Gen Xers probably don't need, let alone want, advice from me. But if I may make one small suggestion. If and when you want to name a historian laureate, give serious consideration to Sarah Vowell.
I know, Vowell says she is not a historian and she's not. But that elevates form over substance. History often played a part in Vowell's earlier books. Her last two, Assassination Vacation and this week's release, The Wordy Shipmates, are squarely in the American history category. With them, the 39-year-old commentator and humorist may well reach and educate more people about American history than historians of other generations currently writing.
Vowell once attributed her ability to make history interesting to a lack of pretense, allowing the reader to learn along with her and being "kind of irreverent." With the latter being perhaps a bit of an understatement, these elements were in full form in Assassination Vacation, where Vowell took readers on her pilgrimage to sites connected with the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. With The Wordy Shipmates, Vowell applies the same talents as she moves from pilgrimage to Pilgrims.
Sure, Vowell now lives in New York City but you have to ask why a woman born in Oklahoma (and part Cherokee) and who was raised and attended college in Montana is fascinated by Pilgrims. And it's not the Pilgrims from the Mayflower. Instead, it's the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a group of Pilgrims headed by John Winthrop who arrived 10 years later and helped establish Boston. Her answer is that she believes the U.S. "is haunted by the Puritans' vision of themselves as God's chosen people, as a beacon of righteousness that all others are to admire."
For Vowell, this is exemplified in large part by Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity," a sermon he wrote before or during the voyage. Although no one really took note of it at the time, a particular part of it has echoed in modern America: Winthrop's vision that the colony was specially ordained by God to "be as a city upon a hill," a model for others. That phrase, largely a "sound bite" today, was cited by President John F. Kennedy, repeatedly used by President Ronald Reagan and even employed by Sarah Palin in last week's vice-presidential debate.
Article comments
1 - Scott Butki
Excellent review. just seeded it at newsvine. am finishing up an email interview with vowell
2 - Lisa Solod Warren
Vowell was on Jon Stewart last night and was hilarious!
3 - Jordan Richardson
Vowell was on Jon Stewart last night and was hilarious!
Indeed, it was a great interview! I'm gonna have to pick up this book.
4 - Kyle Simonson
I have been in love with Sarah Vowell since Assassination Vacation. She is so lovely, smart and funny. I want to have her children. Ok, wait...that just sounds wrong. And a little scary. At any rate, an afternoon sharing a bottle of wine and conversation with her, a nice dinner....and no assumptions as to what should happen next sounds like an ideal day. At least to me. Although I am kind of boring. In a good way.
5 - Scott Butki
Great review. I posted at BC about my crush on her. I finally got an interview with her which I just published
6 - Tim Lieder
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
With all due respect to Jon Stewart, this book was the most massive waste of time I've encountered since Anne Rice's Memnoch the Devil.
It's all about Sarah Vowell. She has an apartment in New York. She hated Reagan. She liked Fonzie. Etc. etc. After a few pages I hated this woman. After about 50 I gave up on her ever talking about the puritans. Oh sure, she mentions them but then it's all about her.
If Generation X ever crowns a historian laureate it will not be a self-involved NPR navel gazer like Sarah Vowell. Let the Baby Boomers have her.
7 - Mark Saleski
After a few pages I hated this woman
we all note that you are much more efficient.
8 - Jane Lancaster
Do yourself a favor pay someone with a good voice to read your books on CD.
Painful! I gave up trying to listen to your voice.
9 - Donna Slocum
The review was good. I liked the book on CD very much. I don't mind if Sarah Vowell has a unique voice just like I don't mind that she has a unique writing style. Hers allows a chuckle or a grimmace or even a shake of the head to make the whole encounter an experiance. I admit I am a fan but I would never post a critique without having at least read or listened to all the material.