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The American Future Audiobook Summary

“With eloquence, wit, passion, and irony, The American Future traces the history of an idea: that of our national destiny….A book of beautiful writing, peppered with wisecracks, slashed with rapier thrusts.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

A De Tocqueville for the 21st century, Simon Schama, NBCC Award winning author of Rough Crossings offers an essential, historical, long view analysis of the American character in The American Future. Shama examines four themes–war, race and faith, immigration, and custodianship of the land–through the prism of the historic 2008 presidential election in a magnificent work that the Wall Street Journal calls a “celebration of American resiliency.” Niall Ferguson says, “I hope Obama will have this book on his bedside table.”

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The American Future Audiobook Narrator

Rupert Degas is the narrator of The American Future audiobook that was written by Simon Schama

Simon Schama is University Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University in New York. His award-winning books include Scribble, Scribble, Scribble; The American Future: A History; National Book Critics Circle Award winner Rough Crossings; The Power of Art; The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age; Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution; Dead Certainties (Unwarranted Speculations); Landscape and Memory; Rembrandt’s Eyes; and the History of Britain trilogy. He has written and presented forty television documentary films for the BBC, PBS, and The History Channel, including the Emmy-winning Power of Art, on subjects that range from John Donne to Tolstoy.

About the Author(s) of The American Future

Simon Schama is the author of The American Future

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Subjects

The publisher of the The American Future is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is American Government, General, Political Science

Additional info

The publisher of the The American Future is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780061894275.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Robert

December 24, 2017

Schama deftly plumbs the depths of America's internal contradictions, concluding that our hope, greatness, and indeed exceptionalism therein lie. All American high school students should read Schama's section on religious toleration and the founding fathers. Schama takes on and soundly thrashes the current evangelical assertion that the United States was established as 'a Christian nation (he even produces an early treaty, ratified by Congress, that states bluntly "as the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion"). And anyone of German or Irish heritage who agrees with Lou Dobbs on immigration issues needs to read Schama's section on immigration titled 'What is American?'. Even the anti-slave abolitionists such as Beecher and Morse, it would appear, were not above burning a convent or two to keep the credulous and filthy potato-eating papist hordes from violating the Protestant City on the hill. Left unchecked, what did you get? "A whiskey-soaked, priest-governed, black-hating, socially delinquent city swarm, numerous enough to impose their will at the polls. Good-bye liberty; farewell America." And the reparations-minded folk stuck in the 60s should read about the anti-Chinese pogrom in LA in 1871, long before there was a Watts or a South-Central to go berserk over Rodney King's misfortune. ALL who think that throughout it's history the USA has been pro-Europe with regard to immigration will learn something here; the venom with which most European immigrants were greeted is mostly lost in current debates about race, ethnicity, and toleration in the "melting pot". Despite all of the dissonance of racism and intolerance covered in his American story, though, Simon manages to drive home a clear and resonant note of hope that the American progressive experiment remains very much alive (and even, dare I say, progressive) in 2008. "The glory of American life is its complexity," concludes Schama, "and from the richness of that complexity come, always, rejuvenating alternatives." Amen, brother!

Alan

June 05, 2010

Schama writes as if he invented English. This is history as it once was. Popular, interesting and well written. It looks to the past to explain and illuminate the present. Taking the 2008 election as turning point, Schama tells that story from the perspective of how the past influences the present. He commingles race, immigration, war and the economy as they played out in 2008 and traces those threads back into the past showing that they are not new and fit into a particular historical patterns. Using key individuals from the past to tell his story of the American present Schama not only writes one of the more interesting non-fiction books but one that illuminates the current political debate by showing whence it came.My favorite part of the book was his exegesis of Montgomery Meiggs, Quartermaster of the US Army, key engineer of Washington's water supply and construction of the Capital building and the man most responsible for the placement of Arlington National Cemetery on the ancestral lands of Robert E. Lee's family.

Patricia

January 02, 2018

This book was written in the midst of the 2008 presidential election, so when you read the preface you think, "Hoo-eee! Was he ever wrong in being so optimistic!". But I am a fan of Schama's work, so I kept on. It's worth it. I suggest you skip the preface, start at Chapter 1, and then return to the preface at the end of the book. By then, you'll be able to see that the USA has a habit of going off the rails: it's not Trump, it's the people themselves. But by the same token, because of that, you may end up thinking that even if there's no reason to be optimistic, despair may be an overreaction too.

Joann

January 28, 2020

Masterfully Schama juxtaposes the election of 2008 with historical events of America. The book is captivating, accessible, and one that everyone interested in history should read.

