The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society: Amazon.ca: Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.: Books

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
At the beginning America was seen as a severing of roots, a liberation from the stifling past, an entry into a new life, an interweaving of separate ethnic strands into a new national design. Read the first page

Explore More
Concordance

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars racist reality not confronted, April 16 2004

By

Jin (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disuniting Of America (Hardcover)

I totally agree with the last comment. A lot of you gave this book five stars because you feel "minorities" are acting paranoid, acting out. You're thinking, i've never had a racist thought in my life! Never called anybody names! My people give other peoples freedom, gives them jobs, saves their souls, and do nice things like correcting their English. if you say that, then chances are you don't have any close friends who are not "White." If you say you do, then they probably act and speak like you. It's time for American writers to start talking about racial conflict in this divided nation openly, instead of pumping out these passive-agressive texts using political correct language. Thumbs down to Schlesinger's one-sided book.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Those in the Social Sciences, April 23 2002

By

Justin Evans (West Wendover, Nevada United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society (Paperback)

This book is one of the most compelling reads of non-fiction I have ever come across. Without a doubt, this is one of few books I found of real use in college, and I continue to read and reflect upon it to this day. In fact, I would call this book essential for any social studies curriculum.

Arthur Schlesinger takes the issues of a new PC nation and puts them into real perspective. He is both pro-culture and pro-heritage, but he stands against the idea that cultural identity means a seperation of the American People. Taking on a myriad of topics, Schlesinger explains with great simplicity, straight-forwardness, and honesty how multi-culturalism can be taken too far, taken to absurd conclusions. Essentially, Schlesinger is letting us know that not everything is best when it is presented through the eyes of multi-culturalism.

I read the book in a single sitting. Once I started to read, I was drawn in more and more. Even if you don't agree with his premise, Schlesinger writes in such a way that there is no ambiguity to what he is saying. Knowing Schlesinger's politics for some may make this all the more shocking, but I have to ask those who oppose the message of this book whether they are upset that he is saying these things in general, or if they are upset because a "liberal" is saying these things.

In my opinion this book is of critical importance to understand the second half of the 20th century in America.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

4.0 out of 5 stars Astute analysis from an icon., Nov 24 2001

By

Dave Huber (Delaware, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disuniting Of America (Hardcover)

Schlesinger isn't just "another conservative" lamenting the onslaught of multiculturalism. He genuinely believes in the now out-of-vogue "melting pot" vision of America, which obviously infuriates many modern liberals. After all, "melting pot" implies "white" and "male." Heaven forbid. Arguably, the most important aspect of the melting pot vision is the governmental and legal system of the United States. Modern liberals and various interest groups are trying to change this presently (which is their right, of course), but disturbingly trying to also rewrite its history. For instance, as Schlesinger writes, the New York State curriculum has mandated that study of the American Founding include reference to the "Haudenosaunee political system" -- in effect, the Iroquois Confederation. Schlesinger correctly notes that this "influence" on the Constitution's Framers was "marginal," and on European intellectuals it was non-existent. (After all, wasn't it virtually only Ben Franklin's quote, after visiting the Iroquois, that said essentially, "If they can do [create a confederation], why can't we?") But, no other state has as effective an Iroquois lobby as New York.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 14 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 32 reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars thought-provoking
I originally was assigned to read this book for a class, and it turned out to be one of my favorites regarding the issues of multicultarism and America today. Read more

Published on Aug 22 2001 by S. Thompson

4.0 out of 5 stars Trenchant, and up from the trenches of the cultural wars
The main point of this book is that the culture wars and the debates about politically correct history are not simply academic issues. Read more

Published on April 6 2001 by michaeleve