Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 20
 In Their Own Words October 6, 2009
Prof. CJ (North FL, USA)
43 out of 45 found this review helpful
You've got to wonder how many people would continue to call themselves "Progressives" if they knew what the core beliefs of that movement were REALLY all about.
Pestritto and Atto have cobbled together excerpts from some of the leading political and intellectual lights of the early American Progressive movement into one handy reference. In other words, this is a collection of primary source excerpts -- Progressive leaders in their own written and spoken words. Naturally, our two early progressive presidents, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, figure prominently. In addition, we get material from such leading progressives as Charles Beard, Jane Addams, Walter Rauschenbusch, John Dewey, and Herbert Croly.
As a history professor, I found this book an invaluable resource, chock-full of interesting quotes to share with my students. Many are shocked when they read/hear what the progressive leaders had to say -- even some students who considered themselves 'progressives' were noticably knocked a little off-balance ideologically to find out how much statism, naked power-worship, anti-individualism, contempt for the Constitution and checks & balances, kooky religious ideas, and racism can be found in the thoughts and words of progressive leaders. I appreciate that because I try to raise as many questions in my students' minds as I answer, and to challenge their beliefs (by the way I do the same thing to conservatives when covering other time periods, too.)
The information in this book is a total rebuttal to the standard textbook explanation that the progressives were just a bunch of people who selflessly wanted to help out the poor and disadvantaged. That's an element of progressivism, to be sure, but there's a LOT more to it than that, particularly at the levels of political and intellectual leadership.
This book will give you a much greater understanding of how our system got to be the way it is, why we deviated in the last century so much from the original focus of our country (which was liberty), and how we instead ended up with a government dominated by two parties who always and continuously increase federal power, regardless of pandering rhetoric to the contrary.
Great intro to a topic of continuing, and immense, importance April 29, 2009
Thomas Gorski (Chicago)
47 out of 52 found this review helpful
Pestritto and Atto do an excellent job of summarizing the fundamentals of the American Progressive movement in this compilation. The selected excerpts from notable progressives of the early 20th century (Woodrow Wilson, Roosevelt, Adams, Croly, and others) go a long way to introducing the reader to the roots of progressivism via concrete sources, while supporting the more abstract defintions and explanations provided in the authors' intro. A must read for anyone concerned with modern politics and the development or erosion of liberal democracies everywhere, depending on your belief system.
Excellent book April 14, 2009
Carole G. Chalcraft (GA, USA)
69 out of 87 found this review helpful
I had a hard time finding this book. But I finally did, thank goodness. If you believe in our Constitution, and want to gain insight, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!
American Progressivism - A Reader August 7, 2009
C. M. Eagan (Staunton, VA United States)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
I am still reading, but this is an excellent book for those interested in the thinking of Progressives in United States politics. I would recommend this book for high school students before they go to college.
Outstanding history of the Progressive movement September 9, 2009
Douglas E. Williams
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Using writings and speeches by prominent progressives over the last 100 years, the book shows the dangers of this misguided belief system and the unintended consequences that result from putting such utopian ideas into policy. A must read given the current political situation in this Country.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 20
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