Suddenly the American Idea Abroad and at Home 1986 to 1990 [Hardcover]

George F. Will (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0029344352 | ISBN-13: 978-0029344354 | Publication Date: November 12, 1990 | Edition: 1ST

The newest collection of George Will's writings is divided into two related parts. The first celebrates the success of "the American idea" around the world, and includes all of Will's memorable commentary on recent events in Berlin, Eastern Europe, China, and the U.S.S.R. Then, in the second part, he turns to the democratic udea at home in America, describing the fumblings of the President and offering concern for our nation.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A successor to The Morning After: American Successes and Excesses: 1981-1986 (Free Pr., 1986), this new collection completes Will's pungent assessment of the Reagan years and considers the beginning of the Bush era. He is generally sympathetic with government policies since 1980, though he does not hesitate to criticize the frequent lack of foresight or action in many crucial areas. He has grouped his newspaper columns thematically around major foreign and domestic issues, providing a reflective overview of the 1980s. Will devotes groups of essays to such topics as abortion, the Bork nomination, the 1988 presidential campaign, and a gleeful look at the "suicide of socialism" in Europe. His writings are satisfying, stimulating, and a joy to read, whether one agrees with his political positions or not. Among the unexpected gems in this collection: observations on cats, the Rolling Stones, Stephen King, Sidney Hook, and, yes, baseball. Recommended.
- Thomas A. Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, Pa.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 429 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1ST edition (November 12, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029344352
• ISBN-13: 978-0029344354
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,326,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting even when you disagree, January 6, 2007

By 

K.A.Goldberg (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suddenly The American Idea Abroad and at Home 1986-1990 (Paperback)

This interesting collection of 1986-1990 columns by George Will clarifies the times - Glasnost, Gobarchev, Reagan, Bush Sr., the fall of the Berlin Wall, baseball, politics, etc. Will informs, educates, and makes valid points, even though he occasionally veers rightward with foolhardly blather. Still, unlike many conservative commentators, Will is no tawdry mouthpiece. He sometimes criticize allies (and praises opponents), and Will refuses to twist facts, invent statistics, or slander the faith and patriotism of those that dissent. Can we say likewise about screeching fools like Coulter, Limbaugh, and others that demand goose-stepping adherence?

Thinking people will both agree and disagree with Will, depending on the column. Still, you can learn something from his crisply informative writing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Suddenly, the World Changed, November 5, 2009

By 

Eric Mayforth (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

George Will's fourth collection of columns is "Suddenly", covering the years 1986 to 1990.

Will had no shortage of consequential topics to write about during those years. Foremost among them was the event that provided the title of this volume--the sudden collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, the event we thought we would never live to see. The 1988 election and the Bork nomination fight were other important happenings that Will covered at that time.

The author also purveyed his conservative insights on a wide range of other subjects such as education, drugs, baseball, and science.

In a column in the book praising columnist Joseph Alsop, Will asserted that Alsop met the challenge faced by journalists and columnists, which is "to irrigate their judgment and imagination with clear, cold waters from springs--history, literature, art--that flow far from the deadening everydayness of public life". Over the last few decades, America has been fortunate to have another columnist who has excelled brilliantly at that task.