PDF God and Gold: Britain; America; and the Making of the Modern World by Walter Russell Mead in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A comprehensive overview of Anglo-American power world wide.By JohnWalter Russell Meade delvers a very compelling case for how Anglo-American power has shaped the modern world. Particularly how the relationship of National Debt to Military expenditures. With the exception of small wars; or as detailed in "The Savage Wars of Peace"; the United States or Great Britain has won every war for the past 300 years in which they have participated. Not a giant fan of Meade's website on American Interests which is a hawkish site completely focused on; well American Interests but now really have a much clearer picture of American Power and how it has expanded the past 100 years.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic Book!By HeartlandThis book is quite an achievement and hats off to Mr. Mead. I had read articles by Mead but this is his first book I have read.He ranges widely; covering the last 300-400 years of history; especially European history it seems; This book covers so much ground and much of it is astute; creative original insight by Mead.I had not seen this subject discussed that much at all before---why Britain and USA (the anglo saxons) have dominated the world so over the past 300 years...with the maritime strategy. Needs discussing and Mead nails it.There are so many interesting discussions. An example is a discussion going back in history regarding the clashing viewpoints of multiculturalists versus the clash-of-civilizations group...multiculturalists and nationalists you might say....I am not using the precise terminology here; but you get the idea.The breadth of Mead's knowledge is amazing. It is just quite a book..It did not seem to get a lot of attention..Wonder if it is too good?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Sweeping Account of Anglo-Saxon CultureBy Carl RobinsonGod and Gold is a book that details what exactly made the English peoples so formidable in nearly every endeavor.The author chalks it up to the cultural traits of the Elders of Greenwich. These traits include an ability to rapidly adapt to change-indeed to seek out change; religious tolerance; philosophical pragmatism; a social system that is strong enough to avoid fragmentation but flexible enough to incorporate social change.Anglo-Saxons also carefully align their morality to their self-interest.In the author's view; Anglo-Saxon Societies occupy a spot between three opposing philosophical and religious views-traditional Roman Catholic style faith; radical Protestantism; and Rational Humanism. The society can thus make social progress while avoiding the tyrannical Big Idea advanced by such as the Jacobins.This book is full of insight; profound ideas; and shows historical similarities with regards to England and her enemies.The author leaves out mistakes the English made-the World Wars come to mind-and he also ignores the stable government that existed before the Normans arrived as well as the English Empire that included large parts of France during the time of the Plantagenet Kings. Instead he assumes that the Glorious Revolution of 1688 was indeed a revolution rather than a political settlement that was a natural expression of English culture.Ultimately; this book is an eye-opening study of Anglo-Saxon culture.