Anti-Americanism

By: Jean-Francois Revel

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

After the 9-11 attack on the United States, the brief moment of global sympathy for America soon began giving way to blame. In France and other quarters of Europe, and elsewhere in the world, it was said that the Americans had brought this violence upon themselves. The United States was a "cowboy" nation disinclined to abide by the will of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions and bent on pursuing its objectives at any cost. It was the "hyperpower" whose corporations manipulated world markets and whose riches were acquired at the price of Third World impoverishment. No wonder it had been attacked!

Angered by these assaults on a nation he knows and admires, the distinguished French intellectual Jean-Francois Revel has come to America's defense in Anti-Americanism, a biting and erudite book that, paradoxically, given his country's especially vehement attack on the U.S., spent several weeks last year at the top of France's best seller list.

©2002 Plon (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Revel writes with a style at once informative and incisive." (Publishers Weekly)

Nice.. A Foreigner Talking of Americas' Greatness!

It's easy to tee off on the high and mighty.. and America has been at the top of things for generations, so this book actually has foreign writer/author Jean-Francois Revel saying a lot of very good things about America that reminds us of American's greatness.

Sure, America is going through some very challenging times of late with the recession, racial tensions, political dysfunction and the like, plus finally being attacked on her on soil with 9-11, and I guess that Revel just got tired of all of that and have enough of the Anti-America bashing that the world has been engaged in.

Of course, America has a long way to go to reshape and correct the above mentioned issues, and she will, but in the mean time, we all have to stay focused and level headed as we get through all of this together.

I thought this was a good and refreshing read that I really enjoyed!

Every American should read/hear this book!

I love Europe and I thought I loved my country (America), but I never realized how much anti-Americanism I had internalized.

If you have any interest in challenging your thinking on the issue of America's place in the world, read this book!

If you want a refresher course in critical thinking, this is also an excellent book.

great book

I loved this book, surpisingly coming from a French author. You wonder how such an independant view could flourish amidst the media landscape portrayed by the author. This certainly won't be the no brainer best seller like those written by Michael Moore.
I am not familiar with French media, but the dutch media are not very different from the sound of it. Allthough the content of this book wont be the stuff europeans typically stomach from our media, the style is very european, with lots of irony and cynisism. On a dry tone all usual cliches about the US are being ridiculed coming from europeans. Most cliches about the US (racial gettos with gun rich youth, tax climate that only benefit the wealthy, foreign policy that is directed to serving big industry interests abroad) are compared to French gettos, tax climate and foreign policy). Lot's of intellectual ammunition in here.

A French Dittohead

Yes America, there is a pro-US Frenchman. Maybe he is the only one...but he is there. This book is kind of fun becuase it's a French guy saying all the stuff about the Europeans that the American conservatives say. It's pretty cynical, but fun. The perspective is one that you don't see in print very often, but the rhetoric is nothing really new. Almost mistook this for one of my Ann Coulter audio books.
This is meant as a poke in the eye for the Socialist leaning Europeans. If you are looking for an America is the Best book, this is it. I wouldn't listen to it again, but I would give it to a few of my Canadian and European friends as a present.

Who Ever Thought European Elites Were Logical?

Written by a best-selling French writer (and known American-supporter), the book is an interesting calling-out of European governments and "intellectuals" for their unending attacks on the U.S. and shameless hypocrisy. A refreshing in-their-face slap at French intellectuals and their unceasing American bashing to cover up their own faults and scheming, it is heavily rooted in modern day issues. However, you will find enough historical context to be useful, particularly in Europe's colonial history.

While not a deeply-researched piece, for a solid overview of European intellectual arrogance and outright dishonesty this is a worthy listen.

Required listening

This was a fantastic book and has become my favorite in its category. Ann Coulter wishes she could write a book this powerful. It is done in an even handed presentation of European positions that fanatically attack the USA unfairly. Like most books, I'm sure there are generalizations to help make certain points, but there are so many anti-US contradictions presented that you just have to shake your head at the ignorance and blindness of the European media and leadership. There is a lot of truth in this book that hits you right in the face. Quite entertaining, although the generous vocabulary used in a concise format makes the audible version hard to grasp at times. I found myself rewinding many times because the pace of the information was at times too rapid to savor some of the stinging truths.

Must read by a French schoar

This book was written by a French Scholar primarily for Europeans, but should be a must read for anyone who wants to understand the situation and Europe and desires to avoid making their mistakes.
The author is an amazing scholar with outsanding writing skills.

Informative

Nicely done. Explains why this is not a recent issue, but rather part of a long term pattern. Draws together pieces that have been exposed elsewhere, and creates a well put together, nicely paced book. Well narrated, as well.

A

Anyone wanting to know what the Europeans really think of America and why should listen to this book. The book is also a warning to America not to go down the political and social road Europe has chosen.

Could have been more

It's nice to actually hear from a European who isn't being an arrogant anti-American snob. Overall the book was pretty good -- I only wish it was heavier on substance. There is a lot of equating which shows how hypocritical (and in many cases fraudulent) Europe is when it criticizes America for this it does but I could have used more detail. I know quite a bit about post WWII European history and it seems the author could have hit a lot harder on some points. This however is a very good starting point for people looking to hear a friendly European voice and looking for some basic information on how we're viewed from their perspective.