In Search of America [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Peter Jennings (Author), Todd Brewster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2002

eter Jennings and Todd Brewster conceived of this fascinating book long before the events of September 11th. But watching America respond to one of the worst attacks in its history deepened the meaning of their project. Now, more than ever, Americans need to treasure their way of life, and to reacquaint themselves with the founding ideas that united and sustained this country in its struggle for independence two hundred and twenty-five years ago. In Search of America explores the basic ideals that drive and define the American character. Exquisitely designed, lavishly illustrated with photographs, and peppered with fascinating sidebars, this superb blend of eyewitness reporting and history is a significant, timely achievement. In Search of America is a splendid and provocative journey, one that will assure each and every American that though the principles of our great nation may be shaken, molded, adapted, and assaulted, remarkably, they endure.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anchorman Jennings and television producer Brewster illuminate contemporary American society with six stories, set in six different locations, examining central themes of American life: race, government, business, immigration, religion and culture. Each section is buttressed by thematically related sidebars and full-color illustrations. The battle in a South Carolina town to have creationism added to the public school biology curriculum is viewed in the context of the ongoing struggle between religion and science in America, and the chapter is supplemented by a discussion of the Scopes trial, the often overlooked complexity of Thomas Jefferson's ideas on religion and state and a look at the battle over textbooks in Texas. Another chapter focuses on attempts to revive the downtown of predominantly black Gary, Ind., thus highlighting the role of race in America. A look at Frito-Lay's efforts to market potato chips around the world underscores the role of business in America and its attempt to spread "the gospel of the free market" to undeveloped countries. The presentation is highly polished, and the authors report nonjudgmentally on various points of view in each controversy. But the authors do reach an optimistic conclusion that, indeed, the principles laid down by the founders 225 years ago "still form the essence of the American identity." (One-day laydown Sept. 3) Forecast: Major ABC promotion, a $500,000 national print ad campaign and the airing of the multipart TV program of the same title September 3-9, as well as the Jennings name, will make this a bestseller like the authors' last collaboration, The Century.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this companion to an ABC series that aired in September, authors Jennings and Brewster, who teamed up so successfully to write The Century and The Century for Young People, take the reader on a journey through contemporary America. Examining challenges to the nation's founding ideals, they focus on six cases from widely scattered locations, first as a contemporary problem and then in historical context. In South Carolina the creation vs. evolution debate becomes a discussion of the separation of church and state. A conference in Washington, DC, becomes a stage for the perennial argument between a strong federal government and states' rights. Gary, IN, is a city that reminds us of the inequality that still exists among the races. In Plano, TX, modern business practices are juxtaposed against early American entrepreneurs. In Boulder, CO, a high school production of the musical Hair provides a backdrop for a look at popular culture and Americans' methods of raising their children. Finally, Salt Lake City is the setting for America's historical stand on immigration and its effect on our population. With a number of sidebars, this journalistic account raises thought-provoking questions. The authors believe that the Founding Fathers' structure has endured and that it will serve us well in the future. Recommended for most public libraries.
Grant A. Fredericksen, Illinois Prairie Dist. P.L., Metamora
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 307 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (September 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786867086
• ISBN-13: 978-0786867080
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and Entertaining Look At Ourselves!, September 12, 2002

By 

Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Search of America (Hardcover)

This book, like its best selling predecessor also written by Jennings and Todd Brewster about the over-riding nature of the events of the 20h century, is a very well researched and immensely entertaining look at America and its inhabitants. Although obviously designed for popular culture and prominent display on coffee tables across the land, it is indeed a compelling collection of disparate elements weaving a patchwork quilt glimpse at the pluralistic nature of our society and our people.

This book also capitalizes on the impressive range of data collected by ABC-TV in preparation for their superb "In Search Of America" series of televised documentaries, and the book therefore has a virtual cornucopia of offering for the reader to use in coming to appreciate the dynamic diversity that is such a celebrated aspect of American life. Whether investigating civic arguments about the separation of church and state or existential concerns of Latinos in the land of the Mormons, the reader can find an almost endless variety of facts, anecdotes, and examples of all that we have cause to find pride in as American citizens.

In essence, the book represents an absorbing attempt by Jennings and Brewster to explore the stated national ideals they believe are the defining and driving forces for our culture. And the work they have accomplished in delivering this vision of contemporary America is an impressive display of how to usefully employ eyewitness anecdotes with elements of contemporary history in service to a lavishly produced and excellently articulated narrative about the current state of the polity and the society at large.

