Críticas:
"Miller's intellectual trek wends its way into lush forests of insight and charm, through underbrush and past tall pines of history, biography, political science and human understanding...the journey is its own reward." --National Interest "It's time to abandon our illusions and take a more realistic view of the presidency...A provocative and highly readable analysis." --Kirkus "You may already know Aaron David Miller as one of our shrewdest analysts of the Middle East. Be prepared now to encounter him as a probing and highly original student of the American presidency. In The End of Greatness we have a brisk, perceptive, and often wry, look at why our presidents--including, most importantly, Barack Obama--come into office raising our hopes for magnificent transformations, only to disappoint us with their limitations. With their insight, historical depth, and realism, Miller's ideas will surprise you and--above all, make you think." --David Greenberg, Professor of History, Rutgers University, Author of Nixon's Shadow: The History of an Image "Will American ever again have a great president? To this intriguing question, Aaron David Miller brings a delightfully provocative sensibility, a lively and engaging pen, and, not least, thirty years of government experience. Whether one agrees with his conclusions or not, this book should spark a thoughtful debate about what we can realistically expect from our presidents as we enter the next electoral season." --Robert Kagan, Senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; author of The World America Made "Is the obsession with 'greatness' making us forget that what we need first from presidents are competence, balance, and a strong sense of what's right? Aaron David Miller is challenging much of what we regularly read about the presidency--and good for him. You may disagree with him at times, as I did, but you'll be grateful that he helps us see the toughest job in the world in a new light." --E. J. Dionne Jr., author of Our Divided Political Heart "Why has America gone some 70 years--the longest time ever--without a president in the league of Washington, Lincoln and FDR? Aaron David Miller dissects our political history with a finely sharpened scalpel, coming up with penetrating answers. More provocatively, he argues we may be better off not to have another "great president." I doubt many readers will agree with all of his arguments--I don't--but they certainly deserve our serious attention. And they are a pleasure to read!" --David Gergen, Professor & Co-Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School, and Former White House Adviser, Four Presidents
Reseña del editor:
There is one thing that has haunted all of America's modern presidents: Americans' expectations of greatness in the man and the office. While it was impossible for the Framers of the Constitution to predict the circumstances that would make America the greatest and most consequential power on Earth, the Founders never intended this spotlight on the presidency. Venerating our past great presidents has always been safe, compelling, and inspiring. But when it also tempts us with the possibilities of their return, it may not be so benign. The End of Greatness offers a new way to appreciate and evaluate the presidency, a mode of understanding that gives conventional achievement ratings their place but ultimately makes the counterintuitive argument that, in expecting greatness, we have made goodness simply impossible. This book looks at the concept of greatness in presidents - the ways in which it is essential to a nation and the ways in which it has been detrimental. Miller argues that greatness in presidents is an overrated virtue, one that eclipses - and perhaps even thwarts - the real contributions of our presidents.
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