About this item
Over the past few decades, the complicated divides of geography, class, religion, and race created deep fractures in the United States, each side fighting to advance its own mythology and political interests. We lack a central story, a common ground we can celebrate and enrich with deeper meaning. Unable to agree on first principles, we cannot agree on what it means to be American. As we dismantle or disregard symbols and themes that previously united us, can we replace them with stories and rites that unite our tribes and maintain meaning in our American identity?Against this backdrop, Our American Story features leading thinkers from across the political spectrum--Jim Banks, David W. Blight, Spencer P. Boyer, Eleanor Clift, John C. Danforth, Cody Delistraty, Richard A. Epstein, Nikolas Gvosdev, Cherie Harder, Jason Kuznicki, Gerard N. Magliocca, Markos Moulitsas, Ilya Somin, Cass R. Sunstein, Alan Taylor, James V. Wertsch, Gordon S. Wood, and Ali Wyne. Each draws on expertise within their respective fields of history, law, politics, and public policy to contribute a unique perspective about the American story. This collection explores whether a unifying story can be achieved and, if so, what that story could be.
About the Author
Joshua A. Claybourn is an attorney and author focusing primarily on matters of history, law, and public policy with an emphasis on Abraham Lincoln's youth in Indiana.Claybourn is co-editor (with William Bartelt) of Abe's Youth: Shaping the Future President (2019) , an annotated edition of Lincoln Inquiry papers. He serves on the board of directors of both the Abraham Lincoln Association and Abraham Lincoln Institute, and is a member of The Lincoln Forum, American Historical Society, and Organization of American Historians. Claybourn is past chair and a current member of the Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable and first commander and current officer of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War John W. Foster Camp No. 2. He frequently serves as a featured speaker on Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War.Claybourn is also editor of Our American Story: The Search for a Shared National Narrative (2019) , a collection of provocative essays by leading thinkers and public figures addressing the same central question--what is the unifying American story? His work on law and policy have appeared in such periodicals as USA Today, The Hill, The American Spectator, and World Magazine. Furthermore, he has appeared as a guest on CNN, MSNBC, and NHK. He also pens book reviews for Kirkus Reviews and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.Claybourn graduated from Indiana University School of Law and the Kelley School of Business. His legal practice involves mainly government, intellectual property, utility regulation, and commercial transactions. He lives in Newburgh, Indiana. Visit the author online at JoshClaybourn.com.
