In Defense of America | 
 enlarge | Author: Bronwen Maddox
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $5.94
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 17841
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0316032239
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.931
EAN: 9780316032230
ASIN: 0316032239
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
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Product Description
The world has turned against the United States. Anti-American sentiments have swept the globe. Foreign leaders, pundits, and ordinary people decry the United States, at best proclaiming their heartbreak that the American values they once admired have vanished, and at worst condemning America as a criminal state beyond redemption. The invasion of Iraq, America's refusal to sign the Kyoto accords, detention without trial in Guantanamo and torture in Abu Ghraib, the spread of American movies and fast food into every corner of the globe--all have contributed to a feeling that the United States, once a force for good in the world, is abusing its position as the world's sole superpower.
How wrong they are.
In this provocative, brilliant book, acclaimed foreign affairs columnist Bronwen Maddox shows how critics of America take the best of it for granted and exaggerate the worst. They give the United States too little credit for their own freedom and wealth, and struggle to fend off a monolithic American culture that does not exist. She shows how opponents often unfairly equate American mistakes with moral failings, and how the United States frequently makes its own case badly, even when it is on strong ground. And she reveals a world in danger of fighting to keep the giant at bay, when the harder task is to give America good reason to keep engaged.
Persuasive and important, In Defense of Americais essential reading for anyone who cares about our place in the world, and our future.
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| Customer Reviews:
Terrible book... but not really offensive September 9, 2008
I learned only one thing by reading this--do not pick a random, interesting book out of Barnes and Noble and expect it to be worth your precious time and hard-earned money. This shelf clogger is redundant beyong belief, repeating every premise and point of evidence several times. Bronwen could have easily written the same thing more clearly and effectively in a three page article in The Economist--meaning that the book's lucid purpose is to trick suckers like me into parting with their $14. Well Bronwen, I hope you got to eat a really nice lunch, a personal thanks and apology would be much appreciated.
After spending my summer in France, however, where I couldn't talk to a single person without them lecturing me on the failings of Iraq and American monolingualism, this book came as a serious breath of air, and I can't agree at all that it is inherently critical of America. If the book had been a three-page Economist article, it would have been a very good one. It's nice to know that we do still have allies abroad who understand the issues we're confronted with and the extent of irrational bias we face.
So I came away from the book not so much disliking Bronwen, but more just wishing she would apologize for wasting my time and give me my money back.
Shame August 1, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Shame on the author; hey, be honest about what you mean by the title. Is this a psychological trick?
dc
 Not really a defense, and definitely not conservative July 16, 2008
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
This book is tagged as "conservative," but it is actually written from a left-of center standpoint. There are criticisms to America on virtually every page of the book, with very little "defense." From the chapter titles alone, the U.S. is called "unloved," "loathed," "stupid," "arrogant," and in need of "helping itself."
Ms. Maddox tells us that our reaction to 9/11 is way out of proportion and that the war on terror is ill-conceived. I guess we're supposed to just sit and cower in some corner?
Anyway, I gave the book three stars because is actually is quite readable and interesting (even if I had to fight the urge to throw the book across the room on several occastions). It's always good be educated about the thoughts of those opposite from yourself.
Just don't order it thinking that it will be a rare balm for a battered American spirit. Of course, if you are one of the new breed of self-flagellating Americans, this may rate among one of your favorite books!
 Beware of the title...FALSE ADVERTISEING!!! July 12, 2008
21 out of 26 found this review helpful
This is NOT a book that defends America. It is merely a somewhat more moderated version of the typical anti-American rant. The author has "advice," for America, ie, what we can do to be better liked abroad. Gee, thanks! Why didn't you put that in the title and I could have saved my money and passed on this boring same-old, same-old European view of America. Why not a book giving Europeans advise on how they can be better liked by America? I resent this author titling her book in a manner that dishonestly makes it appeal to Americans, while it is really an APOLGY for America. Funny, I don't recall doing anything I need to apologize to Europe for. I sort of thought that after two world wars and protecting them in the cold war, a "Thank you," from Europe would be nice, but that would be too much to ask for, of course! I would not want to inconvenience their tea time or WHINE sipping, after all. If you can say ENVY, you already know all you need to about European attitudes. They were all, at different times, great super powers of their age! No more. Imagine how you would feel about a nation, ie, the United States, that now held that title. Many European nations are on the verge of slipping into third world status with crumbling economies and huge governments that tax their people into economic slavery. How would YOU like to spend half your working life paying your taxes? No wonder they resent America! What they should be doing is making changes themselves, instead of following the pointless hope that if they can just somehow knock down America by an inch, they will magically grow themselves by the same amount.
Joseph M. Vottis
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