Rob

February 04, 2012

In 2008, America stood on the cusp of a change which even just a few years earlier would have been unthinkable. Barack Obama, a black American, had a realistic chance of being elected President of the United States. His vision of change was providing an inspiring alternative both to a discredited Republican regime and Hillary Clinton's Democratic Party machine. Establishment politics had failed - the long years of easy credit and economic boom had come crashing to an end, whilst American troops struggled to make an impact against nebulous foes in Iraq and Afghanistan. If ever there was a potential political watershed, this was it.Simon Schama's TV series and book were an attempt to take a long perspective on America's most pressing issues, mixing historical aperçus with contemporary analysis to brilliant effect.When West Point Academy for officers was founded, the study of French was compulsory for the practical reason that many of the textbooks were written in French. But the principles of mathematics and engineering that were instilled allowed the Army to play a major role in the Civil Engineering of the new nation. They helped create, for instance, the levées that protected New Orleans until contemporary negligence contributed to their breach in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Switch to the retired General who, when asked if the Army could have done more to fix the infrastructure of Iraq, said that that is not what the Army is for.The Union's success in the American Civil War was largely due to the success of West Point graduate Montgomery Meigs' clear-headed and incorruptible approach to logistical management. Switch to Iraq, where "Construction companies awarded no-bid contracts had bungled the job after pocketing front-loaded operational budgets". No explicit contrast is made - none is needed.For a country founded on immigration, America's attitude to new immigrants has often been ambiguous. Discrimination against Chinese workers in the West is contrasted with American migrants to Mexico in what is now Texas. The first part of the American history is the search for land, as settlers pushed further and further west, and the American army made gains to the South. Treaties with American Indian tribes are torn up with impunity by Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Mexican war. Rewind to Schama's meeting earlier in the book with Generals Freddy Valenzuela and Ricardo Sanchez, all-American heroes in a Hispanic military café in San Antonio, Texas.For the American history is a complex history, ebbing and flowing from highest ideals to naked greed and corruption. What Schama manages to do is to select examples that not only encapsulate how America came to be what it is today, but also to underline its complexity. He moves easily back and forward through the history of the Meigs family and the history of the nation, but eschews easy answers. As the past four years have shown, the problems that contemporary America faces are too deep-seated simply to be solved by well-crafted words, but this book is a fine attempt to shed some understanding on its most intractable issues.Taken from my blog http://roderick-random.blogspot.com/2...

Brad

September 03, 2009

The premise of this book concerns the idea that we can only comprehend the American future by understanding the American past. To accomplish this, Schama deals with four different aspects of American uniqueness that, contemporary Americans ignorant of history might seemingly ignore. And to clarify the points he wants to make he weaves an absolutely beautiful narrative, capturing wonderful American figures long since lost in history’s deep annals.First, Schama deals with war. Given the fact that America is bogged down in 2 wars, one the result of falsification and disastrous imperialism, the other – in my opinion – an initially noble battle quickly losing that credibility, Schama illustrates important points in history that address judgments of right and sufficient reasons for war. Here we are introduced to the delightful Montgomery Meigs, Quartermaster General in the Civil War, and his long family lineage – from his Great-grandfather, the wonderfully named, for wonderful reasons, Return Jonathan, to his Great-great-great nephew, the current retired General Meigs. Their story is incredible. Further, he introduces to the origins of West Point and the Hamiltonian/Jeffersonian world views that preceded it. We are introduced to disastrous mistakes made in the Philippines.Schama addresses the unique American balance between religion and tolerance in a current age where religious fundamentalism seems to have boomed to unprecedented levels. And yet, here again, we see the origins of American fervor; from the country’s first settlers to the Second Great Awakening. The arguments of Jefferson and Madison are especially refreshing here, as is the discussion on slavery. The immigration debate comes into full view as Schama dissects our culturally inclusive history; indeed the section dealing with the Chinese immigrants who constructed the trans-continental railroad sound exactly like they came off current right wing talk radio. And the concluding section on America’s vast and precious natural resources is a must read for we Westerners who – again, at least in my opinions of Utahans specifically – have long since lost our respect for water.Schama has a tendency to get pretentious, even out pretentiousing someone as pretentious as me. This gets old. But the book – concluding with Obama’s recent inauguration breathed new welcome life towards my confidence in the 44th president, who has not yet lived up to my high, progressive standards. Reading Schama, I’m all the more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because the one thing that I do know about Obama: he knows history. And that, really, is fundamental for our future.

