About the book: What is America becoming? Or, more importantly, what can she be if we reclaim a vision for the things that made her great in the first place? In America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great, Dr. Ben Carson, author and professor at John Hopkins Medical Institutions, helps us learn from our past in order to chart a better course for our future. From his personal ascent from inner-city poverty to international medical and humanitarian acclaim, Carson shares experiential insights that help us understand what is good about America, where we have gone astray and which fundamental beliefs have guided America from her founding into preeminence among nations.
Written by a man who has experienced America's best and worst firsthand, America the Beautiful is at once alarming, convicting and inspiring. You'll gain new perspectives on our nation's origins, our Judeo-Christian heritage, our educational system, capitalism versus socialism, our moral fabric, healthcare and much more. An incisive manifesto on the values that shaped America's past and must shape her future, America the Beautiful calls us all to use our God-given talents to improve our lives, our communities, our nation and our world.
My thoughts: I truly don’t feel qualified to offer opinions, criticisms, or evaluations on anything written by an individual with the intellectual qualities of a neurosurgeon.
Nor do I feel qualified to offer an evaluation or opinion on the quality of a written work dealing with the history of our great Nation and the political workings through its history. That being said, I will endeavor to give my insight into America the Beautiful by Ben Carson, M.D.
I see this as a book written by a medical professional and not a historian, and yet I see it presented in an easy to read, conversational tone – much like one would expect to be shared with the average American. Americans who want to learn more about our Nation and yet neither have the time nor inclination to read a heavy treatise on American History and the political in workings of American then and now will find this a good read.
There are chapter by chapter end notes listing quotes and references at the end of the book. This is good and affords the interested reader an opportunity to pursue the topic even more.
I found the quotes, some quite lengthy, from early Americans beautiful and encouraging and a wonderful re-read of history long ago studied. I like that Dr. Carson clearly pointed out that our Nation’s forefathers and early documents clearly state that this would be a nation with freedom of religion and not freedom from religion. It was refreshing to learn (for I had clearly forgotten) the tidbit of history where George Washington’s army was financed as was the American Revolution by a Jewish businessman when the colonies (states) would not provide tax monies to finance the Revolution, Haym Salomon.
Clearly Dr. Carson has a love for this nation in which he has succeeded so profoundly - rising from abject poverty to gain an education bestowing the title of neurosurgeon on him and affording him the privilege of being Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute. Truly an American success story.
This book is a good read for anyone who loves America and who desires to see America remain Beautiful.
GIVEAWAY: One copy will be provided by Family Christian Stores as a giveaway for one of Chat With Vera’s reads.
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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate this review.
Dr. Carson was born in 1951, He does craniopagus separations.
ReplyDeleteI learned that was born in Detroit, MI and that he became famous for his work separating conjoined twins.
ReplyDeleteThe two things I learned about Dr. Ben Carson is that he attended medical school and he became famous for his ground-breaking work separating conjoined twins.
ReplyDeleteBen Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 18, 1951.
ReplyDeleteAs a doctor, he became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33, and became famous for his ground-breaking work separating conjoined twins.
I've been very impressed by everything I've heard and read about Dr. Carson so far. Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
ReplyDeleteTina
I learned Ben Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan in September 1951. I also learned his mother grew up in Tennessee in a very large family!
ReplyDeleteandysavi.mom@gmail.com
I learned he grew up poor with a mother who thoroughly invested in her son's education by being strict in their daily learning. He graduated high school with honors!
ReplyDeleteI learned he was born in 1951. He grew up in Detroit.
ReplyDeleteNancy
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