Just the Facts: Book Discussion Recap from September 16th

Many thanks, as always, to the people who left hearth and home last to attend the book discussion. Your presence is greatly appreciated.

The book discussed was The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the rush to empire by Evan Thomas. The book concerns the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge and William Randolph Hearst to force the United Sates into a war with Spain over Cuba and the attempt of Speaker of the House Thomas Brackett Reed to prevent it. William James, the Harvard philosopher and psychologist, stands as a one person Greek chorus, trying to understand and explain what is happening to the country. The country does go to war in 1898 and enjoys a victory over Spain, acquires colonies and loses the sense of American exceptionalism. Everyone enjoyed the book and the conversation was lively and covered many topics, including the meaning of Anglo-Saxon, racism, the five-year-old boy within adult males, history in context, the conservation movement, the American frontier as a symbol and a goal, Australia and the different natures of boys and girls. A good time was had by all.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 7:00 pm. The book to be discussed, Paris 1919: six months that changed the world by Margaret MacMillan, is available at the Circulation Desk. All are welcome.