FOUR PERCENT: The Extraordinary Story of Exceptional American Youth

by Michael S. Malone

2nd Edition of FOUR PERCENT - NEW & ENLARGED Many ADDITIONAL Historic Photographs 2013 WINNER in the International Book Awards category of Best U.S. History 2013 WINNER in the National Indie Excellence Awards category of Best Historical Biography 2013 FINALIST in the National Indie Excellence Awards category of History 2012 WINNER of USA Book News' Best Non-Fiction eBook ''A 'must read' not only for young men but also for those who love them.'' Dr. Robert Ballard , World Explorer and discoverer of the Titanic ''Four Percent is the best, and most honest, book ever written about the Boy Scouts of America.'' Tom Hayes , The Huffington Post ''[Malone] wrote how the image of Eagle Scouts has risen over the decades...I could not agree more.'' - Robert J. Mazzuca , Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America (Retired) Four Percent is one of the most complete histories of the Boy Scouts of America ever written and the first to focus on the remarkable story of Eagle Scouts. Award-winning author Michael S. Malone, himself an Eagle, brings the eye of a veteran journalist to a story that for too long has been wrapped in myth and prejudice and uncovers one of the most important, but least celebrated, movements in modern American history. Four Percent is more than just a history of the Eagle Scout rank, but also the story of many Eagles a President of the United States, dozens of astronauts (including Neil Armstrong), Medal of Honor recipients, Nobel prize winning scientists, authors, movie stars, titans of industry, Senators, Congressmen and Governors, civil rights leaders, and community activists who have transformed the face of America over the last century. One of Malone's major contributions in this book is his discovery that the community service project requirement for the Eagle rank has resulted in the great youth service initiative in more than 100 million hours devoted to improving the nation s communities and neighborhoods. Filled with vivid historic anecdotes, compelling profiles, and surprising facts, Malone has brought to Four Percent the eye of a world-class writer, the insider experience of being an Eagle Scout himself, and the objectivity of a career journalist, to produce the best book ever about America's Eagles and perhaps even about Boy Scouting itself.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2012

About the author

Michael S. Malone is a journalist and author who has been nominated for the Pulitzer price twice for his investigative journalism contributions. He has a regular column Silicon Dreams in Forbes (previosuly Silicon Insider for ABC)


Wikipedia entry

Reviews

[Duane Prejean · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Best Books I have Read on the Topic of Scouting. Being an Eagle Scout Myself it was a great read to help me call to mind my own experiences in scouting as well. Read stories of the other eagles that Michael Malone interviews. The scouting heritage is a beautiful One.

[Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting information on the history of the Eagle Scout award, how it has changed, what it has meant to the scouts, to communities, and future leadership of our nation and the world. Lots of history and great stories.

[Keegan Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave Four Percent by Michael S. Malone 3 stars. The book is about the history and beginning of Boy Scouts. It covers all eras of scouting up to today. The book also talks about some of the well known eagle scouts. It was interesting to learn about how the requirements were created.

I liked how much detail they went in about certain more well known scouts and their projects. It was interesting to learn about the knights of Dunamis. Something that I didn't like was how much they talked about things that weren't completely involved with scouts, but just things going on at the same time. It was interesting learning about how crazy the requirements used to be at the beginning of scouts. It was fun to learn about the highs and lows of the amount of people doing scouts.

Overall the book was interesting. I don't think I would read it again by choice. To me this book seems like something very good for a project if you need information on scouting. If you are very involved in scouting I would defidently recommend that you read this book at some point.

[Jim Dreier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as focused as Running Towards Danger and suffering from the same listing of names over pages, the Four Percenters still does a great job of framing the evolution of the Eagle Scouts within Scouting. The overarching theme is that the young men constantly overtook the organization’s readiness in the pursuit of the Eagle badge. As a Scout leader, I see that very quality in Scouts today. Some just come in ready to go and conquer whatever tasks are laid out before them.

[Todd Kruse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice history but far too many errors left by the editors!! I must note for the author that the statement on page 55 , “secret societies for good (Elks, Shriners, Rotary, and Lions)” is not accurate since Rotary and Lions are service clubs which were never secret societies.

[Darin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book every Eagle Scout or their parent should read. Also, offers a great understanding of the birth and history of the program.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for all Eagles.

[Richard White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

[Justin Frear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great capture of the history of Scouting.

[Rick Echevarria · Rating 3 out of 5]

It should be mandatory reading for every one of us, Eagle Scouts!

This book made me proud to be one of the few to have achieved "the PhD of Boyhood." The contributions of Scouting to this country are immeasurable in value and, in today's increasingly progressive thinking, understated and under appreciated. The book does s great job in putting the history of Scouting in the context of U.S. History in the 20th and 21st centuries. It was also interesting to read about the achievements of so many great men that were defined by their trail to Eagle. I gave it 4 stars in spite of a few confusing typos and the lengthy writing in some areas but I attributed that to the pride and excitement of the author for the topic. I know had I written my about my own time in Scouting I would have written it with the same pride and attention to detail.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love with this book. I've read many other books about Eagle Scouts, but I learned more about the history of the rank and its requirements than all the other books combined. Every Eagle should read this. Every parent of every potential Eagle should read this. I know what gift I will be giving Eagle Scouts now. Anyone questioning the service project for the Eagle rank needs to read this.

[Elizabeth Paling · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend all Scout Leaders read this book

This is a very good history of the Eagle Scout rank. Excellent resource for teaching and inspiring young scout what they can be if they choose to be.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know that between 1952 - 1989, the total hours contributed by all Eagle Scout projects exceeded a quarter-billion hours. This includes my community park restoration in 1986. I'm so proud of this wonderful organization. "Once an Eagle Scout, Always an Eagle Scout"!

[Butch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice history of Scouting and the Eagle Scout award. As an Eagle Scout and a Scoutmaster I was encouraged and inspired by the stories from this great movement.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice history of Scouting and the Eagle Scout award. Anyone raising a Cub Scout/Boy Scout who wants to be an Eagle should read this. AWESOME and Inspiring.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Todd Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book has good stats and stories. It did skip around with the timelines making it tough to follow at times. I did have lots of highlights though.