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Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point
by Lipsky, David
- Used
- as new
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- As New/As New
- ISBN 10
- 061809542X
- ISBN 13
- 9780618095421
- Seller
-
New Port Richey, Florida, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.: Houghton Mifflin, 2003. First Edition . Hardcover. As New/As New. Larger book, dark blue cloth spine, gray boards, very bright gilt lettering on spine, 317 pages, glossy photo section. DJ price-clipped, glossy and colorfully designed beneath mylar, a color photo of cadets on front, spine and back right. DJ and book, both As New.
Synopsis
Lipsky, a Rolling Stone writer and an award-winning novelist, chronicles daily life at the U.S. Military Academy during the most tumultuous period in its history. In 1998, West Point made David Lipsky an unprecedented offer: stay at the Academy as long as you like, go wherever you wish, talk to whomever you want, to discover why some of America's most promising young people sacrifice so much to become cadets. Lipsky followed one cadet class into mess halls, barracks, classrooms, bars, and training exercises, from arrival through graduation. By telling their stories, he also examines the Academy as a reflection of our society: Are its principles of equality, patriotism, and honor quaint anachronisms or is it still, as Theodore Roosevelt called it, the most "absolutely American" institution? During arguably the most eventful four years in West Point's history, Lipsky witnesses the arrival of TVs and phones in dorm rooms, the end of hazing, and innumerable other shifts in policy and practice known collectively as The Changes. He uncovers previously unreported scandals and poignantly evokes the aftermath of September 11, when cadets must prepare to become officers in wartime. Absolutely American spotlights a remarkable ensemble of characters: a former Eagle Scout who struggles with every facet of the program, from classwork to marching; a foul-mouthed party animal who hates the military and came to West Point to play football; a farm-raised kid who seems to be the perfect soldier, despite his affection for the early work of Georgia O’Keeffe; and an exquisitely turned-out female cadet who aspires to "a career in hair and nails" after the Army. These cadets and their classmates are transformed in fascinating, sometimes astonishing, ways by one of America's most mythologized and least understood challenges. Many of them thrive under the rigorous regimen; others battle endlessly just to survive it. A few give up the fight altogether. Lipsky's extensive experience covering college students for Rolling Stone helped him gain an exceptional degree of trust and candor from both cadets and administrators. They offer frank insights on drug use, cheating, romance, loyalty, duty, patriotism, and the Army's tortuous search for meaning as new threats loom.
Reviews
On Oct 10 2022, a reader said:
Absolutely American is “uncommonly good” as the author’s journey took a surprising turn and he ended up writing about the real and emotional challenges of USMA cadets (who were ultimately impacted by 9/11). Your preconceived notions of West Point should be challenged after reading this book (though note that hazing has nearly been eradicated in the decades after this publication). Absolutely American is about youth going to college - but a school that demands so much more from them, as they will go on to help protect, and possibly fight, for America’s freedom.
I loved the author’s honesty in sharing his personal biases and the unlocking of his rigidity against all things military. His voice gave this book authenticity and a place of pride in written history.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Callaghan Books South
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 43172
- Title
- Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point
- Author
- Lipsky, David
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- New As New
- Jacket Condition
- As New
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition
- ISBN 10
- 061809542X
- ISBN 13
- 9780618095421
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin
- Place of Publication
- Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
- Date Published
- 2003
- Keywords
- West Point Miltary Army Education
- Bookseller catalogs
- War-Combat; Education;
Terms of Sale
Callaghan Books South
Books may be returned with 5 days for full refund--in same condition as sent.
About the Seller
Callaghan Books South
Biblio member since 2004
New Port Richey, Florida
About Callaghan Books South
An internet bookstore, we have added 20 books a day to our inventory for a total of more than 40,000, specializing in Poetry, Vietnam Conflict, Native American, Literary Criticism.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
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