- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: Encounter Books; 1 edition (Nov 1 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1893554856
- ISBN-13: 978-1893554856
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15.8 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 408 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #410,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In 1972, Revel shocked the world with his best-selling book, Without Marx or Jesus, in which he defended America against global denunciation. Thirty years later, Revel is back with the same purpose. His latest book, a bestseller in France, comes at a crucial time. It seeks to explain the root cause of the world's and particularly Europe's obsession with hating America. He does not pretend that America is perfect. But he argues that the daily denunciations exceed the bounds of reasonable criticism. Furthermore, Revel says, European critics are quick to point fingers when they should be looking in the mirror. Rather than mock America's 2000 presidential election, he notes, Europeans should have been examining their own abysmally run European Union. He attributes such inconsistencies to Europeans' desperate desire to "project our faults onto America so as to absolve ourselves." Revel further finds fault with the antiglobalization movement. Though the movement claims to oppose inequality and poverty in underdeveloped countries, its true anathema is liberal capitalism, whose chief representative is the United States. The barrage of attacks will make it impossible for the United States to confer with European officials or take any criticism seriously. It is in Europe's interest, Revel says, to put aside its envy and consider a more constructive relationship with the United States. As a French citizen, the author laments the sorry state of his home country; he believes that careful consideration of American principles will strengthen Europe. Revel writes with a style at once informative and incisive. He possesses a sarcastic wit that is undoubtedly as irritating to his critics as it is endearing to his supporters.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Revel skillfully dismantles false assumptions, outmoded theories, and outright lies--from both the political Left and the Right throughout the world."
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating and eye-opening book,
By
This review is from: Anti Americanism (Hardcover)
In this fascinating book, French author and Journalist Jean-Francois Revel looks at worldwide anti-Americanism in general, and French anti-Americanism in particular. As has been mentioned repeatedly, immediately after the 911 attack on the United States, people around the world expressed their sympathy for, and solidarity with the United States. However, in short order, the sympathy vanished and the solidarity melted away.In this book, Monsieur Revel explains that anti-Americanism is based on an anti-rationalist, anti-capitalist obsession that is not entirely rational and cannot be overcome by American actions of any sort. This is not to say that the author sees America as a paragon of virtue, quite the contrary. But, what the author does do is look at the reality of America's actions throughout the world as opposed to the perceptions of its actions, particularly as presented by the world press. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and eye-opening book. If you are interested in a penetrating and insightful look at the basis of anti-American thought, particularly in France, as seen by an actual Parisian, then you must get this book. I recommend this book most highly. In fact, if you only read one book this year, I hope that it will be this book!
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Breath of Fresh Air,
This review is from: Anti Americanism (Hardcover)
Revel has written a fairly tight treatise on the phenomenon of anti-Americanism in Europe generally and in France specifically. I have long noticed the European tendency to take any fact pattern involving the U.S., even those diametrically opposed, and reach the pre-ordained conclusion that it is America's fault. (This pattern is also seen in American Leftists who consistently point to Europe as blazing the path for America to follow and who often feel no need to justify such a position - the fact that Europeans take a certain position different from Americans is, in and of itself, sufficient in their minds to follow Europe's more "sophisticated" lead.)Revel provides enough examples of such European flip-flopping regarding its stance towards U.S. policy that one must reasonably conclude that they are not merely isolated incidents, but manifestations of larger problems within European governments that are being sidestepped with critiques of America. Revel does indeed make such a position explicit and usefully explains and analyzes how anti-Americanism is often used as a way for Europeans to avoid taking a hard look at themselves. As Revel himself acknowledges, it is in Europe, not America, that totalitarian ideologies arise and often take hold. The book is not without imperfections. The author's style is often just a touch hard to follow, which may be due to the book being a translation. Further, more attention might have been paid to the actual consequences of consistently taking an anti-American stance. Revel does recognize that Americans may simply ignore Europeans after being bombarded with anti-Americanism and that this may deprive Europeans the opportunity to make legitimate points. However, he might also have included the personal antipathy that many Americans are already feeling towards Europeans and provided concrete examples of how this might affect policy, especially that which relates directly to Europe. Overall however, a good book that is worth reading.
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enlightening book,
This review is from: Anti Americanism (Hardcover)
When Revel wrote this book, he in no way intended to present the US as a country with an unblemished record. He believes that the US should be criticized, so long as this criticism is rational and founded on fact. What Revel rails against in this well-researched, well-reasoned and engaging book is the sort of anti-Americanism that is excessive, emotional, and irrational, and that loses sight of the USA's many good points. With meticulous care he picks apart the contradictions in some of the oft-heard reproofs that other countries and certain groups within society hurl against the US. He points out the blatant hypocrisy of those groups and countries (most notably his native France, whose affairs he is well-acquainted with) and exposes their true agendas. And he includes an analysis of the the terrorist situation in the world, and why this war of the 21st century makes the understanding of unreasonable anti-Americanism especially important. A bestseller in France, this book is eye-opening and informative, spiced with Revel's sharp humor and acerbic observations.
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