The American Spirit: Celebrating the Virtues and Values that Make Us Great [Hardcover]

Edwin J. Feulner (Author), Brian Tracy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

The United States is an exceptional place to call home thanks to the character of the American people. With conviction and urgency, Ed Feulner and Brian Tracy affirm our core tenets―from patriotism and optimism to faith and generosity―and challenge all of us to live out the timeless principles of citizenship.

Packed with engaging stories, insightful profiles, and eye-opening statistics, The American Spirit serves as an indispensable primer on the bedrock belief that an indomitable spirit does exist, that it defines us as a people, and that it must be preserved for the nation to flourish.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D., is the President of The Heritage Foundation, Washington’s leading public policy think tank. Dr. Feulner has studied at the University of Edinburgh, the London School of Economics, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Regis University. He is also the author of six books, including Getting America Right.

Brian Tracy is Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of organizations and individuals. Tracy has studied, researched, written, and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, and business. He has authored more than 45 books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (June 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595553371
• ISBN-13: 978-1595553379
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars There is only an 'American' Dream June 19, 2012

By R. Cooper

Format:Hardcover

One of the things that got me about this excellent book was the optimism it bestows. It reminds us why our republic is so exceptional. The authors point out, there is no French Dream, no Russian Dream, no Chinese Dream...only an American Dream. Globally people aspire to this dream, and the opportunity simply doesn't exist in its form anywhere else in the world. That we the people govern the government, and not the other way around. Wow. These are principles worth remembering.

This book, co-written by one of the greatest conservative icons of our generation, Ed Feulner, lays it out in a clear, easy-to-read story that should be shared far and wide. Highly recommend.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Judge This Book By It's Cover July 25, 2012

By James R. Holland TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

After over coming an acute and instant dislike of this book's cover I was pleased to find the book pretty decent. My judgment of the cover was based on an intense dislike of using the American Flag for commercial purposes and the fact this cover reminded me too much of the boring textbooks that were forced on me throughout my school years. Don't let the cover dissuade you from enjoying this excellent read.
The book includes 20 chapters each one dealing with one facet of the American Spirit. They include `Patriotism, Freedom, Individuality, Optimism, Foresight, Good Citizenship, Honesty, Something for Nothing, Faith, The Law, Tolerance and Open-Mindedness, Idealistic Realism, Pragmatism, Problem Solving, Generosity, Capitalism, Education, Money and Taxes," and "Courage." This list of subjects will remind many people of the twelve characterizations of the Boy Scouts--"Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Brave, Clean, etc." However the book is much more than that. Each of the chapter topics are explained, defined and shown how they are a part of the so-called "American Spirit." Where they fit into the "American Declaration of Independence" and "U.S. Constitution" is explained in terms that anyone can understand.
"American Spirit exists, that it defines us as a people, and that it deserves to be preserved" is the basic theme of the book.
"A patriot is someone who loves his country, who is willing to sacrifice for his country, and, yes, a patriot is someone willing to lay down his life for his country."
This short volume is filled with illustrations and stories about the American Spirit. Many of them will bring tears to the eyes of the readers.
It's a very uplifting and easy to read and understand book.... It explains how the public has been misled by politicians as far as understanding just what are our Constitutional rights and obligations and where they emanate from. As Peggy Noonan is quoted in the short book, "Nobody is really teaching our children to love their country. They still pick it up from their parents, from here and there, but in general, we have dropped the ball. The schools, most of them, do not encourage patriotic feeling."
The book provides evidence to support the thesis that "the freest societies throughout history have always been the most prosperous. The more freedom that people have to engage in entrepreneurial and other economic activities, the more products, processes, innovation, jobs, wealth, and opportunity will be created. "
"With rare exceptions like the printing press, the greatest innovations, inventions, and discoveries in human history have come since the founding of the United States and in the United States. The power of the individual inspires human beings. When the individuality is stifled by government, when government controls the individual, creativity goes underground."
This is an excellent and important read. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Will You Enjoy this Book? October 28, 2012

By V. Hutson TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I enjoyed this book and I learned a lot from it. Will you like it?

To help you determine whether or not you should purchase it I have listed the 20 chapter headings and the quote each chapter starts with. If you find yourself agreeing with these quotes then you'll probably enjoy the book. If you don't, then your idea of the "American Spirit" is something very different than what the authors believe it is and you probably won't enjoy the book.

Chapter 1: Patriotism. "Sure, I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure, I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be." --John Wave

Chapter 2: Freedom. "The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." --Thomas Jefferson.

