Why Freedom Matters: The Spirit of the Declaration of Independence in Prose, Poetry and Song from 1776 to the Present

by Daniel R. Katz

Book Overview

Freedom. It's an idea worth pledging a life for, in the words of Thomas Jefferson. A gift outright to the poet Robert Frost. A difficult responsibility, writes Frederick Douglass. Defiant and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761131655
• ISBN13: 9780761131656
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 413 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful treasury

"Why Freedom Matters" is a magnificent digest of American political and social thought based upon the arguments presented in the Declaration of Independence. It presents a series of documents that share in common certain themes taken by the editor from Thomas Jefferson's words. Included are incisive introductions to the selections (the dichotomy between Robert Frost's 'The Gift Outright' and the speech of Chief Seattle is fascinating) as well as the complete texts of the Declaration and the Constitution of the United States. An excellent resource for all American citizens, "Why Freedom Matters" contains our most important national documents--and the words and thoughts of the generations who have sought to fulfill the promises contained therein.

An Important Eclectic Collection

Buy this book for your family, it is truly remarkable. Using everything from famous speeches to modern day slam poetry, "Why Freedom Matters" explains how important the concept of freedom is. The book is broken into five major sections with the various writings set into the theme of each section. The writings reflect different parts of american history from both an American perspective as well as a foreign perspective. D.H. Lawrence wrote a poem about censors that both makes you laugh and shiver at the same time. One of my personal favorites in this book is the letter from Kurt Vonnegut to a chairman of a school board for burning his book. It is his reaction that still gives me hope for our future as a country. This book also contains many women from the annuals of history who are mostly forgotten. This book accomplishes what many school texts do not, giving an appreciation for history without booring the subject to death. There is something here for everybody. This is one that should be added to the personal libraries of every household.