Spirited Americans: A Commentary on America's Optimists-From the Puritans to the Cybr-Century

Spirited Americans takes a novel approach to American history by tracing the origins, history and future of the trait Americans have been most famous for: their optimistic spirit, in good times and tragic times. This highly readable book looks forward to the next century as a hopeful chapter in American history, in contrast to the downbeat "doomsday" warnings and scandal-mongering that characterize so many recent nonfiction books.

This book is highly topical, throwing new light on the Clinton era, on the moral issues of the 2000 Presidential campaigns and on the condition of American society at century's end. It identifies the historical roots of American character that can bring positive change in the future. It is a hopeful book, pointing out recent signs that Americans want to reverse the moral decline that underlies public malaise as the nation looks ahead to a new century.