of history, and it is necessary for the reader to take this — as well as Bennett's 'world's last best hope' thesis — into account when reading.

Agree with that thesis or not, Bennett makes a detailed, rational, and powerful case when it comes to the 20th century.

[John Mcgeorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this set. Scholarly, yet informal and occasionally personal, without losing any gravitas. My four-star rating stems from points in the book when the author seems to be litigating and judging history where we lack vital information.

[Camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as excellent as the first, with most of the 20th century's events discussed. A healthy section was dedicated to Ronald Reagan' presidency, which was just fine with me. I loved the exciting stories of what happened in our country and how our leaders chose to act. The civil rights movement was such a noble cause, and there were so many assassination victims who died fighting for a just cause that would not be undone by violent and cowardly acts of a racist subpopulation. I am especially grateful to those people and to the cause they supported. Whenever I hear that X cause is "the new civil rights", I get irritated. No political issue we face today comes close to the importance and significance of the actual civil right issue. Even when people try to compare it to trans rights by pointing out the discrimination and violence enacted upon those people, I can't get onboard with comparing it to civil rights. Yes, there are individual people who are full of so much vitriol that they will act hatefully toward transgender people, but any violent act they take is against the law and the majority of society will condemn such behavior. There is not an institutionalized, government-sanctioned, nation-wide endeavor to do behave in such a way, which is a significant difference of the civil rights movements and demonstrates why the civil rights fight was so important and why the hateful behavior leading up to its necessity was so insidious. I believe we have noble and important fights to fight in today's America, but I believe the civil rights movement should be revered and understood as the unique cause that it was. Any comparison to today's issues cheapens what that just cause was and why it was so important in order to provide equal rights under the law for every citizen.

I wish the first world war had been covered more extensively, but in keeping with the book's theme, we really only learn about America's involvement in the war. Overall, the book read like an incredible story with highs and lows and real conflicts of conscience and national action. I am so happy there is a third installment coming up.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started listening to this audiobook just after the new year started. For the most part, I've only listened to it on the short drives around town (5-10 minutes at a time). I was surprised at how easy it was to stay within the narrative despite listening to it only in short chunks. I recommend this method if you don't have a long commute, and nonfiction seems to be appropriate for this method.

One of the best parts of this audiobook is the inclusion of clips of original speeches and statements from our nation's (and the world's) history. From FDR's "Four Freedoms" speech to Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and including Ronald Reagan's honoring of the Challenger heroes. The speeches are not in their entirety, but no American should grow up without hearing these words spoken by those who delivered them. A transcript simply won't do.

The narration and production quality were excellent, but there were a few times when the narrator would impersonate someone (Ronald Reagan, for instance) that seemed unnecessary. They were pretty good impersonations to be honest, but perhaps not best for this type of book.

For the book itself, it was a very balanced and easy-to-follow narrative of the United States from the beginning of World War I until 1989. One can definitely tell that this project is a reaction against history books that paint America in a negative light. I believe the book has been described as "American History, warts and all" instead of "warts...that's all." It's a fair description, but perhaps necessary. There are also moments when it's obvious that the author is a huge fan of Reagan (which gets a little old, even if you like Reagan). Overall, though, I recommend this book for anyone who wants a good overview of American history. It's a reminder (perhaps needed now more than ever) that the American experiment is still a noble enterprise.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the world of 2021, it is difficult to share an opinion without offending someone. That is a shame because we are missing some great conversations. William Bennett is a conservative, so in these polarizing times many people would dismiss this book on that basis alone. That is a shame. I think it is a good history. I think it gives a flavor of the times without drowning in the details.

The writing style is excellent. I read Volume I years ago and have had Volume II on my list ever since. I am a baby boomer so the time covered by this book is also the story of my life. My parents and grandparents lived in the earlier years and I found myself wishing I could talk to them about what they saw and felt then. At the same time, the memories of them and my youth came back to me; some good and some not so good. If you want an overview of the politics and events of the 20th century this book is a must read. Jon Gauger did an excellent job with the narration, but I would have loved to hear it read by the author.

[Rebecca The Files of Mrs. E, · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I love William Bennett and I love history so honestly it's no surprise that I loved this book. Bennett does such a great job traveling through the story of America. While celebrating America, he doesn't shy away from the less glorious parts. He also gives enough background and explanation that you can see the cause and effect throughout the decades. And with Bennett's conversational style I felt like I could hear him just telling the story of America. It's perfect for anyone looking to better understand our nation's history.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both volumes of this! Bennett is very thorough and really does a great job of bringing of showing us that the great (and terrible) figures from history are human, and just like the rest of us. I found my opinions of some events and people challenged and sometimes changed as I went through. He also does a very good job of incorporating world events into US history.
My only complaint is that I wish there was more, as it ends at the end of he Reagan administration.

