In Search of America

by Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster

Book Overview

eter Jennings and Todd Brewster conceived of this fascinating book long before the events of September 11th. But watching America respond to one of the worst attacks in its history deepened the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786867086
• ISBN13: 9780786867080
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Hyperion Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 3.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 9.4" x 10.6"

Customer Reviews

In search of America

I arrived in new condition. I would purchase from them again. Very good experience

Skipping Across the Country to find History.

Since this is one of those special over-size books, I was expecting just a beautiful keepsake, a coffee table item. Its glossy exterior gives that impression. And yet the in-depth stories are chock full of historical facts and modern happenings as a result of what had happened before. The "Boulder" feature held my interest as it is steeped full of music history. Even used a bit of political humor as background. John Adams, the 'voice of self-control' in 1787, as the Constitution was drafted was used as an example. His sense of happiness came from benevolelnt qualities and 'virtue'; he was concerned about the high percentage of the population back then who were succumbing to alcohol intoxication, extravagance, vice (gambling?) amd folly. I had thought that was just the way of life those folks had to show they were 'somebody.' He pushed for more government control to stem this corruption. Washington and Jefferson, on the other hand, espoused the consumption of wines. Today, drugs are considered worse than that national "disease." The early American humor included making fun of backwoodsmen (like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone), the minstrel shows (black-face) and the Yankee. In the South, we still feel that way sometimes about the latter. In 1904, the Yankee Doodle Dandy performed by George Cohan on Broadway led the way in the first 'truly American' musical, LITTLE JOHNNY JONES. James Cagney portrayed him in the movie named after the song. There is interesting information about how "You're A Grand Old Rag" was changed to the classic, 'You're A Grand Old Flag.' His inspiration was by a chance-remark he had overheard by a Civil War veteran who survived Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. It was Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America' which was revived (from Cohan's time when 'Over There' was used to rally the American soldiers in foreign lands) for the next war by Kate Smith. Now, I guess it is 'God Bless the U.S.A." Oscar Hammerstein II's lyrics in SHOW BOAT and OKLAHOMA left a legacy for future musicals. His grandfather, the first Oscar, was involved in vaudeville in New York. Clifton Fadiman (everyone has heard of him) compared the Hammersteins in the area of theater to the Adams family (John, John Quincy, Charles, and Henry) in the political arena of American life. Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers' music brought the words alive with simple, democratic messages. "Song is nothing more than speech in the form of lyrics; drama nothing more than a staged representation of ordinary life" in the musicals these greats produced. They came out with CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I, and SOUTH PACIFIC after their previous successes. Lerner and Loewe followed in their tracks with CAMELOT, BRIGADOON, and MY FAIR LADY while Frank Loesser scored with GUYS AND DOLLS. Hammerstein went on his own to produce CARMEN JONES, an Americanized 'opera' version of Bizet's 'Carmen' with an all-black cast. His protege, Stephen Sondheim, paired with Jerome Robbins fo

Worth the time

Peter Jennings narrates this abridged series of interesting vignettes about Americans living in America and by doing so creating and recreating America. He examines the old tensions in our democracy like big or small federal government, corporatism versus individualism, and secularism versus religious fervor. In some cases he elevates historical figures too highly, like Jefferson, despite his seditious writings in the Kentucky Resolutions, and W E B Du Bois, despite his socialist rantings from early in the century. Jennings and Brewster would have done well to feature other more worthy people in their book. I enjoyed the profile of the Club for Growth using populist tactic against unresponsive Republicans, and the profile of CFG's mouldy counterpart on the left. The heart rending story of Gary, Indiana and its misinformed leaders is a cautionary tale to any group in America that expects to dwell for long periods at the federal trough, administrations and sentiments change, don't get too comfortable. I would have liked to have heard how outside threats have molded our country (aside from 9-11), because I feel that it defines a portion of the core of our country. Start at the XYZ affair up to the communist involvement in the FDR administration and I think you have rounded out a view of America more fully. Perhaps this is in the unabridged version.

Captivating and Entertaining Look At Ourselves!

This book, like its best selling predecessor also written by Jennings and Todd Brewster about the over-riding nature of the events of the 20h century, is a very well researched and immensely entertaining look at America and its inhabitants. Although obviously designed for popular culture and prominent display on coffee tables across the land, it is indeed a compelling collection of disparate elements weaving a patchwork quilt glimpse at the pluralistic nature of our society and our people. This book also capitalizes on the impressive range of data collected by ABC-TV in preparation for their superb "In Search Of America" series of televised documentaries, and the book therefore has a virtual cornucopia of offering for the reader to use in coming to appreciate the dynamic diversity that is such a celebrated aspect of American life. Whether investigating civic arguments about the separation of church and state or existential concerns of Latinos in the land of the Mormons, the reader can find an almost endless variety of facts, anecdotes, and examples of all that we have cause to find pride in as American citizens. In essence, the book represents an absorbing attempt by Jennings and Brewster to explore the stated national ideals they believe are the defining and driving forces for our culture. And the work they have accomplished in delivering this vision of contemporary America is an impressive display of how to usefully employ eyewitness anecdotes with elements of contemporary history in service to a lavishly produced and excellently articulated narrative about the current state of the polity and the society at large. In times of such turmoil and emotional distress, it is wonderful to have such a glowing look at our collective enterprise as is offered here. It is indeed a splendidly executed effort that travels the breadth and length of the land to illustrate to us just how durable, adaptable, and pragmatic a people we are, and how well our social fabric and our cultural values serve us in times like those we live in. I can highly recommend this book. Enjoy!