A Good American Family by Davd Maraniss

In the last few weeks we have heard a good deal about The Statue of Liberty from sources like NPR, The Nation, Fox News, or The Los Angeles Times, for example. Her image also graces the cover of a recent book, A GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY by David Maraniss, a Pulitzer Prize Winner. In his newest non-fiction work, Maraniss tells his own father’s story from the 1950s and the Red Scare.  In 1952, Elliott Maraniss, a WWII veteran, was named an active member of the Communist Party of the United States of America and subpoenaed to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. When testifying, he invoked the Fifth Amendment, but still lost his newspaper job and spent several years looking for meaningful employment. The author says, “I emerged with a clearer appreciation of the imperfections of the American story -- and with a better understanding of my father, our family, and its secrets.” This is a fascinating look at a tumultuous time in American politics and media --- the HUAC was chaired by a member of the Ku Klux Klan who cited testimony from Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson. Also mentioned are names like Louella Parsons, Arthur Miller and George W. Crockett, Jr., the African American civil liberties lawyer.  This text contains notes, an index, maps, and several black and white photos.  A GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. It is a timely work -- reflecting articles in today’s New York Times about targeting journalists who investigate the White House and about immigrants coming to the United States where that famous statue still provides inspiration. 

Fault Lines by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer

 

FAULT LINES by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer chronicles “A History of the United States Since 1974.”  The authors, two Princeton professors, have written extensively about trends and movements in America (see One Nation Under God or Rightward Bound, for example).  They contend that since Watergate, the United States has actually faced increased divisiveness, especially politically, due in large measure to "multiple forces" such as changes in media, economic uncertainty, the actions (or inaction) of national leadership, and even to Supreme Court decisions. FAULT LINES could clearly be an undergraduate text since it provides an overview of over four decades of American history.  It’s lengthy – but at 428 pages, that’s barely 10 pages for major events of each year – and history students will need to turn to other resources for a more nuanced and detailed look at these historic events. 

In any case, this is a work that is guaranteed to spark debate and discussion – as evidenced by Barton Swaim’s rather negative review in The Wall Street Journal and the starred review from Library Journal. You can decide for yourself and explore its take on critical issues associated with politics, the economy, race, and gender/sexuality since FAULT LINES will be on our shelves soon. 

The Woman's Hour by Elaine Weiss

THE WOMAN'S HOUR by Elaine Weiss is an absolutely terrific non-fiction book which tells the story of the fight to ratify voting rights for women. As such, it makes me think of the quote attributed to Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Although author Weiss focuses mainly on the six weeks in 1920 during which the Tennessee legislature debated ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment, in THE WOMAN'S HOUR she notes that “winning the vote required seventy-two years of ceaseless agitation by three generations of dedicated, fearless suffragists … the women who launched the movement were dead by the time it was completed; the women who secured its final success weren’t born when it began.” 

This is, frankly, a dense and detailed read but it is surprisingly suspenseful and a fascinating look at American attitudes towards women, with elements of regionalism/states’ rights, class, and race included, too. I have already been talking about incorporating it in class discussions with our American Studies teachers. A reading guide link is here. THE WOMAN'S HOUR received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

For more ideas on truly inspirational women, see the display in the library; plus, check out more ideas online from Goodreads regarding how well-behaved women seldom make history (a list of recommended titles from Elaine Weiss) and see a new feature called  “Overlooked” which profiles women whose obituaries were not previously published by The New York Times.