In times of such turmoil and emotional distress, it is wonderful to have such a glowing look at our collective enterprise as is offered here. It is indeed a splendidly executed effort that travels the breadth and length of the land to illustrate to us just how durable, adaptable, and pragmatic a people we are, and how well our social fabric and our cultural values serve us in times like those we live in. I can highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Skipping Across the Country to find History., October 17, 2004

By 

Betty Burks "Betty Burks" (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of America (Hardcover)

Since this is one of those special over-size books, I was expecting just a beautiful keepsake, a coffee table item. Its glossy exterior gives that impression. And yet the in-depth stories are chock full of historical facts and modern happenings as a result of what had happened before.

The "Boulder" feature held my interest as it is steeped full of music history. Even used a bit of political humor as background. John Adams, the 'voice of self-control' in 1787, as the Constitution was drafted was used as an example. His sense of happiness came from benevolelnt qualities and 'virtue'; he was concerned about the high percentage of the population back then who were succumbing to alcohol intoxication, extravagance, vice (gambling?) amd folly. I had thought that was just the way of life those folks had to show they were 'somebody.' He pushed for more government control to stem this corruption. Washington and Jefferson, on the other hand, espoused the consumption of wines. Today, drugs are considered worse than that national "disease."

The early American humor included making fun of backwoodsmen (like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone), the minstrel shows (black-face) and the Yankee. In the South, we still feel that way sometimes about the latter.

In 1904, the Yankee Doodle Dandy performed by George Cohan on Broadway led the way in the first 'truly American' musical, LITTLE JOHNNY JONES. James Cagney portrayed him in the movie named after the song.

There is interesting information about how "You're A Grand Old Rag" was changed to the classic, 'You're A Grand Old Flag.' His inspiration was by a chance-remark he had overheard by a Civil War veteran who survived Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.

It was Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America' which was revived (from Cohan's time when 'Over There' was used to rally the American soldiers in foreign lands) for the next war by Kate Smith. Now, I guess it is 'God Bless the U.S.A."

Oscar Hammerstein II's lyrics in SHOW BOAT and OKLAHOMA left a legacy for future musicals. His grandfather, the first Oscar, was involved in vaudeville in New York. Clifton Fadiman (everyone has heard of him) compared the Hammersteins in the area of theater to the Adams family (John, John Quincy, Charles, and Henry) in the political arena of American life.

Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers' music brought the words alive with simple, democratic messages. "Song is nothing more than speech in the form of lyrics; drama nothing more than a staged representation of ordinary life" in the musicals these greats produced. They came out with CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I, and SOUTH PACIFIC after their previous successes.

Lerner and Loewe followed in their tracks with CAMELOT, BRIGADOON, and MY FAIR LADY while Frank Loesser scored with GUYS AND DOLLS. Hammerstein went on his own to produce CARMEN JONES, an Americanized 'opera' version of Bizet's 'Carmen' with an all-black cast. His protege, Stephen Sondheim, paired with Jerome Robbins for WEST SIDE STORY, an 'American' adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet.' Sondheim wrote the music for GYPSY, FOLLIES, and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, one of my favorites. In fact, I love most of these musicals as movie versions.

The sheet music brought back memories of taking mine, which I had bought in the records department of Woodruff's store (on the mezzinine), as I took part in 'Your Show Time' on t.v. 'Teen Time' on the stage of the Tennessee Theater which was also broadcast over a local radio station, and other local talent shows when I was young. The photos of the composers was great.

The other 'feature' which spoke to me in particular was concerning the Scopes trial in 1925. This was America's first nationally broadcast courtroom drama, not necessarily because of the subject matter but due to the lawyers involved. Clarence Darrow beat William Jennings Bryan in this case, "a turning point in American history."

John Scopes was the 'radical' young teacher who bucked the system to test the law in Tennessee which banned the teaching of evolution in public schools. The fine was nominal, so in effect it was a hollow victory. In South Carolina now, a scientiest has turned the tables (again) and causing quite a stir with a self-published book, 'Oatmeal with Raisins,' promoting the biblical interpretation of the creation of life. Coming from Florida, he seems intent on changing life in another state to suit his beliefs, as outsiders are prone to do. In Tennessee, we have that problem, also, as the 'new' property owners want to take over and change things.

He was upset by the University Theater production of 'Inherit the Wind.' My son's acting role was as one of the children in his dad's college-directed play at Martin in Pulaski, Tennessee; it was a learning experience for him. And no criticism whatsoever from the public.

These are just a couple of the well-researched 'stories' in this fantastically put-together book by these two television editors. They have previously been successful with 'The Century' and 'The Century for Young People.' I am the proud owner of this volume and even bought two extras to give as gifts.

0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In search of America, September 30, 2005

By 

P. Thudium - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Search of America (Hardcover)

I arrived in new condition. I would purchase from them again. Very good experience