[Mark Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

America: The Last Best Hope Volume II

By William J Bennett

I was impressed by the depth of Mr. Bennett’s knowledge of history. Particularly interesting were his descriptions of not only events such as the world wars, but causation, how we got there. His insights into FDR and other players was educational.
You will also be happy to know what you will not see… partisan politics.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent; in this second volume, covering the end of World War I through the Reagan presidency, continues a conservative view of American history, focusing a bit too much on elections and presidencies, but providing an overall view of the country - warts and all - in the 20th century

[Rain Ricotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great content regarding the political climate through the Cold War, and overall history through the 80s from watergate to stonewall although I wish it covered more through the war in Vietnam it never stayed on any one topic longer then it should have.

Overall great read after the first book.

[kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

my favorite part about reading this book was when i was telling my dad about what i was reading (it was the nixon chapter) and out of nowhere he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a vintage nixon/agnew campaign button from the 60s

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was awesome even though it took me about a year and a half to read it. I loved the random stories that Bennett throws in; they make it even more interesting.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it so much I read it a second time.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another joy to read and dig into the history of our great nation. Again any armchair historian should read and digest Dr. Bennett's books. Well worth the time investment to read.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding history book by Bennett. My review of Volume 1 of this series can be applied to this volume as well.

I was disappointed, though, by the ending--because I didn't want it to end. I listened to the audio version so didn't realize how close I was to the end as he summarized the Reagan years, mentioning that Bush succeeded him. I thought, "What? You've given great detail of every presidential election, including the exact number of popular and electoral votes for every president and 'also-ran' since Washington, and we hear about G.W.H. Bush's moving into office as a practically parenthetical statement?" I can see now that he had to draw the line for where he'd end volume 2 and chose to end it with Reagan's presidency, but still, it made it feel like this whole American History was written to build up to the climax of the Reagan era. I'm just sharing with you my "anger" phase of the stages of grief I went through as I completed this series. (I mourned the loss of Bennett's narrator in my headphones, telling a story I loved hearing.)

Happily, I just discovered there is now a Volume 3 to this series, but I notice it is not on Audible or in my library so I may have to resort to Amazon. But the cynical part of me is wondering if it will be worth it since I've lived through the last 25 years and I have a good idea of the story Volume 3 will tell and I'm not sure if I want to hear it.

[PJ Wenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had read volume I years ago, and this was just as enjoyable. I didn't read the entire thing - I spent the majority of my time on the first 350 pages, and focused on pre-WWI and post WWII, both areas where I was weak in knowledge.

Bennett is a very good writer, and has a winsome way of conveying history. I especially like his even handed treatment of communism in America - especially in Hollywood.

This isn't the most in-depth book of history, but its definitely one that I'd want my kids to read once they became teenagers. All the most important topics and events are covered, with the slang terms of the eras coming to the forefront so that the reader can understand the language of references culturally to events and people before our time.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at the clarity of William Bennett's second volume history of the United States. Bennett does not participate in any of the current historiographical debates such post-modern history or bottom-up history. That is a plus. He studies the great characters of American and Anglo-European history. He especially focuses on Churchill, Helmut Kohl, and Margaret Thatcher in the European theatre. His work is not Carlylian hero worship, but well balanced. I am impressed with his knowledge of key civil rights leaders commonly left out of mainstream textbooks.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this 2-volume set about American History. William Bennett made it plain-spoken, interesting and funny (Reagan's humorous quips over the years). He intended for it to be a 2-volume but has since expanded to a 3-volume set to cover the 90's up through the war on terror. At any rate, highly enjoyable and informative read. I recommend this book not only if you enjoy reading history as much as I do but as a reference for younger generations.

[Urey Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview - engaging, perceptive, and informative. Excellent for the curious and the unawares - hopefully it will pique an interest in an event or an episode in American history that will induce the interested and the inquisitive to seek out more focused works. Of course, this must by read with its companion Volume 1 to get the full exposure to the tapestry that is American history.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good dunk into more recent history. On the minus side I saw several points where the author's bias came through. I felt that it detracted from the information that he was presenting. Overall it was very informative.

[Casey Pettingill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both volumes of this book. It is an easy and enjoyable read. Bennet has done a great job of making this a fun read.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this two volumn edition---these are books I will probably read every few years or so to keep the 200 year history fresh in my mind.

[Brian Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about it. Both volumes of this set make the best history I've read. Its fast and engaging, honest, fair and entertaining.

[Baden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the first, I highly recomend this book to the student who wants to quickly get a grasp of American History from WWI to the 1990s.