Review by Choice Review
Kruse (history, Princeton Univ.) contributes a book to the growing library of publications exploring facets of the nexus of religion and politics. Unlike Steve Rosswurm in The FBI and the Catholic Church, 1935-1962 (CH, Oct'10, 48-1069) or Jonathan P. Herzog in The Spiritual-Industrial Complex (CH, Mar'12, 49-4066), Kruse provides readers with the origin of the term "Christian America" and brings to the foreground how corporate America invented and packaged the concept. Challenging the general understanding of the origin of such concepts as "under God" (in the Pledge of Allegiance) and "In God We Trust" (the first official US motto), Kruse moves readers from 1930s anti-New Deal statism to 1950s US foreign policy; according to the author, the melding of corporate ideas with evangelical beliefs--begun in the 1930s--saw fruition in the anti-communist fervor of the 1950s. Kruse provides a connection to the corporate invention of Christian America, but his more powerful message is how such an alliance set into motion a new dynamic in American politics--a dynamic that continues to define and divide American politics to this day. All in all, Kruse begins with a powerful argument, though he leaves readers with an overarching question: was the nexus one of context or collusion? Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Gary Donato, Bentley University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by New York Times Review
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: Johannes Vermeer, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, and the Reinvention of Seeing, by Laura J. Snyder. (Norton, $17.95.) As lenses became more refined in the 17th century, a fabric-merchant-turned-naturalist and a painter in Holland used the developments to advance their own pursuits. Van Leeuwenhoek, using the small microscopes that he built, discovered a world of microbes in droplets of water; Vermeer, using a camera obscura, toyed with light and illumination and how people perceive them. A CURE FOR SUICIDE, by Jesse Ball. (Vintage, $16.) An unnamed man, who came close to death, is convalescing in a village where a woman, called the "examiner," teaches him the basics of how to live: what sleep is, how to dress, why people have names. Ball's fifth novel elegantly examines the process of rebuilding a life from nothing, and how pain shapes a person's identity. BLACKOUT: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget, by Sarah Hepola. (Grand Central, $ 15.99.) At 7 years of age, Hepola first began sneaking sips of beer and developed a taste for alcohol that stretched into a decades-long addiction. She acknowledges the inherent paradox of her project - how can she write about the hours that she cannot recall? - but captures the vagaries of alcoholism with honesty and humor. GOLDEN AGE, by Jane Smiley. (Anchor, $16.) The final volume of Smiley's trilogy following the Langdon family opens in 1987 and runs through 2019. The Langdons have dispersed throughout the country and face a host of political, economic and environmental challenges. Though the story's cast has swelled, Smiley expertly links each person's story to the past. "You can feel the weight of what came before," Louisa Thomas wrote here. A BUZZ IN THE MEADOW: The Natural History of a French Farm, by Dave Goulson. (Picador, $16.) When Goulson, a biologist and conservationist, purchased a run-down farmstead in rural France, he sought to preserve the property's diverse ecosystem. Here, he tells the story of the creatures that live there - offering insights into such subjects as the "complex politics of life as a paper wasp," among others. His book functions as a joyful call to arms for conservation efforts. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SOPHIE STARK, by Anna North. (Blue Rider, $16.) Sophie, the title character of North's novel, is a filmmaker whose work draws praise for its emotional precision. Her story, told by people who once knew her, "illustrates just how far an artist will go in pursuit of authentic expression," our reviewer, Sarah Fetguson, wrote. ONE NATION UNDER GOD: How Corporate America Invented Christian America, by Kevin M. Kruse. (Basic Books, $17.50.) Kruse, a Princeton historian, reveals how the four words of the title became enshrined as political gospel in the 1950s. Starting with Dwight D. Eisenhower, religious businessmen and lawmakers worked to integrate religion more closely into government functions.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [July 10, 2016]
Review by Booklist Review
