My colleague Mark Mitchell has co-edited a new book entitled The Culture of Immodesty in American Life and Politics: The Modest Republic. It’s not just about women’s fashions. From the description at Amazon:
The Culture of Immodesty in American Life and Politics is a collection of thirteen essays from a broad range of scholars and independent authors, evaluating the prevalence of immodesty in various aspects of American life and culture. Contributors diagnose immodesty through the lens of corporations that are ‘too big to fail,’ consumption inspired by excessive greed, art and fashion that lack beauty and taste, government budgets resulting in perennial deficits, and foreign policy that meddle in the affairs of other nations. Going beyond mere diagnosis of societal ills, The Culture of Immodesty in American Life and Politics provides a prescription for cultural impropriety: promoting a framework for the rejection of immodesty and greed in contemporary life.
From the Reviews at Amazon.com:
“The theme of the United States as a Republic turned Empire is depressingly familiar these days, but those who cheer or damn the imperial turn focus almost exclusively on war and diplomacy. Largely missing from the debate has been analysis of how the needs of empire can corrupt domestic institutions and culture. The authors in this provocative anthology succeed in filling that gap by asking not only what the United States became, but what Americans lost when their Constitutional, federal, more or less pious, and modest republic ceased to exist.” – Walter A. McDougall, Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania, USA
“Citing eminent authorities ranging from Russell Kirk to Bruce Springsteen, this cogent collection of essays offers a bracing rebuttal to the militarists and imperialists seemingly intent on driving America into the abyss.” – Andrew J. Bacevich, author of Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War
About the Authors:
Michael P. Federici is Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Mercyhurst University, USA and is the author of three books and one edited volume: The Political Philosophy of Alexander Hamilton, The Challenge of Populism, Eric Voegelin: The Search for Order, and Rethinking the Teaching of American History.
Richard M. Gamble is Anna Margaret Ross Alexander Chair in History and Political Science and Associate Professor of History at Hillsdale College, USA and is the author of The War for Righteousness: Progressive Christianity, the Great War, and the Rise of the Messianic Nation and the editor of The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What it Means to be an Educated Human Being.
Mark T. Mitchell is Professor and Chair of the Department of Government at Patrick Henry College, USA. He is the author of Michael Polanyi: The Art of Knowing and The Politics of Gratitude: Scale, Place and Community in a Global Age.
via The Culture of Immodesty in American Life and Politics: The Modest Republic: Michael P. Federici, Richard M Gamble, Mark T Mitchell: 9780230340770: Amazon.com: Books.
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