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Thomas Hagedorn: A Patriot's History of the United States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen
I can't recall reading a US History survey text from this perspective before. Imagine, a US History that dares to credit capitalism and capitalists with a positive contribution to American society. I have been irritated by reading so many progressive, socialist, and liberal interpretations in Amerian History, I'm glad that my political and economic opposites who read "A Patriot's History" will now be able to appreciate my past frustrations.

Schweikart and Allen may not agree with many interpretations of the large crowd of scholars to their left, but they inform the reader often of the positions of competing interpretations.

Buy this one quickly and read it before "dispostions theory" makes any more headway! - Thomas Hagedorn

Re: Sad Choice

Submitted by Thomas Hagedorn (not verified) on Tue, 2005-12-13 23:19.
I actually agree with you. From my perspective, too much history is written from the perspective of people who advocate and work for a planned economy, so something like "A Patriot's History" is needed as a corrective to simply START to get to a proper balance. There is a long way to go. But you are exactly right, a balanced, relatively unbiased approach is the only really intellectually honest approach. In my opinion, this doesn't happen nearly enough.

Re: Sad Choice

Submitted by dube007ca (not verified) on Tue, 2005-12-13 15:43.
I fail to see the point of surveying US history from the perspective of capitalism OR socialism given that the US is a mixed economy like most western countries. A better account would entail waxing and waning of these two economic forces and their subsequent effects.

Sad Choice

Submitted by Ralph Luker (not verified) on Tue, 2005-12-13 01:18.
It's a sad day when you choose to celebrate a book that _only_ re-enforces your own biases, Mr. Hagedorn. Try reading one that challenges you.

Re: Sad Choice

Submitted by Thomas Hagedorn (not verified) on Tue, 2005-12-13 08:59.
The preponderance of scholarship challenges my beliefs. In contrast, the political and economic ideology of political liberals and radicals is almost never challenged inside the "bubble" of academia. That is not surprising when you look at the dominant left-leaning bias of the makeup of scholars. At least the Ed School people are being honest about their bias with their "dispositions theory". (Message to conservatives: you are not wanted in ed schools with this policy because of your "disposition".)

Misspelling

Submitted by Thomas Hagedorn (not verified) on Mon, 2005-12-12 22:15.
In last sentence, it should read "dispositions theory".

Misspelling

Submitted by Thomas Hagedorn (not verified) on Mon, 2005-12-12 22:15.
In last sentence, it should read "dispositions theory".