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The American Idea: The Best of the Atlantic Monthly
“What is ‘the American idea’? It is the fractious, maddening approach to the conduct of human affairs that values equality despite its elusiveness, that values democracy despite its debasement, that values pluralism despite its messiness, that values the institutions of civic culture despite their flaws, and that values public life as something higher and greater than the sum of all our private lives. The founders of the magazine valued these things—and they valued the immense amount of effort it takes to preserve them from generation to generation.”
--The Editors of The Atlantic Monthly , 2006
This landmark collection of writings by the illustrious contributors of The Atlantic Monthly is a one-of-a-kind education in the history of American ideas.
The Atlantic Monthly was founded in 1857 by a remarkable group that included some of the towering figures of nineteenth-century intellectual Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and James Russell Lowell.For 150 years, the magazine has continued to honor its distinguished pedigree by publishing many of America’s most prominent political commentators, journalists, historians, humorists, storytellers, and poets.
Throughout the magazine’s history, Atlantic contributors have unflinchingly confronted the fundamental subjects of the American war and peace, science and religion, the conundrum of race, the role of women, the plight of the cities, the struggle to preserve the environment, the strengths and failings of our politics, and, especially, America’s proper place in the world.
This extraordinary anthology brings together many of the magazine’s most acclaimed and influential articles. “Broken Windows,” by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, took on the problem of inner-city crime and gave birth to a new way of thinking about law enforcement. “The Roots of Muslim Rage,” by Bernard Lewis, prophetically warned of the dangers posed to the West by rising Islamic extremism. “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King, Jr., became one of the twentieth century’s most famous reflections upon—and calls for—racial equality. And “The Fifty-first State,” by James Fallows, previewed in astonishing detailthe mess in which America would find itself in Iraqa full six months before the invasion.The collection also highlights some of The Atlantic ’s finest moments in fiction and poetry—from the likes of Twain, Whitman, Frost, Hemingway, Nabokov, and Bellow—affirming the central role of literature in defining and challenging American society.
Rarely has an anthology so vividly captured America. Serious and comic, touching and tough, The American Idea paints a fascinating portrait of who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.
--The Editors of The Atlantic Monthly , 2006
This landmark collection of writings by the illustrious contributors of The Atlantic Monthly is a one-of-a-kind education in the history of American ideas.
The Atlantic Monthly was founded in 1857 by a remarkable group that included some of the towering figures of nineteenth-century intellectual Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and James Russell Lowell.For 150 years, the magazine has continued to honor its distinguished pedigree by publishing many of America’s most prominent political commentators, journalists, historians, humorists, storytellers, and poets.
Throughout the magazine’s history, Atlantic contributors have unflinchingly confronted the fundamental subjects of the American war and peace, science and religion, the conundrum of race, the role of women, the plight of the cities, the struggle to preserve the environment, the strengths and failings of our politics, and, especially, America’s proper place in the world.
This extraordinary anthology brings together many of the magazine’s most acclaimed and influential articles. “Broken Windows,” by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, took on the problem of inner-city crime and gave birth to a new way of thinking about law enforcement. “The Roots of Muslim Rage,” by Bernard Lewis, prophetically warned of the dangers posed to the West by rising Islamic extremism. “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King, Jr., became one of the twentieth century’s most famous reflections upon—and calls for—racial equality. And “The Fifty-first State,” by James Fallows, previewed in astonishing detailthe mess in which America would find itself in Iraqa full six months before the invasion.The collection also highlights some of The Atlantic ’s finest moments in fiction and poetry—from the likes of Twain, Whitman, Frost, Hemingway, Nabokov, and Bellow—affirming the central role of literature in defining and challenging American society.
Rarely has an anthology so vividly captured America. Serious and comic, touching and tough, The American Idea paints a fascinating portrait of who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.
688 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 6, 2012
This is one of my favorite books on my bookshelf. Every article is amazing. And because it's the Atlantic, which has been publishing great stuff since before the civil war, the articles all come together as a sort of intellectual history of America. I feel like I should order a copy for everyone.
March 7, 2023
A collection of articles published in The Atlantic, The American Idea contains some real gems from the magazine’s long history meditating on different topics relating to America’s place in the world to its relationship with itself. Each article is only a few pages and offers some intelligent and unique perspectives.
You don’t have to read them all in a sitting. I haven’t yet. It’s made to be consumed a bit at a time with reflection and makes a great supplement to your study of US history. This would definitely make a great addition to anyone’s library.
You don’t have to read them all in a sitting. I haven’t yet. It’s made to be consumed a bit at a time with reflection and makes a great supplement to your study of US history. This would definitely make a great addition to anyone’s library.
February 7, 2008
Engrossing and thought provoking at first, I think after reading through scores of strong essays about "The American Idea", I just lost interest. Strong writing, but perhaps you have to be highly patriotic to thoroughly enjoy?
June 4, 2012
There are some amazing articles in this book. I suggest that those who read this book should skip around to what mosts interests them. Not all the articles are great, but a bunch of them are powerful and thought-provoking.
December 9, 2007
Simply wonderful. A joy to read.
August 13, 2013
For some reason, I found the introduction--the backstory--
to the mostly excerpted pieces more interesting than the articles themselves.
to the mostly excerpted pieces more interesting than the articles themselves.
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January 18, 2010The American Idea: The Best of the Atlantic Monthly by Robert Vare (2007)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews