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Gratitude: Reflections on What We Owe to Our Country
The dean of American conservatism makes a provocative argument for universal national service. William F. Buckley, Jr., argues that national service would be good for the country—as good as for those who receive its benefits.
- GenresPolitics
169 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 1990
97 people want to read
About the author
William F. Buckley Jr.
183 books338 followersWilliam Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American author and conservative commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line from 1966 until 1999, and was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. His writing style was famed for its erudition, wit, and use of uncommon words.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 15, 2024
Buckley offers a thought-provoking reflection on the challenges and complexities that now seem to head the 21st century.
Always insightful, he tackles timeless questions with urgency: What does it mean to be a citizen? How can we activate authentic patriotism? And what does it mean to truly contribute to the community of our fellow man?
While I am not exactly drawn to the idea of compulsory service, Buckley nonetheless prescribes the issues well, raising thoughtful questions about dedication, work, and government spending. Through these reflections, he suggests that collective service may be one of the most effective ways to understand ourselves and each other—not as individuals, but as part of a shared human experience.
With his signature blend of wit and wisdom, Buckley invites readers to reconsider how gratitude and civic engagement can shape our responses to contemporary problems while grounding us in timeless values.
Always insightful, he tackles timeless questions with urgency: What does it mean to be a citizen? How can we activate authentic patriotism? And what does it mean to truly contribute to the community of our fellow man?
While I am not exactly drawn to the idea of compulsory service, Buckley nonetheless prescribes the issues well, raising thoughtful questions about dedication, work, and government spending. Through these reflections, he suggests that collective service may be one of the most effective ways to understand ourselves and each other—not as individuals, but as part of a shared human experience.
With his signature blend of wit and wisdom, Buckley invites readers to reconsider how gratitude and civic engagement can shape our responses to contemporary problems while grounding us in timeless values.
January 5, 2017
The up-and-coming field of service-learning has been examined in interdisciplinary academia for a few years. Due to the personal and social implications of service, scholars approach service to one's society in multiple ways. Thus, standards do not exist within the field, and theories of its value(s) act as evidence. Such is the case of serial author and war vet Buckley's book Gratitude. One must consider the context, including when this book was written. It is slightly before its time, published in 1990.
Gratitude is an easy read, with short chapters breaking up tangents. Buckley spends much time on the merits of serving the old, compared to other differently abled individuals, young people, or serving one's land, such as disaster relief. Buckley's reasons for defending service are largely anecdotal and provide no research on its psychological and sociological benefits.
Rather, he proposes a national service franchise administration yet gives no tangible means to achieve such a lofty goal. Rather, he merely outlines it: Young people, ideally fresh out of high school, spend a year in service to their country before moving on to college, work, or home life. He believes legislation for such an initiative should be from the federal government yet the funds be sponsored by individual states. Though this is the core message of Gratitude, his proposal comes in the penultimate chapter. He beats around the bush for meriting service workers, comparing community service to active duty. He too believes such service should be suggested, not mandated, yet never gives clear ideas on its promotion or execution.
Though communities and the individuals within it are often made safer, friendlier, and cleaner thanks to forming connections through service, I wish Buckley gave more depth on economic and political betterment. Certainly, feelings of gratitude can't be quantitatively measured but this should be admitted up front. (Perhaps the book just needs a different title). I'm left with the feeling Buckley was assigned this book, as some form of community service.
Gratitude is an easy read, with short chapters breaking up tangents. Buckley spends much time on the merits of serving the old, compared to other differently abled individuals, young people, or serving one's land, such as disaster relief. Buckley's reasons for defending service are largely anecdotal and provide no research on its psychological and sociological benefits.
Rather, he proposes a national service franchise administration yet gives no tangible means to achieve such a lofty goal. Rather, he merely outlines it: Young people, ideally fresh out of high school, spend a year in service to their country before moving on to college, work, or home life. He believes legislation for such an initiative should be from the federal government yet the funds be sponsored by individual states. Though this is the core message of Gratitude, his proposal comes in the penultimate chapter. He beats around the bush for meriting service workers, comparing community service to active duty. He too believes such service should be suggested, not mandated, yet never gives clear ideas on its promotion or execution.
Though communities and the individuals within it are often made safer, friendlier, and cleaner thanks to forming connections through service, I wish Buckley gave more depth on economic and political betterment. Certainly, feelings of gratitude can't be quantitatively measured but this should be admitted up front. (Perhaps the book just needs a different title). I'm left with the feeling Buckley was assigned this book, as some form of community service.
October 11, 2012
The book really centers on the idea of mandatory national service (non-military) and the debt all citizens owe in a republican state. It's an interesting proposal Buckley describes in the book, and while the book itself is a little dated, the idea of national service isn't. It's a quick read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews