The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream

by David M. Rubenstein

Overview

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

The capstone book in a trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of How to Lead and The American Story and host of Bloomberg TV’s The David Rubenstein Show—American icons and historians on the ever-evolving American experiment, featuring Ken Burns, Madeleine Albright, Wynton Marsalis, Billie Jean King, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and many more.

In this lively collection of conversations—the third in a series from David Rubenstein—some of our nations’ greatest minds explore the inspiring story of America as a grand experiment in democracy, culture, innovation, and ideas.

-Jill Lepore on the promise of America
-Madeleine Albright on the American immigrant
-Ken Burns on war
-Henry Louis Gates Jr. on reconstruction
-Elaine Weiss on suffrage
-John Meacham on civil rights
-Walter Isaacson on innovation
-David McCullough on the Wright Brothers
-John Barry on pandemics and public health
-Wynton Marsalis on music
-Billie Jean King on sports
-Rita Moreno on film

Exploring the diverse make-up of our country’s DNA through interviews with Pulitzer Prize–winning historians, diplomats, music legends, and sports giants, The American Experiment captures the dynamic arc of a young country reinventing itself in real-time. Through these enlightening conversations, the American spirit comes alive, revealing the setbacks, suffering, invention, ingenuity, and social movements that continue to shape our vision of what America is—and what it can be.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982165734
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	1,043,615
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

David M. Rubenstein is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Invest, How to Lead, The American Experiment, and The American Story. He is cofounder and cochairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private equity firms. Rubenstein is Chairman of the Boards of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Gallery of Art, the Economic Club of Washington, and the University of Chicago. He is an original signer of The Giving Pledge and a recipient of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and the MoMA’s David Rockefeller Award. The host of PBS’s History with David Rubenstein, Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein, and The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations on Bloomberg TV and PBS, he lives in the Washington, DC, area.

Table of Contents

Introduction David M. Rubenstein 13

1 Promise and Principle

Jill Lepore on 400 Years of American History 47

Danielle S. Allen on the Declaration of Independence 74

Catherine Brekus on Religious Freedom 96

Donald E. Graham on the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press 119

Michael Beschloss on the Presidential Election of 2020 143

2 Suffering and Sorrow

Philip J. Deloria on Native American History 163

Drew Gilpin Faust on Death and the Civil War 190

Ken Burns on the Vietnam War 208

Jack Jacobs on Military Service 229

3 Restoration and Repair

Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Reconstruction 251

David W. Blight on Frederick Douglass 267

Elaine Weiss on Women's Suffrage 295

Jon Meacham on John Lewis and Civil Rights 320

4 Invention and Ingenuity

Bhu Srinivasan on 400 Years of American Capitalism 345

Walter Isaacson on American Innovation 373

David McCullough on the Wright Brothers 399

Douglas Brinkley on the Race to the Moon 425

Dr. Francis S. Collins on the Human Genome Project and Scientific Research 452

5 Creation and Culture

Wynton Marsalis on Jazz, America's National Art 475

Rita Moreno on the Actor's Life 496

Mark Bradford on the Visual Arts 516

Billie Jean King on Tennis and Activism 531

Cal Ripken Jr. on Baseball 555

6 Becoming and Belonging

Lillian Faderman on the Struggle for Gay Rights 585

Jia Lynn Yang on the History of Immigration 611

Madeleine K. Albright on Being an Immigrant 638

Sonia Sotomayor on Civics and Civic Education 652

Acknowledgments 675

About the Contributors 679

Appendix I Citizenship Test 703

Appendix II Full Harris Poll Survey Results 735

Editorial Reviews

07/19/2021

Rubenstein follows The American Story with another stimulating collection of interviews with prominent historians and public figures. Focusing on 13 “key genes,” including freedom of speech, immigration, and the American dream, that have “enabled the American Experiment to blossom,” Rubenstein and his interview subjects touch on a wide range of topics, including whether U.S. capitalism would have developed differently without slavery, and the crucial role Al Gore played in “open up the Internet to people who want to dial in and use it for personal or commercial reasons.” Other notable discussions include Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor on the need for better civic education in the U.S., West Side Story star Rita Moreno on her life, and Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Reconstruction. In one of the book’s most memorable conversations, Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs discusses his parents’ horror at his decision to enlist and fight in the Vietnam War after graduating from college, and describes the Viet Cong ambush from which he rescued several wounded colleagues, despite taking shrapnel to the head (“the least significant portion of my body,” Jacobs quips). Enriched by the diversity of its interviewees and Rubenstein’s simple yet illuminating prompts (“Explain the Tet Offensive”; “When there were just thirteen colonies, did any let women vote?”), this is a rewarding survey of what makes America tick. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Influential Americans talk about the nation’s past and future. . . . These conversations—warm, engaging, and informative—help Rubenstein point up America’s particular qualities that “have made the whole American Experiment work” even though, facing significant challenges, the country has fallen short.” — Kirkus Reviews

“In this fascinating compilation of interviews with historians, musicians, athletes, journalists, and other notables of our times, David Rubenstein paints what he calls the genetic picture of this country, and why it has succeeded—so far.” —Nina Totenberg, Legal Affairs Correspondent, NPR

