Menand is a great writer and his familiarity with literature (as an English prof) shines through. The actual history is a bit suspect, though. And Menand’s personal agenda in praise of post-modern pragmatism structures the entire book, causing him to highlight certain stories and really downplay contradictory evidence. I really liked the section on John Dewey though.

The story of how American thought changed after the Civil War in attempt to comprehend the much more chaotic and expansive modern world it created, told through the intertwining lives of four of the men who led the way. I’ve studied the ideas of James, Peirce, Dewey, and Holmes, but learning about how those ideas shaped, and were shaped by the history they lived through is just fascinating. I’ve been trying for a few years to pin down my idea of America, whatever it is, and this is shaping up to be a crucial piece of the puzzle.

A book about the prevailing ideas in America after the Civil War which helped shape our modern day thought.