What is America? Is it a hegemonic superpower; composed of ruthlessly selfish capitalists? Or is it a land of hope and glory; a shelter for the huddled masses; and a beacon of freedom and enlightenment? The definition of this complex nation has been debated substantially; yet all seem to agree on one thing: it is unique. The idea of an exceptional America can be traced all the way back to Alexis de Tocqueville's nineteenth-century observations of a newly formed democracy that seemed determined to distinguish itself from the rest. Little; it seems; has changed. Building on de Tocqueville's concept of American exceptionalism; this collection of essays; contributed by some of the nation's top scholars and thinkers; takes on the weighty task of sizing up America in a way its people and others can comprehend. Far more than simple history; they outline the current state of American institutions and policies—from the legal system to marriage to the military to the Drug War—and anticipate where these are headed in the future.
#3025353 in Books 2010-10-14 2010-10-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.95 x 1.29 x 5.98l; 1.07 #File Name: 158542823X496 pageshistory
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great BeginningBy MTKThe first part of the book where Jenkins discusses the history of the Mayan people and culture is very; very interesting and well written. I truly enjoyed it. The rest of the book... not so much. I got a little tired of his repeated claims that others used his research and misrepresented it for or to their own betterment. I got the feeling that Jenkins feels like a victim. It also felt like he went over and over the same things several times... at least too many times for me.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. I was disappointedBy L. WilliamsI was looking for a book on 2012 that was based on science; not hype. I had seen Jenkins in interviews; and he sounded like the kind of author I was looking for.The only problem was - the book is mostly about him (somewhat of an autobiography); and not much else. His LSD trip was not something that I felt qualified him as an expert on archeology; but his love of the Mayan people did shine through the whole book.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A balanced synopsis of the "2012 phenomenon!"By Jean-Paul A. HELDTMY TiTLE: A balanced synopsis of the "2012 phenomenon!"TAGS: 2012 prophecy; maya calendar; cataclysm; galactic alignment; precession; endtime hype; world age; cosmology; preconceived idea!REFERENCE: Jenkins; John Major; "The 2012 Story: The Myths; Fallacies; and Truth Behind the Most Intriguing Date in History." First Edition. New York; NY: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin; 2009./////////////////////////////////////////////////////This 496-page book by John Major Jenkins is a well-documented research about the much hailed (and perhaps feared) "2010 phenomenon." Jenkins is no newcomer to the "2012" scene. In his own words; he has "been investigating May culture since 1985;" and has produced several "books and articles on Maya calendars and cosmology" (pp. 2).Rather than espousing a "doomsday" theory approach; or dismissing the "2012" phenomenon as a hoax; Jenkins produces solid research of the traditional Maya calendar; combined with the findings of astronomy; predicting a rare "solar-galactic alignment" for 2012. Jenkins does NOT leave the reader guessing about his stance; as he explain his entire approach in a ten-page introduction titled; "2012: An unstoppable idea" (pp. 1-10). So why read on for thirteen more chapters? Simply to learn all there is to learn about such mysterious subjects as the "Long count" (pp. 58-81); the "Galactic alignment" (pp. 263-286); and Jenkins' own prediction of the significance of the 2012 date (Chapters 12 and 13).John's book is very well documented; as it includes an index (pp. 465-483); 20 pages of notes (pp. 431-450); a bibliography of selected volumes (pp. 451-464); and two appendixes: a) glossary of terms (pp. 415-424) and b) a timeline of the 2012 story (pp. 425-430).Finally; I tend to agree with John's concept of human nature. John writes; "We need a shared ceremony; a mystery play to enact; in which both sides sacrifice themselves and rebirth each other. Hearts [emotional/social] and minds [mental/economic] united; body [physical/biological] and spirit [spiritual/moral values] humming together; evoking the great alchemical union of opposites at the end of the cycle" (pp. 377; second §; comments added in square brackets). This four-dimensional concept is more pronounced in a direct quote from Barbara Tedlock; heading Jenkins' fourth chapter ("Breakthroughs or breakdown?"). "Maya people [...] different systems of timekeeping [...] in the separate provinces of their biological [physical/material]; astronomical; psychological [mental/economic]; religious [spiritual/moral values]; and social [emotional] realities" (pp. 122; comments added in square brackets).Here; as in several other of my book reviews; I wish to lodge my firm opposition to the system of end notes. Even though John has no less than 372 notes (i.e.; 4 + 29 + 31 + 27 + 37 + 47 + 68 + 17 + 2 + 24 + 26 + 9 + 32 + 15 + 4 = 372); they are of little or no value to the average reader; as they are quasi-hidden and mostly useless in an 18-page section (pp. 432-449); following the appendices. No average reader in his/her right mind is going to flip back and forth 372 times between the reference number in the main text (e.g.; # 22; in Chapter One; on page 41) and the actual note at the end of the book (e.g.; note # 22 on pp. 432). It is beyond my comprehension why publishers "insist" on the endnote system. Footnotes are so much more practical and user-friendly. Even though John's book has this negative defect; assuming it is the publisher's responsibility; i give the book a 5* (five star) rating.What I do appreciate; however; about John's writing; is that; here and there; he gives the reader a few snippets about John's academic experience and principles learned along the way. These principles are useful and applicable in other spheres of intellectual inquiry; such as philosophy; anthropology; or theology. I wish to quote two examples of such principles: 1) "There's a problem in how scholars emphasize certain facets of an ancient culture. A tendency to make them relatable to modern minds will emphasize characteristics that are recognizable in our own culture--a reflex called reification [...]. Scholars consequently do not try to shift their consciousness in order to perceive the unique traits of an ancient culture and are instead content to interpret it through the unmoving filters of their own paradigm's values and assumptions" (pp. 51; third paragraph). I'd call the principle embodied in this quote the principle of "having a preconceived agenda;" and no amount of new data will sway the (often unaware) holder of this principle to embracing a new perspective; or even the possibility of a legitimate alternative.And John's second quote goes like this; 2) "Yuri Knorosov [...] experienced the epitome of what happens when an outsider advances a new insight. The insight was shocking to the establishment because it came about not by amazing more and more data until the correct interpretation appeared; no; the data had been lying around for decades; waiting for the right person to come along and reframe the material in such a way that the right interpretation clicked into place" (pp. 55; third paragraph; underlined emphasis added in both direct quotes). Perhaps the principle embodied in this quote can be called the principle of "the revolutionary; transforming; and reforming insight from a naïve; innocent; unbiased; typically non-professional outsider to the establishment in any discipline."When I read these principles; I cannot help but reflecting on the dilemma that has plagued the Christian church since the close of the apostolic period (See Acts 28:31); namely the debate over the day of rest and worship: is it the "seventh day Sabbath" (now referred to as Saturday); or is it the "first day of the week;" now referred to as Sunday? No amount of new data seems to sway proponents of one view to the alternative view; and vice and versa.NOTE: Should you have any comment(s) and/or suggestion(s) about this review; I can be reached via email at [...]. I look forward to hearing from you./////////////////////////////////////////////////////Ordered from .com; received {delivered} on Mar 01; 2010 8:27:00 AM; first reading between Wed 2010-3-3 (2:41am) and Mon 2010-03-08 (9:40am). Word count = 902/990. Book review submitted to .com on 2010-03-27 (11:18pm).
