A short, sharp, irreverent rejoinder to right-wing red-baiting.
A few months before the 2010 midterms, Newt Gingrich described the socialist infiltration of American government and media as “even more disturbing than the threats from foreign terrorists.” John Nichols offers an unapologetic retort to the return of red-baiting in American political life—arguing that socialism has a long, proud, American history. Tom Paine was enamored of early socialists, Horace Greeley employed Karl Marx as a correspondent, and Helen Keller was an avowed socialist. The “S” Word gives Americans back a crucial aspect of their past and makes a forthright case for socialist ideas today.
The "S" Word
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“Of all the giant slayers now afoot in the great American desert, John Nichols’s sword is the sharpest.” (Gore Vidal )
“The Tom Paine … of our time.” (Bill Moyers )
“Of all the giant slayers now afoot in the great American desert, John Nichols’s sword is the sharpest, his footwork the most graceful, his brain the most cunning.” (Gore Vidal, author of The Last Empire )
“A chilling reminder of how much rich American history has been erased by shallow messaging. A crucial book.” (Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine )
“What? Not a nasty foreign import? As American as Walt Whitman and Emma Lazarus? Much as John Nichols’s timely book may befuddle Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, Americans embarrassed by the slurs surrounding all things socialist will find much to think about in The “S” Word.” (Laura Flanders, author of At the Tea Party )
“The Tom Paine … of our time.” (Bill Moyers )
“Of all the giant slayers now afoot in the great American desert, John Nichols’s sword is the sharpest, his footwork the most graceful, his brain the most cunning.” (Gore Vidal, author of The Last Empire )
“A chilling reminder of how much rich American history has been erased by shallow messaging. A crucial book.” (Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine )
“What? Not a nasty foreign import? As American as Walt Whitman and Emma Lazarus? Much as John Nichols’s timely book may befuddle Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, Americans embarrassed by the slurs surrounding all things socialist will find much to think about in The “S” Word.” (Laura Flanders, author of At the Tea Party )
About the Author
John Nichols is a columnist for the The Wisconsin State Journal and Madison.Com, Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine, a contributing writer for the Progressive and In These Times, and the associate editor of Madison, Wisconsin’s Capital Times. He’s the author of several books, including The Death and Life of American Journalism, The Genius of Impeachment and The "S" Word.
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130 of 139 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
On Friday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, congress members spoke in defense of Medicare, Social Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other programs that by almost anyone's definition are socialist, programs that were denounced as socialist by opponents of their passage in decades past, programs that would not have been created without the efforts of socialists and the Socialist Party.
The debate screeched to a halt, however, because an opponent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus's "People's Budget" then under discussion suggested that its supporters might be socialists. Congressman Keith Ellison, co-chair of that caucus, protested the vicious accusation and demanded that the words of his accuser be transcribed for the record (and possible legal action?). The Republican congress member guilty of the horrible slander announced that he was retracting it. Rep. Raul Grijalva, the other co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, thanked him sincerely for the retraction. Although polls show socialism to be far more popular than Congress, neither Ellison nor Grijalva insisted on being cleared of the label "congress member."
"Socialism," remarked Frank Zeidler, former socialist mayor of Milwaukee, "believes that people working together for a common good can produce a greater benefit, both for society and for the individual, than can a society in which everyone is shrewdly seeking their own self-interest." Missing from Washington, D.C., is not just a single individual who would hurl the term "capitalist" with the strength to have a retraction demanded. Missing also is any sense of working for a cooperative society based on the above truth -- a truth apparent to any child who has neither read Ayn Rand nor viewed cable news, but a truth that sounds insane in our nation's capital.
And one more thing is missing: awareness of the debt our nation owes to its rich socialist history. That's where the best book yet by John Nichols -- and that's saying something! -- comes in. The author of "The Genius of Impeachment," among other brilliant books, has just published "The 'S' Word: A Short History of an American Tradition . . . Socialism."
The book is marred by a militaristic cover depicting the flag-raising pose on Iwo Jima, and its focus on the U.S. national tradition is not without problems. Nichols' goal is to depict socialism as American, as rooted in the tradition of Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, the founding of the Republican Party, the rise of competent public planning in 20th century cities, the New Deal, the struggle for free speech and freedom of the press, and the civil rights movement. In this he is very successful. But a strain of thought related to much socialism and admirable in its own right holds that an idea need not be American to be the best for America. You'd think we'd learn that in KINDERGARTEN.
Nichols does not argue with such internationalism; it just fails to harmonize with the theme of his book. Yet, while other authors have sought to bring out the rich leftist tradition of the United States as something predating and independent of, and better off without, Marxism, Nichols goes out of his way to highlight Marx's employment by a New York newspaper and communications with President Lincoln. Doing so certainly cannot hurt and makes for fascinating reading. Of course, the fascination is in large part based on the reader's imagining of the explosive cognitive dissonance a contemporary Republican might face in discovering his or her party's founding father's appreciation of Marx. This imagination may give too much credit to contemporary Republicans for cognitive processes of whatever sort.