“David Rubenstein is a deeply committed citizen and patriot, and a keen observer of human nature with a passion for history. As fellow citizen experimenters, he is suggesting we all engage in thinking about the past and present in order to forge a future that fulfills the promise of America.” — Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist

“In this timely and important book David Rubenstein explores the lessons of the past that will help us through this historically challenging time. It is just the right book at exactly the right time.” — Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation

“David Rubenstein’s insatiable curiosity and intellect bring out the best from those with whom he is in conversation, evoking rich interactions and making history entertaining. The American Experiment captures the essence of the American leader and the pivotal moments in our country’s history.” — Deborah F. Rutter, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

“An extraordinary opportunity to marvel at the United States—and to understand her principles so that we might advance them in service to the republic.” — Lawrence Bacow, President, Harvard University

“In this brilliant book, we hear from the best minds in the country about the unfinished voyage of American life. A must-read to understand our unique nation, its extraordinary legacy, and our collective future!” — Admiral James Stavridis, 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and author of Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character

“David Rubenstein has a unique ability to ask the right penetrating questions that elicit illuminating answers from fascinating people who paint a complete and detailed picture of the American experiment from all sides. As the country’s pre-eminent patriotic philanthropist, David is now doing even more to preserve American history with this important project.” — Bret Baier, Chief Political Anchor, Fox News & New York Times bestselling author

“At this turbulent moment in our nation’s history, this captivating dialogue about the meaning of democracy and the American dream provides much needed inspiration and hope. What a terrific book!” — Doris Kearns Goodwin

“A truly amazing new book. The American Experiment is urgently needed especially during this very strenuous moment in our American history.” — Wolf Blitzer

“A stirring reminder of what our ‘American experiment’ has achieved so far and what’s at stake as we move forward.” —Katie Couric

“A dazzling set of conversations that inspire and illuminate. David Rubenstein highlights the salient features of the American experiment, an experiment so novel that when it began most serious observers thought it would collapse in a few years.” — Fareed Zakaria

“At a time when listening is harder and divisions run deeper, David’s interviews soar above the noise. They are hopeful, inspiring, and rigorously authentic.” — Valerie Jarrett

“A book that forces America to look in the mirror. It’s a reality pill.” — LL COOL J

From the Publisher

2021-06-24
Influential Americans talk about the nation’s past and future.

Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chair of a private equity firm and an award-winning philanthropist who sits on the board of many arts, medical, educational, and historical associations (Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Council on Foreign Relations, the National Gallery of Art, and the Brookings Institution), follows a volume of conversations with noted historians with a similar collection featuring prominent intellectuals and cultural figures, including Walter Isaacson, Jill Lepore, David McCullough, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Philip Deloria; sports figures Billie Jean King and Cal Ripken; filmmaker Ken Burns; musician Wynton Marsalis; and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. These conversations—warm, engaging, and informative—help Rubenstein point up America’s particular qualities (“America’s Thirteen Key Genes”) that “have made the whole American Experiment work” even though, facing significant challenges, the country has fallen short. Among these genes are democracy itself, voting, equality (which, he admits, is still aspirational), freedom of speech, rule of law, separation of powers, peaceful transfer of power, capitalism and entrepreneurship, immigration, diversity, the enduring American dream, and a culture in which individuals must be allowed “to pursue their talents and ambitions, largely unfettered by central control or government interference, with merit and skill prevailing to the greatest extent possible.” When Rubenstein asked acclaimed actor Rita Moreno, a Puerto Rican immigrant, to define her legacy, she responded, “I would like people to think of me only in one way: she never gave up. Perseverance.” Likewise, according to Sotomayor, “People only follow those they think are passionate. So you have to possess passion and, second, commitment driven by dedication and hard work. You do not get anywhere unless you work hard.” Rubenstein offers a largely uncritical, celebratory view of America, as did most respondents to a 2020 Harris Poll (included as an appendix) that the author solicited.

Friendly talks with exceptional individuals.

Kirkus Reviews

This audiobook is proof positive that some texts work best as audiobooks. More than two dozen prominent Americans, including historians, journalists, athletes, and public figures, are interviewed by Rubinstein, who acts as an informed facilitator for this fascinating group portrait. The host of programs on Bloomberg and PBS, Rubenstein is a philanthropist with an interest in American history. His role in this audiobook is to provide the focus and then allow the interviewees time and room to tell in-depth stories. Jill Lepore’s take on American history, Madeleine Albright’s account of her family’s journey, Henry Louis Gates’s commentary on Reconstruction, Rita Moreno’s look back at her life and loves, and Ken Burns’s discussion of the legacy of the War in Vietnam are among the many highlights. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile

This audiobook is proof positive that some texts work best as audiobooks. More than two dozen prominent Americans, including historians, journalists, athletes, and public figures, are interviewed by Rubinstein, who acts as an informed facilitator for this fascinating group portrait. The host of programs on Bloomberg and PBS, Rubenstein is a philanthropist with an interest in American history. His role in this audiobook is to provide the focus and then allow the interviewees time and room to tell in-depth stories. Jill Lepore’s take on American history, Madeleine Albright’s account of her family’s journey, Henry Louis Gates’s commentary on Reconstruction, Rita Moreno’s look back at her life and loves, and Ken Burns’s discussion of the legacy of the War in Vietnam are among the many highlights. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2021 - AudioFile