Maurice Isserman Livres

"The Democratic Party is the world's oldest mass political organization. But what has the party stood for through the centuries, and how has it managed to succeed in elections and govern? In What It Took to Win, the eminent historian Michael Kazin tells the story of the party's long-running commitment to promoting "moral capitalism," a system that mixes entrepreneurial freedom with the welfare of workers. Yet the party that championed the rights of the white working man also vigorously protected or furthered the causes of slavery, segregation, and Native American removal. With its evolution toward a more inclusive, egalitarian vision, the party won durable victories for Americans of all backgrounds. But it has also struggled to hold together a majority coalition and advance a persuasive agenda. Kazin traces the party's fortunes through vivid character sketches of its key thinkers and doers, from William Jennings Bryan to Eleanor Roosevelt to Barack Obama. Throughout, Kazin reveals the rich interplay of personality, belief, strategy, and policy that defines the life of the party and outlines the core components of a political legacy that Democrats rely on today as they seek to revitalize the American political experiment." -- Publisher description

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE NEWSWEEK/THE DAILY BEAST, THE NEW REPUBLIC, THE PROGRESSIVEThe definitive history of the reformers, radicals, and idealists who fought for a different America, from the abolitionists to Michael Moore and Noam Chomsky. While the history of the left is a long story of idealism and determination, it has also been a story of movements that failed to gain support from mainstream America. In American Dreamers , Michael Kazin—one of the most respected historians of the American left working today—tells a new history of the movements that, while not fully succeeding on their own terms, nonetheless made lasting contributions to American society. Among these culture shaping events are the fight for equal opportunity for women, racial minorities, and homosexuals; the celebration of sexual pleasure; the inclusion of multiculturalism in the media and school curricula; and the creation of books and films with altruistic and anti-authoritarian messages. Deeply informed, judicious and impassioned, and superbly written, this is an essential book for our times and for anyone seeking to understand our political history and the people who made it.

Compelling and readable...I had serious trouble putting this book down.John C. McManus, author of Fire and Fortitude and The Dead and Those About to Die The epic story of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, whose elite soldiers broke the last line of German defenses in Italy's mountains in 1945, spearheadingthe Allied advance to the Alps and final victory.

The history of American mountaineering is explored through significant climbs and first ascents over four centuries. Initially viewed as barriers to civilization, mountains evolved into symbols of redemption and renewal. The narrative highlights how the White Mountains influenced transcendentalists, while the Rockies and Sierras drew explorers in pursuit of Manifest Destiny. Yosemite's impact on early environmental conservationists is also emphasized, showcasing the evolving relationship between Americans and their mountainous landscapes.

A story of adventure and aspiration in the high peaks that makes a vivid case for the importance of mountains to American national identity.