America: The Last Best Hope (Volume III): From the Collapse of Communism to the Rise of Radical Islam

William J. Bennett

Oct 2011 · Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

America began to breathe easy at the close of the Cold War and loosened its grip on the fear of nuclear confrontation for the first time since World War Two. Peace was palpable, but in retrospect the years between 1988 and 2008 were as rocky as they were uncertain. Turbulence, not tranquility, marked the turn of the century: the war on drugs, race riots, values debates, deep economic shifts, and the growing threat of terrorism on U.S. soil that would tragically play out on September 11, 2001. In this, the third volume of America: The Last Best Hope, William J. Bennett explores America's recent and momentous history: the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of global Communism; sweeping changes in political and popular culture; the war on terror and the election of America's first African American president. Surveying the players, personalities, and pivotal moments, Bennett captures this recent chapter in the American story with piercing insight and unrelenting optimism.

Ratings and reviews

This book opens with what seems to be an attempt to rehabilitate President George H. W. Bush’s image. Although I do not doubt the deep relationship that these two had, I don’t think that it was entirely necessary or relevant to note. Regardless, the book then launches into an interesting piece on the ’88 primaries. In this section, I found myself to be quite impressed with the author’s response to the statement: “The Christians have won.” Bennett replied by saying that this “was the wrong way to campaign and think: campaigns should not be based on religious balkanization or sectarianism like that” (4). After reading this, I discovered a new respect for the author. One thing that really bothered me in the first chapter, however, was the author’s praise of Bush’s attempt towards bipartisanship (19), while later outlining that he ‘pledged’ to not have any new taxes (37). Nothing says bipartisanship quite like pledging to not do what the other guys want. I do, however, find the book to bring a lot of clarity to Bush’s unpopularity with the right. It explains the many reasons why moderates lost faith in him, and voted for Clinton in the subsequent election. The book continues through the Clinton presidency, into the 2000 election, W. Bush’s election, and finally, the rise of Barack Obama. As I said, I was expecting a man who was unshakably Republican-accepting no substitutes, however, I was impressed with his handling of Barack Obama. Many of the other books I have read about Obama (written by members of the GOP) have held him in poor regard. Bennett seems to merely present the facts (albeit with a few obvious biases). This book was one of the better books I’ve reviewed, and would be helpful to those who are looking for a general overview of this historic period.

About the author

Dr. William J. Bennett is one of America's most influential and respected voices on cultural, political, and educational issues. Host of "The Bill Bennett Show" podcast, he is also the Washington Fellow of the American Strategy Group. He is the author and editor of more than twenty-five books, and lives in North Carolina.