Kruse seeks to challenge Americans' assumptions about the basic relationship between religion and politics, claiming the idea that America is a Christian nation is actually of quite recent origin. In the early twentieth century, many Evangelical Christians were convinced that large government bureaucracies and the welfare state were the source of moral decay. Corporate America was a perfect partner to oppose FDR's New Deal policies. The common goals of these groups has had a profound effect on American society. Kruse's work is a fascinating account of the sacralization of the state over the past 70-odd years, ranging from the addition of the words under God to the Pledge of Allegiance to the framing of political policies in explicitly Christian terms. Curiously, his contention that Americans believe this has gone on from the founding of the nation is only assumed and never established. Nevertheless, this work poses at least two important questions: To what extent should the political rhetoric of a diverse democracy invoke piety, and should piety ever be coupled with patriotism?--McConnell, Christopher Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Princeton historian Kruse (White Flight) wonders "why so many contemporary Americans came to believe that [the U.S.] has always been and always should be a Christian nation" and finds answers among a group of 1930s anti-New Deal industrialists intent on promoting "Christian libertarianism"-a philosophy that preached the salvation of the individual through free enterprise. These businessmen, alongside clergy such as Billy Graham, saw an Eisenhower presidency as an opportunity to "inspire the American people to a more spiritual way of life." Yet the Eisenhower Administration produced little more than ceremonial deism. Kruse argues that superficial displays-such as adding "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance-may have created the religious tradition we see today, but more significant attempts to bridge the gap between church and state were blocked by the Supreme Court. The movement may even have died were it not for Nixon, who cynically evoked nostalgia for 1950s-era stability to win the presidency and helped transform the Silent Majority into the Moral Majority. Kruse sidesteps the question of whether America actually had a religious founding, describing instead how 20th-century politicians exploited this idea, but by doing so, he misses a critical opportunity to separate history from myth and chicanery. B&w photos. Agent: Geri Thoma, Writers House. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Starred Review. Patriotism, capitalism, and Christianity have served as the religious right's trinity for decades. Religion has become so well rooted in the Conservative movement that we scarcely consider how it all began. For Kruse (History, Princeton Univ.; White Flight), however, this question serves as the foundation for thorough and thought-provoking scholarship. Here the author takes us from an America battered by the Depression and enlightened by the New Deal-a time when industrialists faced a public relations nightmare-to modern-day America, where God, once a fleeting mention in the political arena, has become an indispensable shout-out. Kruse reveals the ingenious marketing campaign designed to bring scripture to big business. By uniting themselves with pastors, ministers, and reverends, industrialists gave themselves a trusted voice to explain the relationship between free enterprise, love of country, and love of God. VERDICT Kruse reveals the marketing machine behind American godliness with authority, insight, and clarity. He illustrates key turning points along the way to provide a cohesive picture of a well-powered movement. He hands us the agenda behind the Pledge of Allegiance, "in God we trust," and other cornerstones of American patriotism. In short, he exposes the PR man behind the pious curtain. [See "Editors' Spring Picks," p. 32.]-Erin Entrada Kelly, Philadelphia, PA (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Kruse (History/Princeton Univ.; White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism, 2007, etc.) explains the links between capitalism and Christianity.This history is linked to industry's reaction to reform, born during the Progressive Era, revived by the New Deal and perfected during the Cold War. The rise of the Social Gospel movement under Theodore Roosevelt redefined Christianity as faith concerned with the public good more than personal salvation. Business leaders saw new regulations as a threat to their bottom lines and looked for help redefining their roles. The author credits three men and their movements that helped build "Christian Libertarianism": James Fifield's Spiritual Motivation Group, Abraham Vereide's prayer breakfast meetings and Billy Graham's evangelical revivals. Major corporations, prominent industrialists and business lobbies supported these evangelists, who were promoting free enterprise. Using scare tactics and playing up the links between piety and patriotism, these groups sold faith and freedom. Who would be so foolish as to deny or fight either? As Kruse explains the connections, readers will begin to understand that the rallies to promote church participation and fights for school prayer were basically big business's drive to eliminate the welfare state and labor unions. Throughout the book, the author exposes big money's manipulation of the masses. The religious leaders no doubt had good intentions, but many of them became rich promoting the evils of unions and the dangers of socialism. Beginning with Dwight Eisenhower, Republican presidents continued the fight. Enter Madison Avenue and Hollywood, and the propaganda drive and the sacralization of the state were in full tilt. In a book for readers from both parties, Kruse ably demonstrates how the simple ornamental mottoes "under God" and "In God We Trust," as well as the fight to define America as Christian, were parts of a clever business plan. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
