The 10 books that have most shaped America: Peter Slen on Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE
Sep 22, 2023
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Andrew Keen talks to Peter Slen about Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE and its influence on America's breakaway from the English monarchy. They discuss the process of creating a list of influential books in America and reflections on national identity. The chapter also explores limitations of book lists and encourages audience participation.
The selection of books that shaped America is not based on popularity or greatness, but on their influence on society and public policy.
The final selection of 10 books for the C-SPAN series aimed to encompass diverse viewpoints, eras, and topics.
Deep dives
The Library of Congress List of Books That Shaped America
The podcast discussion begins with the Library of Congress' list of books that shaped America. The list, originally published in 2012-2013, includes books that had an impact on American society, public policy, and shaped who we are today. The podcast highlights that the list is not about the best-selling books or the greatest books ever, but rather about books that influenced the nation. From this list, C-SPAN selected 10 books for a series, with two books representing each 50-year time period. The aim is to encourage conversation and emphasize the importance of different books in shaping America.
The Process of Selecting the Books
The podcast delves into the process of selecting the 10 featured books for the C-SPAN series. The show's executive producer and his colleagues individually created their own lists of 10 books, which were then compared and discussed during a lengthy meeting. The final selection was made based on the diverse viewpoints, eras, and topics represented by the chosen books. It is noted that there were numerous remarkable books on the Library of Congress list and the final selection aimed to encompass a range of perspectives.
The Influence and Impact of Books on American Society
The podcast explores the influence and impact of books on American society. It highlights the notion that books have helped shape the country's thinking, institutions, and values. Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' serves as an example of a book that captured the spirit of the founding era and contributed to shaping America. The podcast emphasizes that books like 'Common Sense' and 'The Federalist Papers' continue to hold relevance in contemporary times. It also acknowledges that books on the list represent different viewpoints and eras, emphasizing the importance of understanding their historical context and impact.
EPISODE 1745: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Peter Slen, the host of the C-SPAN show, BOOKS THAT SHAPED AMERICA, about Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet COMMON SENSE.
Peter Slen is the senior executive producer and a host at C-SPAN, a television and radio network known for its unbiased coverage of government proceedings.
Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.
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