A Pulitzer Prize–winning historian discusses "the Cold War, political parties, the presidency, and many broader philosophical issues [with] incisive wit" (
Library Journal).
A celebrated historian, speechwriter, and adviser to President Kennedy, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. draws on decades of astute observation to construct a dialectic of American politics, or as
Time magazine called it, a "recurring struggle between pragmatism and idealism in the American soul."
The Cycles of American History traces two conflicting visions of America—Experiment vs. Destiny—through two centuries of political evolution, conflict, and progress. In this updated edition, Schlesinger reflects on the dawn of a new millennium and how new social and technological revolutions could lead to a revolution in American political cycles.
"Whatever the nation's political future, it can benefit from the intelligence and regard for our country's best traditions evident in these informed and humane essays." —
The
New York Times
"Displays the author at his best: trenchant, erudite, crisp." —
Foreign Affairs
"An excellent and provocative primer on the challenges surrounding the contemporary American political setting . . . First-rate history mixed with a strong sense of public service." —
The Christian Science Monitor
- 512 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
The Cycles of American History
About this book
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Table of contents
- Title Page
- Contents
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Foreword to the Mariner Edition
- Foreword
- Part I
- The Theory of America: Experiment or Destiny?
- The Cycles of American Politics
- Part II
- Foreign Policy and the American Character
- National Interests and Moral Absolutes
- Human Rights and the American Tradition
- The Solzhenitsyn Challenge
- America and Empire
- Why the Cold War?
- Part III
- Affirmative Government and the American Economy
- The Short Happy Life of American Political Parties
- After the Imperial Presidency
- The Future of the Vice Presidency
- Vicissitudes of Presidential Reputations
- Democracy and Leadership
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Index
- Read More from Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
- About the Author
- Connect with HMH
- Footnotes
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Yes, you can access The Cycles of American History by Arthur M. Schlesinger in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & North American History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.