Making Patriots

by Walter Berns

Although Samuel Johnson once remarked that "patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels," over the course of the history of the United States we have seen our share of patriots who have willingly put their lives at risk for this country and, especially, its principles. And this is even more remarkable given that the United States is a country founded on the principles of equality and democracy that encourage individuality and autonomy far more readily than public spiritedness and self-sacrifice.

Walter Berns's Making Patriots is a pithy and provocative essay on precisely this paradox. How is patriotism inculcated in a system that, some argue, is founded on self-interest? Expertly and intelligibly guiding the reader through the history and philosophy of patriotism in a republic, from the ancient Greeks through contemporary life, Berns considers the unique nature of patriotism in the United States and its precarious state. And he argues that while both public education and the influence of religion once helped to foster a public-minded citizenry, the very idea of patriotism is currently under attack.

Berns finds the best answers to his questions in the thought and words of Abraham Lincoln, who understood perhaps better than anyone what the principles of democracy meant and what price adhering to them may exact. The graves at Arlington and Gettysburg and Omaha Beach in Normandy bear witness to the fact that self-interested individuals can become patriots, and Making Patriots is a compelling exploration of how this was done and how it might be again.

Genres: Nonfiction

164 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2001

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t really enjoy this book. The author used a lot of ultimatums and absolutes that weren’t necessarily true. There were a lot of things I disagreed with, which doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily feel the same way - however, Berns is very opinionated and he writes as if his opinions are truth, which can be dangerous for people reading who are very impressionable and don’t have their own opinions on the topic. It wasn’t a great read, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a fun read, and I wouldn’t really recommend it as an informational read either. I would maybe recommend it if you want to get another perspective on something, or are curious about the topic of patriotism. Otherwise, there was nothing great about it.

[Mark Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berns' book is likely better than my rating, but it pales next to Taking the Constitution Seriously, which is older, more complete, and more interesting in some ways. In this work, Berns repeats many of the same themes, so, for me, the later book suffers by comparison.

Berns seeks to explain how patriotism in America works. As a "new" kind of republic, the government is limited in its ability to create virtue, but our social compact assumes a certain level of citizenship, or public-spiritedness. We are a creedal nation, born under a set of principles. Those principles must be taught--again, and again, and again. This is the only way we will survive.

I like the book, but the longer one is better and more thoughtful.

[Beth Haynes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too stream of consciousness and difficult to understand the points the author was making.
The few points I think I understood, I did not agree with. It could be because he was not effective in making his case -- but I am not inspired to make an effort to understand his points better.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book and truly specifies what patriotism is and should be. It's not about flag waving people!