The debate screeched to a halt, however, because an opponent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus's "People's Budget" then under discussion suggested that its supporters might be socialists. Congressman Keith Ellison, co-chair of that caucus, protested the vicious accusation and demanded that the words of his accuser be transcribed for the record (and possible legal action?). The Republican congress member guilty of the horrible slander announced that he was retracting it. Rep. Raul Grijalva, the other co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, thanked him sincerely for the retraction. Although polls show socialism to be far more popular than Congress, neither Ellison nor Grijalva insisted on being cleared of the label "congress member."
"Socialism," remarked Frank Zeidler, former socialist mayor of Milwaukee, "believes that people working together for a common good can produce a greater benefit, both for society and for the individual, than can a society in which everyone is shrewdly seeking their own self-interest." Missing from Washington, D.C., is not just a single individual who would hurl the term "capitalist" with the strength to have a retraction demanded. Missing also is any sense of working for a cooperative society based on the above truth -- a truth apparent to any child who has neither read Ayn Rand nor viewed cable news, but a truth that sounds insane in our nation's capital.
And one more thing is missing: awareness of the debt our nation owes to its rich socialist history. That's where the best book yet by John Nichols -- and that's saying something! -- comes in. The author of "The Genius of Impeachment," among other brilliant books, has just published "The 'S' Word: A Short History of an American Tradition . . . Socialism."
The book is marred by a militaristic cover depicting the flag-raising pose on Iwo Jima, and its focus on the U.S. national tradition is not without problems. Nichols' goal is to depict socialism as American, as rooted in the tradition of Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, the founding of the Republican Party, the rise of competent public planning in 20th century cities, the New Deal, the struggle for free speech and freedom of the press, and the civil rights movement. In this he is very successful. But a strain of thought related to much socialism and admirable in its own right holds that an idea need not be American to be the best for America. You'd think we'd learn that in KINDERGARTEN.
Nichols does not argue with such internationalism; it just fails to harmonize with the theme of his book. Yet, while other authors have sought to bring out the rich leftist tradition of the United States as something predating and independent of, and better off without, Marxism, Nichols goes out of his way to highlight Marx's employment by a New York newspaper and communications with President Lincoln. Doing so certainly cannot hurt and makes for fascinating reading. Of course, the fascination is in large part based on the reader's imagining of the explosive cognitive dissonance a contemporary Republican might face in discovering his or her party's founding father's appreciation of Marx. This imagination may give too much credit to contemporary Republicans for cognitive processes of whatever sort.
32 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Nichols' new book, The "S" Word, is a history of Socialism in America. While other history books on the same topic often paint a picture in which Socialism was never really able to take root in the United States, Nichols' has written a thought-provoking and well written history which explains why it's impossible to talk about the U.S without discussing Socialism. In Nichols's telling, the two are intertwined and Socialist ideas have been integrated into America almost since the founding of the nation. It is part of our culture, economy and everyday life.
For most of the 20th & 21st century, the word Socialism has been a loaded term. Detractors from the Right often use it as an insult meant to taint an opponent as unAmerican and extreme. Today, those on the Left for whom the insult is directed usually respond by dodging the label as a grievous insult. As Barack Obama began his term in office with a $700 Billion stimulus, a government bailout of failing banks begun under President Bush and the beginning of a debate about health care reform, it became clear that his opponents favorite attack on him would be the dreaded "S" word. Obama's reaction was not to embrace the term, as Harry Truman had once done, or to use this attack on him as-in Obama's favorite phrase-a teachable moment about the real meaning of Socialism. Instead, the President bristled at the charge, reiterated his commitment to the Free Market and accused the previous administration of using Socialism to rescue Wall Street.
This book looks to clear away the fog caused by a dumbed down news media and a more extreme Right Wing, and is largely about why Socialism is very much an American tradition. Despite what some from the newer trends on the Right-the Tea Party, Libertarians-would have us believe, this country was indeed very receptive to the idea of Socialism. Indeed, as Nichols' explains, many of the founders of the Republican Party itself were Socialists, and Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, had corresponded with Marx himself. Nichols' talks about several American literary legends, like Walt Whitman and Emma Lazarus, who wrote the poem which is engraved on the plaque that Lady Liberty holds, who were friendly to the ideas which Socialism espouses.
Perhaps most importantly, the author shows us that Thomas Paine, now seen as an American Patriot and icon of the Right, was indeed a radical even by the standards of the time, and espoused many ideas which would be articulated by Marx and other Socialist thinkers later on, including: Old-age pensions, a guaranteed income and government provided universal health care.
Nichols also goes into detail about the Socialist Party in the United States, led by Eugene Debs, and it's role in shaping 20th century America and some of the most popular government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare.
