Myths America lives by

Myths America lives by

Richard T. Hughes, 1943-

Book - 2004

Argues that the Innocent Nation myth prevented many Americans from understanding, or even discussing, the complex motivations of the 9/11 terrorists. Identifies five key myths that lie at the heart of the American experience -- the myths of the Chosen Nation, of Nature's Nation, of the Christian Nation, of the Millennial Nation, and of the Innocent Nation. Drawing on a range of dissenting voices, Hughes shows that by canonizing these seemingly harmless myths of national identity as absolute truths, America risks undermining the sweepingly egalitarian promise of the Declaration of Independence.

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Subjects
National characteristics, American.
Nationalism.
Myth > Political aspects.
United States > History > Philosophy.
United States > Foreign relations > Philosophy.
United States > History > Religious aspects > Christianity.
Published
Urbana, Ill. : University of Illinois Press 2004.
Language
English
Main Author
Richard T. Hughes, 1943- (-)
Edition
1st pbk. ed
Item Description
Originally published: 2003.
Physical Description
xv, 203 p. ; 23 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9780252072208
  • Foreword
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • 1.. The Myth of the Chosen Nation: The Colonial Period
  • 2.. The Myth of Nature's Nation: The Revolutionary Period
  • 3.. The Myth of the Christian Nation: The Early National Period
  • 4.. The Myth of the Millennial Nation: The Early National Period
  • 5.. The Mythic Dimensions of American Capitalism: The Gilded Age
  • 6.. The Myth of the Innocent Nation: The Twentieth Century
  • Conclusion
  • Index
Review by Choice Review

Hughes (Pepperdine Univ.) identifies five key myths that have informed the US view of itself and the world: the Chosen Nation, Nature's Nation, Christian Nation, Millennial Nation, and Innocent Nation. He further applies these myths to other American traditions, such as Manifest Destiny and isolationism. Hughes admits to a personal Christian bias, but this is no apologetic, and his book cannot even be characterized as "liberal" or "conservative." What makes it particularly interesting is its exploration of critical voices from those who have been marginalized or even persecuted by these myths, particularly African Americans. The sources are all well known to historians, and this volume breaks no new research ground. But it does interpret familiar ideas in new ways, and pulls together disparate events and individuals in a coherent overview. Hughes wrote this book with the September 11 attacks in mind--"why do they hate us?"--and he has made a solid contribution to the self-reassessment the US is now going through. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. T. S. Martin Sinclair Community College

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

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