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  • When America Stopped Being Great

  • A History of the Present
  • By: Nick Bryant
  • Narrated by: Ben Chapple
  • Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (72 ratings)

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When America Stopped Being Great

By: Nick Bryant
Narrated by: Ben Chapple
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Publisher's Summary

The presidency of Donald Trump is commonly seen as an historical accident. In When America Stopped Being Great, Nick Bryant argues that by 2016 it had become almost historically inescapable. In this highly personal account, drawing on decades of covering Washington for the BBC, Bryant shows how the billionaire capitalised on the mistakes of his five predecessors, Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and how also he became a beneficiary of a broken politics, an iniquitous economy, an ailing media, a facile culture, disruptive new technology and the creation of a modern-day presidency that elevated showmanship over statesmanship.

Not only are we starting to see the emergence of a post-American world, Bryant fears we are seeing the emergence of a post-American America.

The history of Trump's rise is also a history of America's fall - not only are we witnessing America's post-millennial decline, but also the country's disintegration.

©2020 Nick Bryant (P)2020 Penguin Random House Australia
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about When America Stopped Being Great

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Hugely insightful

Hugely insightful, unsettling, fascinating, wry, frank, erudite. Looking forward to the next ‘chapter’ because, surely, the only way forward for the US can be up.

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Excellent and insightful

The final chapters are a brilliant summary of the dysfunction that is modern America under Trump and what is now the so-called "Republican Party". However the real strength of this book is the non-partisan analysis of the recent modern history, politics and culture that led to the US becoming the Disunited States. As another author said (I can't remember who) Trump is not only the problem, but a symptom of the problem with modern America. Great journalism and well-written work by Nick Bryant.

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Essential background to the current US crisis

This books adds a critical perspective and context to the Trump drama. It provides an historical overview and creates a relief from the wealth of intense commentary. It is one of the few books that help see Trump as an outcome of a Trend and not a wild card norm shatter. The norm has been decaying to the point it has crumbled under a determined assault.

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how we got here.

great summation of how we got to USA 2020. well researched and a good interpretation of the facts.

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Narrator detracted from the story

The Australian narrator with his noos and Noo York sounded rather forced. It also appeared at times as if he was unsure of the content he was reading.

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Great and non partisan

Good unvarnished look at the more recent American presidencies. I would say it's a fair recount and none of them are let of easily for their own, very consequential, failings at their job.

Let's see where they go from here.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.