Paul

October 20, 2009

There are geniuses among us. No, probably not that guy next to you on the train. They're difficult to spot, unless they reveal themselves in some way. Fortunately, some of them do so by writing books. Simon Schama is definitely one of them. Schama's latest, "American Future," is based on a BBC-TV documentary series he hosted during last year's presidential campaign. I'm not sure which came first, book or TV series. It doesn't matter. The book is good -- genius good.This is not to say Schama is easy going. You need to make time for his work. Having virtually done my brain in while reading his entire "History of Britain" series, his French Revolution opus, "Citizens," or his more recent "The Power of Art," I know he is not for everyone. He is masterful at translating small details into larger truths. You'll find yourself reading paragraphs over and over, until finally you realize "Oh, that's what he means!" But it's all worth it. Part of Schama's peculiar genius is for those little-known stories from the attic of history. Forgotten people -- ever hear of Return Jonathan Meigs? (yes, that's his real name) -- who helped create the United States we know today. Not surprisingly, Schama often uses historical reality to unravel common modern assumptions about the nature of government and its role."American Future" weaves these tales into a stop-and-start narrative of the 2008 presidential campaign. His insights cast new light on where this country has been and where it might be headed. In general, Schama feels pretty darn good about the American future. And I'm happy to take his word for it. After all, he's the genius.

Hugh

September 12, 2016

I like Simon Schama's work (OK, I'm biased, because we were at the same college), and I enjoyed reading this book. Written in 2008, after Obama was sweeping the nation and seemingly ushering in a new age in American political life, it now makes chilling reading.The optimism inherent in Schama's tone of 2008 now appears to have been totally unjustified. The racism, prejudice and intolerance that Schama chronicles as a thread running through the whole of American history (and not a minor thread, either, but a major part of the fabric) have come to the fore, in the GOP's determined and unreasoning opposition to Obama and all that he has proposed, the Tea Party, and most recently, the Trump-eters - all of whom have had their counterparts in an almost unbroken line of American political thought.He is at pains to point out many of the traits that make the USA great - this is not an anti-American book (unless pointing out the truth is anti-American), but...Two topics he doesn't touch on are the almost sexual obsession with guns of many Americans, and the unique (in the Western democratic world) fear of and distrust of government as opposed to private enterprise. But for any American who wonders why the world does not universally love and trust America, or any non-American who has their doubts about "the land of the free", this history of hate and prejudice may be an eye-opener.

Ken

August 06, 2009

Using the 2008 election as a backdrop, award-winning historian Simon Schama delves into our history to provide perspective on what it really means to be an American. War, race & immigration, religion, and prosperity are the four pillars that are the foundation of this book. Simon digs deep to unearth elements of American history that were absent from my public school upbringing. These bits of history are essential to his theme though and I was amazed that I knew little to none of it. Without a doubt, this was one of the most eye-opening history books I've read in ages. A perfect companion piece to Schama's "The American Future" is the 4 episode BBC show he produced that captures the essence of the book. I've watched Schama's "History of Art" series and he brings the same passion to this series. Although he is foreign born he is an American at heart. His fascination with the living breathing democracy that brings out the worst/best in America is infectious. This is great stuff. An excellent read for anyone wanting to better understand that divisions and drive within this country are nothing new. We are truly destined to repeat history. This book proves it.

Glorious

May 16, 2010

What I found interesting about this book was retelling of personal accounts from people from the inception of America.. to the early settlers.. to the civil war veterans.. to the Civil Rights Movement.. and to the people that voted for change in 2008.The book takes individual stories from the past.. using the themes of immigration, war, religion, freedom and civil liberties.. and then uses present day stories to show the similarities and the differences.Schama's ability to research and recall the stories of the past of people that i'd never even heard of. Granted, my knowledge of American history outwith the 20th century was rather limited in the first place. But with this book it made me want to read more about American History in greater detail. It's not just in the last fifty years where Americans have been giving their children questionable forenames. No, even in the 18th century Jonathan decided to honour his son with the name 'Return Jonathan Meigs'. Lovely. But, someone with a name like that was destined for greatness, weren't they?

