The American Mind

By: Allen C. Guelzo, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Allen C. Guelzo

Americans pride themselves on being doers rather than thinkers, but ideas are at the very root of what it means to be an American. Behind this nation's diverse views on religion, education, social equality, democracy, and other vital issues is a long-running intellectual debate about the right ordering of the human, natural, and divine worlds.

Indeed, America is an enduring hotbed of ideas. Such great thinkers as Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, William James, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many others engaged in lively and often contentious debate that helped mold America's institutions and attitudes. This immensely stimulating conversation made the United States what it is today - and provides the subject for these 36 fascinating lectures.

In this course, you will delve deeply into the philosophical underpinnings of the nation, forged by the Puritans and the leaders of the American Revolution. You will also explore many other aspects of the elaborate structure that became modern America, tracing ideas in politics, religion, education, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, literature, social theory, and science - proving that Americans have a much richer intellectual tradition than generally imagined. You'll learn about such philosophical movements as transcendentalism, pragmatism, and conservatism. You'll study the transatlantic philosophy of the Puritans, the spiritual revival of the Great Awakening, and the passion for reason sparked by the Enlightenment. And you'll trace the origin and evolution of America's colleges, which have served as a battleground of ideas, sometimes in an almost literal sense.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2005 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2005 The Great Courses

This book is the ephin bomb!!!

This is exactly the lectures that you want to here. He covers every angle in a different light from what you have likely been taught before. The relationships of thoughts and history are absolutely fascinating!! Enjoy!!!

One of the best courses

As we head into the 250th anniversary of our independence, this should be required listening for Americans who want to understand the evolution of thought in the US. While I am a big fan of political and military history, this course may actually be more useful. All the themes that are played out today go back to our earliest days, and then before to enlightenment philosophy, the origins of Protestantism, etc. Prof. Guelzo does an excellent job tying this all together. And he makes for super fun listening!

very illuminating

most engaging series. his condescending delivery is very appropriate when examining intulectuals since they always have a condescending attitude to the rest of humanity.

Great long view of America

Even at 18hours, not enough time for anything but an overview. But it did put our American history in perspective. May end up listening again if I get free time. Definitely worth time and money.

Continuity of the American Mind

A revelatory piece of handiwork: what may be seen as derivative of European thought is here seen on its own. It is not uncritical, and it doesn't play down the often fascinating but provincial and sometimes just plain weird Puritan roots, but at the same time the course manages to be moderately generous and expansive.Just when youbthink the lecturer is becoming tendentious, he surprises you. This is the intellectual equivalent of visiting Crystal Bridges.