Keen On America
The 10 books that have most shaped America: Peter Slen on Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE
Sep 22, 2023
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.
28:49
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Quick takeaways
- 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.
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