An adept distillation of the scholarship that has been produced since the 1950s-thoughtfully reorganized and updated to include a consideration of new works that have appeared since 1987-this new edition of Michael Perman's highly popular book examines the ways in which historians have interpreted what was perhaps the largest program of domestic reform undertaken in the history of the United States. In addition to accessing the impact of what might best be described as a maturation of the Revisionist history of Emancipation and Reconstruction; Perman introduces previously neglected areas of interest that have assumed new significance; such as the nature of the southern labor system after slavery and the role of African Americans in Reconstruction politics. The result is a lucid portrait of the post-Civil War years; one reluctant to employ such simplistic and judgemental terms as success or failure in assessing the complex problems of rebuilding the nation.
#2504638 in Books Mercer Univ Pr 2008-01-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.75 x 6.00 x .75l; 1.00 #File Name: 0881460850293 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Excellent bookBy Leroy SeatIt is hard to imagine a book more readable; more inclusive; more helpful; or better able to address the thorny ethical issues related to the broad field of religious faith and human life; health; suffering; and death.Although the book is written as a scholarly work and cites a broad range of sources; the author does not hesitate taking sides and suggesting his carefully thought-out position on controversial matters; such as the right to die; universal healthcare; abortion; etc. He states; for example; "My interest is not simply to outline the issues but to suggest a resolution of the debate" (p. 177). Neither does he hesitate to oppose positions he considers ethically questionable; such as when he avers that the "free market approach to the distribution of health care seems a transparent rationalization for the selfish protection of economic privilege" (p. 89); or to espouse positions he considers desirable; such as when he clearly states that "US public policy should support stem cell research" (p. 213).Except for Christian fundamentalists; who will likely find much to criticize in this book; most other Christians; as well as people of other religious traditions and non-believers; will not only find plenty to ponder in this book but also find much help in thinking through many of the difficult problems arising from the matrix of religion; science; and public policy.
