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The Forever War

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The Forever War

By: Nick Bryant
Narrated by: Nick Bryant
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About this listen

2025, Australian Book Industry Awards, Short-listed

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American experiment is failing. Division, mistrust and misinformation are now its defining characteristics. The storming of the Capitol, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the increasing spotlight on Second Amendment rights raise the spectre of further political violence, and even the possibility of a second civil war.

Nick Bryant argues that the hate, divisiveness and paranoia we see today are in fact a core part of America's story. Combining brilliant storytelling with historical research, Bryant argues that insurrections, assassinations and massacres - from the American Civil War through to JFK and the inner-city race riots of the late '60s, up to the more recent school shootings and the murder of George Floyd - should sadly not be seen as abnormalities.

The compromises originally designed to hold the union together - the Amendments made in the Reconstruction era to give rights back to former enslaved people, the apportionment of political power - have never truly been resolved. Today, a country that looked confidently to the future has become captive to its contentious past.

©2024 Nick Bryant (P)2024 Penguin Random House Australia Audio Americas Politics & Government United States War Crime

Critic Reviews

'Bryant writes as both a keen political reporter and a first-class historian, interweaving past and present to supremely powerful effect. It's a superb achievement.' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, host of The Rest is History

'Bryant parlays meticulous historical research and on-the-ground reportage into a gripping narrative that reads like a political thriller, albeit a deeply disturbing one.' The Sunday Times, South Africa

'If you read only one book about America . . . make it this excellent work.' Newtown Review of Books
All stars
Most relevant  
I was drawn to this story by the title and the story did not disappoint. It has given me a clearer understanding of past and present events occurring in the US now. Well worth a listen and I will be listening to more of Nick Bryants brilliant stories of his time living in the US.

Insightful story

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So much that I already only partly knew. The details of US political history were so much more than my memories of modern history of my school days in the mid sixties. Highly recommended.

Wonderful and comprehensive analysis

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An extraordinary book of American history and politics. What could have been an impenetrable story is not so as it is written with wit and a great love for America. The amount of research that went into this book is mind boggling.
As they say, “do yourself a favour”. I think it is great book.

Fascinating story of American democracy.

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A sweeping tour de force through the tortured path of US politics and historical trends which ties together many disparate threads to weave a compelling narrative and push back against the stilted American exceptionalism which stifles a deeper analysis and stops many seasoned commentators from digging for proper insights

Homage to Nick Byram a prince amongst BBB reporters

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Very well researched and written.
Seems crazy that I started reading/listening to this the day before the attempted assignation of Trump, but that is how it is and America's war with itself continues and a peaceful resolution seems even further away.
A must read.

Excellent

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Excellent book great depth and insight, informative. Nick’s other books have been great reads but this is a standout.

Depth.

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A great survey that explains why America has always been and probably always will be defined by its challenges and how they're faced, beaten or succumbed to.

Great work Nick

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Compelling evidence that todays divisions are nothing new for America. I can now look forward to less head scratching as US politics serves up its next serving of drawn battle lines.

Always divided

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Excellent summary from the war of independence, the constitution and its evolution, the Civil war and how the past explains the present.

Brilliant outline of the history that got us to where we are today

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Great organisation under political battlegrounds such as race, abortion, electoral reform. Builds over the chapters to a well supported argument about the historical roots of the current rise of fascism in the US. Particularly poignant given its context of the early Biden administration.

Engaging, informative and depressingly prescient

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