Publisher Description
From its earliest beginnings, America has been seen as an icon of liberty with a mission to redeem the world. Often, the ideal fits. But sometimes even our most noble aspirations can be as damaging as they are uplifting. With wit, brilliance, and deep affection, the inimitable Ted Widmer traces America’s wondrous history, from the Declaration of Independence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He also looks unblinkingly at our less glorious history, from slavery to the occupation of Iraq. This thoughtful, celebratory critique is written in the conviction that if Americans want the world to respect us more, then it will certainly help to know ourselves a little better.
Download and start listening now!
“As Widner reminds us, the United States stands alone among the world’s nations because its principles still ring true, even if our government sometimes fails to live up to them. As our role in the world rapidly changes, America’s tradition of liberty deserves a second look—especially the times when the concept seemed to conveniently suit the nation’s political needs. William Hughes reads the text with straightforward clarity, as flat and clear as a cornfield, bringing to life Widmer’s hypotheses about the various times the US has overstepped its bounds. More than mere semantics, Ark is a reminder of how words have real meaning beneath the constant barrage of chatter we are all subjected to.”
—
AudioFile
