{"title":"Gary Gerstle","description":"\u003cp\u003eDive into the historical and thought-provoking works of Gary Gerstle with our collection dedicated to his insightful contributions to the field of history and military studies. Gary Gerstle is a renowned historian, celebrated for his expertise in American political, social, and cultural history. His books offer an in-depth exploration of pivotal periods and themes that have significantly shaped the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the standout titles in this collection is \u003cem\u003eAmerican Crucible\u003c\/em\u003e, where Gerstle examines the enduring issues of race, nation, and loyalty over the last century. Through his detailed research and engaging narrative style, Gerstle sheds light on the intricate dynamics that have influenced America's identity and its policies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal for history enthusiasts, students, and anyone interested in comprehending the complexities of American history, Gary Gerstle's books provide a nuanced perspective that encourages readers to reflect on the past and its implications for the present and future. Browse this collection to enrich your understanding of the historical forces that have shaped the world we live in today.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"american-crucible-by-gary-gerstle-9780691173276","title":"American Crucible","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis sweeping history of twentieth-century America follows the changing and often conflicting ideas about the fundamental nature of American society: Is the United States a social melting pot, as our civic creed warrants, or is full citizenship somehow reserved for those who are white and of the \"right\" ancestry?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGary Gerstle traces the forces of civic and racial nationalism, arguing that both profoundly shaped our society. After Theodore Roosevelt led his Rough Riders to victory during the Spanish American War, he boasted of the diversity of his men's origins—from the Kentucky backwoods to the Irish, Italian, and Jewish neighborhoods of northeastern cities. Roosevelt's vision of a hybrid and superior \"American race,\" strengthened by war, would inspire the social, diplomatic, and economic policies of American liberals for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yet, for all of its appeal to the civic principles of inclusion, this liberal legacy was grounded in \"Anglo-Saxon\" culture, making it difficult in particular for Jews and Italians and especially for Asians and African Americans to gain acceptance. Gerstle weaves a compelling story of events, institutions, and ideas that played on perceptions of ethnic racial difference, from the world wars and the labour movement to the New Deal and Hollywood, to the Cold War and the civil rights movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe witness the remnants of racial thinking among such liberals as FDR and LBJ; we see how Italians and Jews from Frank Capra to the creators of Superman perpetuated the New Deal philosophy while suppressing their own ethnicity. We feel the frustrations of African-American servicemen denied the opportunity to fight for their country and the moral outrage of more recent black activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, and Malcolm X.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGerstle argues that the civil rights movement and Vietnam broke the liberal nation apart, and his analysis of this upheaval leads him to assess Reagan's and Clinton's attempts to resurrect nationalism. Can the United States ever live up to its civic creed? For anyone who views racism as an aberration from the liberal premises of the republic, this book is must reading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eContaining a new chapter that reconstructs and dissects the major struggles over race and nation in an era defined by the War on Terror and by the presidency of Barack Obama, \u003cem\u003eAmerican Crucible\u003c\/em\u003e is a must-read for anyone who views racism as an aberration from the liberal premises of the republic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848335741164,"sku":"9780691173276","price":82.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/1719903482434.jpg?v=1758973710"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/gary-gerstle.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}