This is a history book, but I wish that Nichols had started by defining Socialism, or just what he means when he says Socialism. The word has a broad meaning, and in a book which is a response to the scaremongering, noise and misinformation rife today about Socialism, I would have liked to see a more technical treatment of it as an economic theory. Socialism can be strictly interpreted, which is what Communism is, or it can coexist perfectly well with capitalism, best embodied by European Social Democracies which allows for regulated capitalism alongside state-run universal health care programs and generous welfare states. But Nichols largely succeeds in crafting an interesting and thought-provoking history of Socialism in the United States. Check it out if you like history and want to learn about an idea which has unfairly been demonized.
For most of the 20th & 21st century, the word Socialism has been a loaded term. Detractors from the Right often use it as an insult meant to taint an opponent as unAmerican and extreme. Today, those on the Left for whom the insult is directed usually respond by dodging the label as a grievous insult. As Barack Obama began his term in office with a $700 Billion stimulus, a government bailout of failing banks begun under President Bush and the beginning of a debate about health care reform, it became clear that his opponents favorite attack on him would be the dreaded "S" word. Obama's reaction was not to embrace the term, as Harry Truman had once done, or to use this attack on him as-in Obama's favorite phrase-a teachable moment about the real meaning of Socialism. Instead, the President bristled at the charge, reiterated his commitment to the Free Market and accused the previous administration of using Socialism to rescue Wall Street.
This book looks to clear away the fog caused by a dumbed down news media and a more extreme Right Wing, and is largely about why Socialism is very much an American tradition. Despite what some from the newer trends on the Right-the Tea Party, Libertarians-would have us believe, this country was indeed very receptive to the idea of Socialism. Indeed, as Nichols' explains, many of the founders of the Republican Party itself were Socialists, and Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, had corresponded with Marx himself. Nichols' talks about several American literary legends, like Walt Whitman and Emma Lazarus, who wrote the poem which is engraved on the plaque that Lady Liberty holds, who were friendly to the ideas which Socialism espouses.
Perhaps most importantly, the author shows us that Thomas Paine, now seen as an American Patriot and icon of the Right, was indeed a radical even by the standards of the time, and espoused many ideas which would be articulated by Marx and other Socialist thinkers later on, including: Old-age pensions, a guaranteed income and government provided universal health care.
Nichols also goes into detail about the Socialist Party in the United States, led by Eugene Debs, and it's role in shaping 20th century America and some of the most popular government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare.
This is a history book, but I wish that Nichols had started by defining Socialism, or just what he means when he says Socialism. The word has a broad meaning, and in a book which is a response to the scaremongering, noise and misinformation rife today about Socialism, I would have liked to see a more technical treatment of it as an economic theory. Socialism can be strictly interpreted, which is what Communism is, or it can coexist perfectly well with capitalism, best embodied by European Social Democracies which allows for regulated capitalism alongside state-run universal health care programs and generous welfare states. But Nichols largely succeeds in crafting an interesting and thought-provoking history of Socialism in the United States. Check it out if you like history and want to learn about an idea which has unfairly been demonized.
26 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a superb book to give to a young person new to the subject. My 19-year old happened to pick it up and became hooked on just a few pages. John Nichols is a terrific and engaging writer. Even though I'm not new to the study of Socialism by any means, I learned a good deal from this important book. Nichols sheds much-needed light on the true history of this American political tradition.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smile when you say Socialism
Socialism: The "S" word?
Shameful? No.
Suspicious? Uh, no.
Subversive? Hell, no!
Mr. Read more
Shameful? No.
Suspicious? Uh, no.
Subversive? Hell, no!
Mr. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Martha Humphreys
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read on American socialism
John Nichols has written a persuasive case that socialism is as American as apple pie. From the forgotten radical economics of founding father Thomas Paine and the utopian... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stuart C Elliott
1.0 out of 5 stars
national socialism, communism, the state and the deaths of hundreds...
russia, germany, italy, china, north korea, vietnam, cambodia, ethiopia etc, all fell under the sway of the power of the state (socialism/progressivism) over the people. Read more
Published 2 months ago by EAJ
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good but has some weaknesses
Such a topic of Socialism and how it truly relates to American politics is often omitted from popular discourse. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mandy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting topic, poorly footnoted.
The author makes some really interesting points, but fails to back them up with the proper footnotes. The chapter on Marx and Lincoln was especially lacking.
Published 2 months ago by Babysan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Socialism in America
As always Nichols displays a crisp, engaging and thorough analysis of his subject. I learned a lot and recommend it highly.
Published 4 months ago by Bruce
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of Information
This book is full of (to me) new and interesting information about the influence of socialists on American history. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ruthanne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why the "S" word is not a dirty word!
With all the idiotic talk about socialism lately, this book clarifies the distinct American brand of socialism and why it is so much a part of who and what we are as a nation. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Thomas Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fine Account of Socialism and Socialists in American History
John Nichols wrote this book to show how wrong Glen Beck and other right wingers were in their rants that socialism has always been unamerican. Read more
Published 13 months ago by James W. Russell
4.0 out of 5 stars
American Socialism
Although I had read about Eugene V. Debs and other socialist politicians, I had not realized the positive effects on society their actions produced. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Karyl Paige
