This America: The Case for the Nation

This America: The Case for the Nation examines American nationalism and liberalism from the eighteenth century to the present. Through historical analysis, Jill Lepore traces how ideas about nationhood and national identity have evolved in the United States. The book explores the divide between civic nationalism and illiberal nationalism throughout American history. Lepore investigates how historians and intellectuals have approached the concept of American nationalism, and why many liberal thinkers abandoned nationalism as a framework in the mid-twentieth century. Lepore draws on political writings, historical documents, and scholarly works to analyze shifting definitions of American nationhood across different eras. She examines how various groups and movements have defined what it means to be American. The work raises fundamental questions about patriotism, citizenship, and the tension between inclusive and exclusive visions of national identity. Through this historical lens, Lepore creates a framework for understanding contemporary debates about nationalism and American identity.

Readers note this book functions more as an extended essay than a comprehensive history. Many appreciate Lepore's examination of American nationalism versus liberal nationalism, and her argument for civic nationalism as an alternative to ethnonationalism. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear, accessible writing style - Links between historical events and current politics - Strong defense of inclusive patriotism Common criticisms: - Too brief at 150 pages - Lacks depth on complex topics - More opinion-based than historical analysis - Repetitive arguments One reader called it "a thoughtful response to rising nationalist movements," while another said it "reads like several magazine articles stitched together." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) Several readers suggested pairing this with Lepore's longer work "These Truths" for more historical context. Academic readers found it too basic, while general readers appreciated its concise format.

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📚 Jill Lepore wrote this book as a direct response to the rise of nationalism around the world in the 2010s, particularly completing the manuscript in just eight weeks during the summer of 2018. 🎓 The book builds upon ideas first explored in Lepore's essay "A New Americanism," which was published in Foreign Affairs magazine and became one of their most-read pieces. 🗽 At just 150 pages, this compact work tackles over two centuries of American history, examining how American historians largely abandoned writing about the nation after World War II, creating what Lepore calls a "void" that was filled by nationalist ideologies. 📖 Lepore serves as the David Woods Kemper '41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and is also a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine, bringing both academic rigor and accessible writing style to this work. 🏆 The book received significant acclaim for addressing complex issues of patriotism versus nationalism, with The New York Times describing it as "a brief but ambitious book that's simultaneously a history, a manifesto and a salvo in the current culture wars."