American Reading Plan
The Central and Southern Provinces of the United States comprise twenty-five (out of the famous fifty) states in the country. We friars work with peoples of all stars and stripes (of every creed, race, and background) within these vast territories. Even so, there are (we still think) basic “ideals” or “values” that the United States and its peoples claim to uphold.
There are books, of course, like David McCullough’s The American Spirit, which intend to summarize these ideals. We recognize that it is difficult to provide such a summary without too obviously embracing a certain interpretation of the American credo by adhering to some political platform.
For this reason, below, we try to provide a basics: works whose influence, for better or worse, on American values continues to stage the big questions today; or works of scholarly (but accessible) history, which tell the American story plainly.
These books can be read in whatever order, but we provide a scheme in any case.
There are books, of course, like David McCullough’s The American Spirit, which intend to summarize these ideals. We recognize that it is difficult to provide such a summary without too obviously embracing a certain interpretation of the American credo by adhering to some political platform.
For this reason, below, we try to provide a basics: works whose influence, for better or worse, on American values continues to stage the big questions today; or works of scholarly (but accessible) history, which tell the American story plainly.
These books can be read in whatever order, but we provide a scheme in any case.
|
Stage 1
1. Jacques Maritain’s Christianity and Democracy the philosopher Maritain strives to make clear that democracy is an outgrowth and reaches its fulfillment under Gospel inspiration. Maritain takes pains to point out that Christianity cannot be made subservient to any political form or regime, and that every just regime, such as the classic forms of monarchy, aristocracy and republic, is compatible with Christianity and in it a person is able to achieve some measure of fulfillment even in the temporal order. 2. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography (available to read for free online through Project Gutenberg) The writing within this slim volume is an honest self-evaluation of the man who drafted the Declaration of Independence and negotiated the peace treaty with Britain and who is remembered today as one of our Founding Fathers whose philosophy and ideas still resound among us. Stage 2
1. The Federalist Papers (available for free through the Library of Congress) If we wish to understand our country and the Constitution which is ours the Federalist Papers are essential. The Federalist, commonly referred to as the Federalist Papers, is a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison between October 1787 and May 1788. The essays were published anonymously, under the pen name "Publius," in various New York state newspapers of the time. The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. 2. Ulysses S. Grant’s Autobiography Ulysses S. Grant’s memoirs, sold door-to-door by former Union soldiers, were once as ubiquitous in American households as the Bible. Mark Twain, Gertrude Stein, hailed them as great literature, and countless presidents, including Clinton and George W. Bush, credit Grant with influencing their own writing and ideas. Stage 3
1. Winston Churchill’s History of the English-speaking Peoples Spanning four volumes and centuries of history, from Caesar's invasion of Britain to the start of World War I, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples stands as one of Winston S. Churchill's most magnificent literary works and it remains to this day a compelling and vivid history. Vol 1 - The Birth of Britain Vol 2 – The New World Vol 3 – The Age of Revolution Vol 4 - The Great Democracies 2. Paul Johnson’s History of the United States (a one-volume history) Johnson presents an in-depth portrait of American history from the first colonial settlements to the Clinton administration. This is the story of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character. Littered with letters, diaries, and recorded conversations, it details the origins of their struggles for independence and nationhood, their heroic efforts and sacrifices to deal with the 'organic sin’ of slavery and the preservation of the Union to its explosive economic growth and emergence as a world power. Stage 4
1. Robert Middlekauff’s The Glorious Cause Beginning with the French and Indian War and continuing to the election of George Washington as first president, Robert Middlekauff offers a sweeping and narrative history of the conflict between England and America, highlighting the drama and anguish of the colonial struggle for independence. 2. Stephen Kinzer’s The True Flag How should the United States act in the world? Americans cannot decide. No matter how often we debate this question, none of what we say is original. Every argument is a pale shadow of the first and greatest debate, which erupted more than a century ago. Its themes resurface every time Americans argue whether to intervene in a foreign country. Stephen Kinzer transports us to the dawn of the twentieth century, when the United States first found itself with the chance to dominate faraway lands. That prospect thrilled some Americans. It horrified others. Their debate gripped the nation. And the debate continues today in different ways. Stage 5
1. James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom Packed with drama and analytical insight, the book vividly recounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil War--the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry--and then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itself--the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities. 2. David Kennedy’s Freedom From Fear Between 1929 and 1945, two great travails were visited upon the American people: the Great Depression and World War II. This book tells the story of how Americans endured, and eventually prevailed, in the face of those unprecedented calamities. |
|
To assist you in engaging with the materials we want to offer regular Zoom discussion sessions where you can interact with our Dominican Friars and other like-minded Catholics about our rich tradition of intellectual and spiritual thought. If interested, just click the button below and fill out the short Google Form.