Maria

May 24, 2016

Schama was a BBC reporter covering the 2008 presidential race when he wrote this book. It's a history of how Americans talk about and view their future. Interwoven with his experiences in America is its history and culture.Why I started this book: Richard recommended it to me, and the title looked interesting.Why I finished it: I was worried about this book when I first started it, as it talked about the 2008 presidential campaign. But it turned out to be fascinating, and insightful. Schama took the current issues that politicians were arguing about in the present and detailed their historical past. And it was so interesting see our past reflected thru the eyes of an outsider; from American war (the projection of power), to American skin (race and immigration), American fervor (religion and separation of church and state), American plenty (conservation vs. business). GREAT BOOK! And since we didn't solve the push and pull of these compeating narratives in the past 8 years, this book is still timely in another election year.

Jami

January 15, 2010

Initially, I was skeptical ... what could a British historian tell Americans about their own history? But from the first provocative line - stating the day democracy returned to the U.S. was in January 2008 at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA - I was hooked. I have been impressed with the thread he weaves through his narrative, tying seemingly disparate characters together. I had no idea how huge an impact the Miegs family has made on our nation ... as well as the son of a Korean immigrant dry cleaner who died in Afghanistan. Very insightful author.

Mark

June 15, 2009

A great review of American history warts and all. It made me realize just how biased our school curriculum is. From destruction of native American societies, to slavery, to discrimination against all immigrants at one time or another, Schama puts it all in perspective and suggests what is yet to come based on what has already transpired. America's good qualities are not ignored, but one comes away feeling that we have room to improve.

C. Adam

January 16, 2017

I don't know enough about the discipline of historical research to declare one man the best historian of our time, but I'll fearlessly call Simon Schama the best writer in English of history in our time.

Brian

November 11, 2018

I liked Schama's optimistic writing in the last three pages of the book. I guess the point of the book is that readers of each of the 4 themes of history described as the main content of the book may not see optimism jump out of the pages.The first history topic examined was the military, primarily through the story of generations of Meigs family soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, American Civil War through the Iraq conflict as recently as 2008. It seemed that Schama's point here was that some civilian military leadership poorly uses the U.S. professional military, but there were few pages pointing that way. Most of this history was focused on military events with a clear description of the beginning of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as focusing on civil engineering.The next topic was religion in the U.S. Included amongst the most significant items (for me) in the writing is that religious freedom can be viewed equally valuable as democracy when viewing the fruits of the country's founding. There is clear writing about how religion in colonial and early post-colonial America led to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The content does a good job describing various congregations. I didn't get the impression that any of the congregations were meant to be described as typical.The third topic, titled "What Is An American", appeared to me to be an excellent description of Mexican Americans - not as immigrants, but as the residents of land annexed by the U.S. in the southwest and Pacific coast. Contributions by Chinese and violence against them was included.The topic titled "American Plenty" told the history of water use for agricultural irrigation and residential use.There is not room to present all 4 topics comprehensively and the stories included can seem disconnected. Maybe another point of the book is that Americans are so diverse that a comprehensive history would be too huge to digest. I do think the author intended for the reader to be optimistic about American diversity coming together to solve existential problems.

Amy

April 02, 2020

Excellent! It took me a few months to read as I took it in chunks and had breaks in between, although it is readable enough to hold up as a solo book too.He makes some very interesting points regarding American politics throughout history and linking them to the Presidential election of 2008 and what the future may hold for America. Some of these were hard to read with hindsight, but often his hopefulness and picture of the character of America as a whole were inspiring. Simon Schama’s voice is interesting, descriptive, analytic and reminds me of everything I love about history. He tells the stories of the people of America, both past and present, and links them in an insightful and clear way. The chapters are divided into 4 sections: American War, American Fervour, What is an American? and American Plenty. Through these Simon Schama covers the history of the States from the Revolution to the publication of this book in 2008, and uses the themes to highlight and examine various turning points and devleopments withing that time-frame.

Al

December 15, 2017

One of my favorite historians and writers. Schama paints pictures with his powerful prose without burying the lead. This book uses the occasion of the 2008 Presidential Election in the US as the starting point in exploring America's past. Schama brings the well known and not so well known historical figures to life while holding up a mirror to America as a nation and as a diverse population. My hope is that he could frame a new book or update this one starting from the 2016 presidential election where things in America took and incredibly wrong turn in to bizarro land. Or perhaps the historian that is Simon Schama could show us how the America of 2017 was destined to happen.

Alison

January 10, 2022

Enjoyed listening to this very interesting analysis of USA history. As with his history of Britain, Schama manages to tell the story of history’s losers without vilifying the winners. He shows how the American dream, sincerely believed and sought after, was never possible - not everyone can be a winner. This was written in 2008 with much optimism around Obama’s nomination for the presidency- quite sad to know how much of that optimism hasn’t been sustained.

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