That Used to Be Us - Softcover

Friedman, Thomas L

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0374533245 ISBN 13: 9780374533243

Publisher: Fsg Adult, 2011

Synopsis

America has a huge problem. It faces four major challenges, on which its future depends, and it is failing to meet them. In "That Used to Be Us," Thomas L. Friedman, one of our most influential columnists, and Michael Mandelbaum, one of our leading foreign policy thinkers, analyze those challenges--globalization, the revolution in information technology, the nation's chronic deficits, and its pattern of energy consumption--and spell out what we need to do "now" to rediscover America and rise to this moment.
They explain how the end of the cold war blinded the nation to the need to address these issues. They show how our history, when properly understood, provides the key to addressing them, and explain how the paralysis of our political system and the erosion of key American values have made it impossible for us to carry out the policies the country needs. They offer a way out of the trap into which the country has fallen, which includes the rediscovery of some of our most valuable traditions and the creation of a new, third-party movement. "That Used to Be Us" is both a searching exploration of the American condition today and a rousing manifesto for American renewal.
"As we were writing this book," Friedman and Mandelbaum explain, "we found that when we shared the title with people, they would often nod ruefully and ask: 'But does it have a happy ending?' Our answer is that we can write a happy ending, but it is up to the country--to all of us--to determine whether it is fiction or nonfiction. We need to study harder, save more, spend less, invest wisely, and get back to the formula that made us successful as a country in every previous historical turn. What we need is not novel or foreign, but values, priorities, and practices embedded in our history and culture, applied time and again to propel us forward as a country. That is all part of our past. That used to be us and can be again--if we will it."

About this title

Review

"At once enlightened and enlightening...[American society] could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend."--The New York Times Book Review "Thoroughly researched and passionately argued...That Used to Be Us is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention....Compelling."--The New York Times "Anyone who cares about America's future---anyone planning to vote in 2012---ought to read this book and hear the authors' compelling case."--The Christian Science Monitor "An important and eminently readable book."--The New York Review of Books "Touches a nerve...In a country whose politicians are partisan intransigents and whose commentators are more interested in zingers than solutions, it takes courage to be so baldly civic-minded."--BusinessWeek

At once enlightened and enlightening...[American society] could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend. "The New York Times Book Review"

Thoroughly researched and passionately argued...That Used to Be Us is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention....Compelling. "The New York Times"

Anyone who cares about America's future---anyone planning to vote in 2012---ought to read this book and hear the authors' compelling case. "The Christian Science Monitor"

An important and eminently readable book. "The New York Review of Books"

Touches a nerve...In a country whose politicians are partisan intransigents and whose commentators are more interested in zingers than solutions, it takes courage to be so baldly civic-minded. "BusinessWeek""

At once enlightened and enlightening...[American society] could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend. The New York Times Book Review

Thoroughly researched and passionately argued...That Used to Be Us is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention....Compelling. The New York Times

Anyone who cares about America's future---anyone planning to vote in 2012---ought to read this book and hear the authors' compelling case. The Christian Science Monitor

An important and eminently readable book. The New York Review of Books

Touches a nerve...In a country whose politicians are partisan intransigents and whose commentators are more interested in zingers than solutions, it takes courage to be so baldly civic-minded. BusinessWeek

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"At once enlightened and enlightening...[American society] could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend." --The New York Times Book Review

"Thoroughly researched and passionately argued...That Used to Be Us is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention....Compelling." --The New York Times

"Anyone who cares about America's future---anyone planning to vote in 2012---ought to read this book and hear the authors' compelling case." --The Christian Science Monitor

"An important and eminently readable book." --The New York Review of Books

"Touches a nerve...In a country whose politicians are partisan intransigents and whose commentators are more interested in zingers than solutions, it takes courage to be so baldly civic-minded." --BusinessWeek

-At once enlightened and enlightening...[American society] could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend.- --The New York Times Book Review

-Thoroughly researched and passionately argued...That Used to Be Us is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention....Compelling.- --The New York Times

-Anyone who cares about America's future---anyone planning to vote in 2012---ought to read this book and hear the authors' compelling case.- --The Christian Science Monitor

-An important and eminently readable book.- --The New York Review of Books

-Touches a nerve...In a country whose politicians are partisan intransigents and whose commentators are more interested in zingers than solutions, it takes courage to be so baldly civic-minded.- --BusinessWeek

Book Description

Pulitzer prize-winning, globally bestselling author charts America's fall from power and influence - and assesses its paths ahead

Edition details

• Publisher: Fsg Adult
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0374533245
• ISBN 13: 9780374533243
• Binding: Paperback