The American Soul: by Jacob Needleman, a book review.
The American Soul: Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Founders. By Jacob Needleman.
Brilliant in scope and detail evocative in re-studying the exceptional characters of Washington, Franklin and Jefferson, heuristic in treatment of Lincoln, and brutally realistic in examining the deep spiritual culture the vanquished native Americans, as well as our blind violence to three million people of color. Realistic in the survey of what our lost American "Soul" has caused and is causing.
This is a "must read" for those who love this country, for those who study American History (more later), our military veterans, and for those worried about the directions of our society as well as its influence for good in the world.
This book should be on the reading list of every college and high school curriculum in American history. Although I give it five stars of its scope, insight, power and relevance. It is not likely to be read unfortunately by more than a small percentage. Hopefully however, it will be read by though leaders and scholars of other countries to discover what it is that their countries should be taking from this American Experiment in representative democracy. .
Needleman’s main point is that until and unless we grasp the founding father’s original purpose and indebtedness to the Wisdom traditions which ths country is on the path of decay as all empires. Being faithful to the vision of the founding fathers leads us to embrace not only the Divinity of graveness we are called on, but an honest admission of our deep failures in living up to our ideals. The failure to live our ideals is graphically demonstrated in our violence toward the native Americans, (in Canada, called the "First Nation" peoples), but the acceptance of slavery. Our continuing racism is sure sign that we have not faced that character flaw in our American identify.
Because I would like to see wide reading of this book, I submit the author fails as a teacher and educator by not making his argument more accessible by chapter summaries with questions for reflection The use of the native. American story of the Great Peacemaker illustrates well the inner direction of democracy we are losing. This story, in my opinion, makes all of the author’s desired points.
In our failure to accept the inner call of our democracy to listen to the ideas of others, and help create an atmosphere of rational discourse and community dialogue. Needleman’s argument could have been made stronger by recognizing the findings of Robert Bellah in Habits of the heart. Those meta-analysis clearly demonstrated that those communities with the highest rate of volunteer participation had the higher level of total wellness. Hard data to support Needleman’s thesis.
Basically, this "page-turner"book faces us with the lost inspiration we need today. I wish and hope for a wide readership. I hope the author will consider providing a teachers Guide for widespread scholastic use, or perhaps a virtual simulation game designed for such a journey of discovery.
By way of full disclosure, my military service spanned over 24 years, ranging from the Berlin Airlift, though te Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Vietnam, in several branches, enlisted and commissioned, active and reserve. I am a married Catholic priests and served 16 years as a Benedictine monk, retired psychotherapists, involved in my community with many projects over many years. I am 83 years young, multiply blessed beyond all deserving. Based on this, the reader here can give my words more or less measured credit.
Paschal Baute
www.paschalbaute.com
Brilliant in scope and detail evocative in re-studying the exceptional characters of Washington, Franklin and Jefferson, heuristic in treatment of Lincoln, and brutally realistic in examining the deep spiritual culture the vanquished native Americans, as well as our blind violence to three million people of color. Realistic in the survey of what our lost American "Soul" has caused and is causing.
This is a "must read" for those who love this country, for those who study American History (more later), our military veterans, and for those worried about the directions of our society as well as its influence for good in the world.
This book should be on the reading list of every college and high school curriculum in American history. Although I give it five stars of its scope, insight, power and relevance. It is not likely to be read unfortunately by more than a small percentage. Hopefully however, it will be read by though leaders and scholars of other countries to discover what it is that their countries should be taking from this American Experiment in representative democracy. .
Needleman’s main point is that until and unless we grasp the founding father’s original purpose and indebtedness to the Wisdom traditions which ths country is on the path of decay as all empires. Being faithful to the vision of the founding fathers leads us to embrace not only the Divinity of graveness we are called on, but an honest admission of our deep failures in living up to our ideals. The failure to live our ideals is graphically demonstrated in our violence toward the native Americans, (in Canada, called the "First Nation" peoples), but the acceptance of slavery. Our continuing racism is sure sign that we have not faced that character flaw in our American identify.
Because I would like to see wide reading of this book, I submit the author fails as a teacher and educator by not making his argument more accessible by chapter summaries with questions for reflection The use of the native. American story of the Great Peacemaker illustrates well the inner direction of democracy we are losing. This story, in my opinion, makes all of the author’s desired points.
In our failure to accept the inner call of our democracy to listen to the ideas of others, and help create an atmosphere of rational discourse and community dialogue. Needleman’s argument could have been made stronger by recognizing the findings of Robert Bellah in Habits of the heart. Those meta-analysis clearly demonstrated that those communities with the highest rate of volunteer participation had the higher level of total wellness. Hard data to support Needleman’s thesis.
Basically, this "page-turner"book faces us with the lost inspiration we need today. I wish and hope for a wide readership. I hope the author will consider providing a teachers Guide for widespread scholastic use, or perhaps a virtual simulation game designed for such a journey of discovery.
By way of full disclosure, my military service spanned over 24 years, ranging from the Berlin Airlift, though te Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Vietnam, in several branches, enlisted and commissioned, active and reserve. I am a married Catholic priests and served 16 years as a Benedictine monk, retired psychotherapists, involved in my community with many projects over many years. I am 83 years young, multiply blessed beyond all deserving. Based on this, the reader here can give my words more or less measured credit.
Paschal Baute
www.paschalbaute.com
posted by Paschal Baute | 12:27 PM
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