Cover Image: Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes

Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes

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Member Reviews

Unfortunately the quality of the ARC was atrocious and I simply couldn't deal with it unless I wanted to really damage my dear eyesight. I really tried but I couldn't go on.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this missed opportunity

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When the author said, "As any reader of Sophocles' Antigone would immediately recognize...." I knew I was in trouble and this book was over my head. I kept reading, but quotes from the likes of Tolstoy telling me that, "Patriotism...is but a weapon for the attainment of aggression and mercenary aims." made reading this feel like a school paper. For academic types that may be exactly what they are hoping to get from this book and if so, you won't be disappointed. The author does a fine job of presenting contrasting opinions on patriotism while trying to justly represent both democratic and republican points of view. Likewise, he explains not only what patriotism is, but what it is not by comparing it to nationalism and cosmopolitanism.

In the end, I wasn't the right audience for this author.

Note: I've downloaded a bunch of free, (mostly) random, pre-releases of books with the idea of expanding my range and helping authors get reviews. #netgalley

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This book is very insightful for me, It changes my opinion about bravery and how to be a brave and patriotic person. I hope this book can bring a deep love to our country in the age of extremes.

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Steven B. Smith is a great writer (and lecturer- if you haven't seen his lectures from the MOOC, go watch them). I think he fairly criticizes the shortcomings of both the right and the left, showing where there can be an opening for a better way to think about patriotism. The best author that I can compare Smith to, and that he actually references, is Michael Sandel.

There is a lot to think about here, and it probably will make you uncomfortable and a little uneasy. So be it.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Yale University Press for a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'm not a political scientist nor do I know a lot about political science. Still, I'm interested in it and in the concept of patriotism, especially after the events of Jan.6.

I didn't agree with everything in this book (not that not agreeing with a book's message means it can't be well-written). Even as a rookie, I found sweeping generalizations of both left and right. There's a thinly veiled complaint about diversity hiring that completely avoids discussing the reason behind diversity hiring or what the actual effects have been. Even when talking about how people view patriotism, the book seems to imply that no one thinks of it as anything but the two extremes.

The final presentation of patriotism as it should be is thoughtful and tries to reconcile the best of the left and the right. Some points needed additional debate to convince me of the details, but overall Smith built a solid skeleton for patriotism.

I appreciated the book's aim, but I don't know if a regular-sized book written by one author can really define American patriotism. It's a subject that sharpens by debate and varied experiences. Even so, Reclaiming Patriotism offers a solid background of patriotism.

I'd recommend Reclaiming Patriotism to those with political science interests or those with a desire for patriotism, but with a warning to watch for the slants and generalizations.

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Prof. Smith is a true scholar and his book is well worth your time and money! I do not concur with Smith's conclusion but his research and scholarship are excellent thus his book is also excellent. READ IT!

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Far outside my comfort zone but an interesting view point. The writing was easy enough to follow and I didn't feel as though I needed to be smarter to follow along.

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