Chapter 3: Individuality. "Whatever crushes individuality is despotism, whether it professes to be enforcing the will of God or the injunctions of men." --John Stuart Mill

Chapter 4: Responsibility. "It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions." --Ronald Reagan

Chapter 5: Optimism. "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." --Helen Keller

Chapter 6: Foresight. "Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise. . . . The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer." --Proverbs 6:6; 30:25

Chapter 7: Good Citizenship. "The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight." --Theodore Roosevelt

Chapter 8: Honesty. "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." --Thomas Jefferson

Chapter 9: Something for Nothing.... "There is no such thing as a free lunch." --Milton Friedman

Chapter 10: Faith. "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." --Declaration of Independence

Chapter 11: The Law. "My guiding principle is this: Guilt is never to be doubted." --Franz Kafka

Chapter 12: Tolerance and Open-Mindedness. "Tolerance always has limits--it cannot tolerate what is itself actively intolerant." --Sidney Hook

Chapter 13: Idealistic Realism. "The test of an ideal or rather of an idealist, is the power to hold to it and get one's inspiration from it under difficulties. When one is comfortalbe and well off, it is easy to talk high." --Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Chapter 14: Pragmatism. "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." --Henry Ford

Chapter 15: Problem Solving. "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." --Albert Einstein

Chapter 16: Generosity. "Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind." --Henry David Thoreau

Chapter 17: Capitalism. "Giving is the vital impulse and moral center of capitalism." --George Gilder

Chapter 18: Education. "We cannot be satisfied until every child in America--I mean every child--has the same chance for a good education that we want for our own children." --Barack Obama, June 16, 2008

Chapter 19: Money and Taxes. "Every time in this century we've lowered the tax rates across the board--on employment, on saving, investments and risk-taking in this economy--revenues went up, not down." --Jack Kemp

Chapter 20: Courage. "Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." --Rev. Billy Graham Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, Persuasive Writing & Philosophical Musings Through the A Conservative Christian Lens December 27, 2012

By christinemm - The Thinking Mother TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

When I ordered the book I interpreted the marketing blurb to indicate this book would be a discussion of America's history to tell what made this country great. I didn't research the authors and assumed it would be a non-political book. Upon diving into the book I realized that Dr. Feulner was the President of The Heritage Foundation (a very conservative group). The second realization I had is this is not a book of only discussion of old history but is a discussion of challenges that faced America in the past and some situations at present and how and what the issues are when viewed through the conservative lens. Thirdly this book holds a Christian worldview (hence the reason why a Christian publisher: Thomas Nelson, published the book).

Thus this book is almost a credo for conservatives: framing a virtue or topic that is a foundation of life in America and discussing real life issues that either corrupted or supported that virtue, followed by what it will take to keep things the same or what needs to be done to get back on track. (When I re-read the marketing blurb I saw that there was nothing deceptive about it, I had just interpreted it incorrectly for some reason.)

There are twenty topics, virtues (like courage) or topics (like money and taxes or education) with each representing one chapter. After framing the character trait itself in general terms, examples from history are given. For example the history on honesty starts with an example about Clarence Thomas, leads to Richard Nixon then to the Monica Lewinsky issue with President Bill Clinton, then goes on from there with more examples.... The authors use quotes and excerpts in every chapter to illustrate opinions of other people: this is not just a book of their own opinions, although the conservative viewpoint is what is represented as the one right and best way in the end. In the chapter on honesty, a former American communist, Whittaker Chambers, is said to have "come to his senses" and a long quote is shared telling how wrong he felt he was to have formerly held communist beliefs. It goes on to tell how Americans are forgiving when people, sports teams, or corporations fail to be honest and realize their error and seek forgiveness. The chapter ends by wrapping up how truth is multi-faceted and applies to personal truth, political truth, and spiritual truth "each is as important as the other and all are important threads in our country". Each chapter follows that basic formula.

The twenty virtues or topics examined in this book are: patriotism, freedom, individuality, responsibility, optimism, foresight, good citizenship, honesty, something for nothing, faith, the law, tolerance and open-mindedness, idealistic realism, pragmatism, problem solving, generosity, capitalism, education, money and taxes and courage.

If you want to read intelligent and persuasive writing of philosophical musings on topics that challenge Americans today as represented through the conservative Christian lens, this is a book you would like to read. Moderates, independents, and liberals who want to hear the conservative Christian view are certainly welcome to read it, but obviously may not agree with some, much, or all of it. As a person who values hearing opposing views and who enjoys pondering complex issues I was open to reading this book and would like to think that others who like to do the same would find this book food for thought.

I was thinking that liberals could take this book's format and its topics and rewrite it giving their own examples and reasons why doing things in a different (liberal) way would help America be a superior country. Reading that version and comparing and contrasting it with The American Spirit would be an interesting exercise! Read more ›