However, this is exactly what james patterson achieves in his most recent work, the eve of destruction. Congress enacted the landmark programs of the great society, the watts riots revealed the depth of black ra. Although this is not the famous 1960s protest song, it is a rather interesting and well done retrostyled one. How 1965 transformed america ebook written by james t. Sep 27, 20 pattersons the eve of destruction not quite a reprise nor quite a work of revisionism is no romantic romp of nostalgia. The eve of destruction provides many great details about the yom kipper war. Medicare, the elementary and secondary education act, the voting rights act, immigration reform, and the creation of the national endowments for the arts. James patterson s the eve of destruction chronicles the origins of the awful reckoning that followed. Boston globe the eve of destruction is no romantic romp of nostalgia. The vocals are very good as well,it is fair to say that though it is not the same as the old 1965 eve of destruction song,it is every bit as good as the. Patterson when i think of the sixties, i think of two dates. Published november 27th 2012 by basic books first published november 1st. Focusing on the single, fateful year of 1965, pattersons. In the eve of destruction, patterson traces the events of this transformative pdf year, showing how they dramatically reshaped the nation and reset the course of american life.
Many undeniably significant events occurred in 1965. Patterson, the sixties started in the summer of 1965. Turmoil erupted in the american south and overseas in the spring of 1965, with state troopers attacking civil rights demonstrators in selma, alabama and american combat troops rushing into vietnam to protect american interests there. It is a searching look at a year that spawned lyndon. How 1965 transformed america by james patterson books hachette australia. Jan 14, 20 this is the summary of the eve of destruction. Kennedy was assassinated, and 1968, the year of tet and the assassinations of dr.
Patterson believes that 1965 was a watershed year in american history and has documented all of the major events of that tumultuous year in his sterling new book the eve of destruction. But lbj, who took office in november of 1963 following the assassination of john f. Of course, eve of destruction was mentioned by the author, james t. How 1965 transformed america, demonstrates that my professor is onto something. Place a hold americas struggle against poverty, 19001980, book by patterson, james t. Be the first to ask a question about the eve of destruction. The eve of destruction is a wellwritten book about a momentous year in us history. The eve of destruction is an illuminating look at a remarkably significant year by a master historian. The eve of destruction makes an appropriate title to patterson s book, capturing well how progressives might now look back at 1965, a high water mark of postwar liberalism. Several artists have recorded it, but the bestknown recording was by barry mcguire the song references social issues of its period, including the vietnam war, the draft, the threat of nuclear war, the civil rights movement, turmoil in the middle east, and the american space program. Patterson takes his title from a song that was released appeared in september 1965, written primarily by p. Was patterson s book just an instance of psychological projection, a bit of a metamemoir and an expression of understandable worry.
Patterson shares with other commentators the feeling that 1965 was a pivot or a hingethe time when americas social cohesion began to unravel and when the turbulent phenomenon that. How 1965 transformed america draws on the years of study that went into his bancroft prizewinning volume for the oxford history of the united states, great expectations. Focusing on the single, fateful year of 1965, pattersons masterful account details the incipient fissures in american society that grew into gaping chasms by the decades end. Sloan, a nineteenyearold admirer of bob dylans like a rolling. How 1965 transformed america thursday evening january 24, 20, brown university historian james patterson gave a presentation at the fabre line club 200 allens avenue in providence about the year 1965, and why it is so pivotal in understanding the transformative decade of the 1960s. Eve of destruction by patterson the eve of destruction. The historian explores a year that he says began with a sense of optimism but that ended with a bitterly divided country and a conservative resurgence that would define later decades. The history of a single year isnt easy to write, but mr. Patterson reveals in the eve of destruction, that sense of harmony dissipated over the course of the year. Focusing on the single, fateful year of 1965, patterson s masterful account details the incipient fissures in american society that grew into gaping chasms by the decades end. But in the first year of the sixties, esteemed historian james t. These kinds of guidance is likely to make people far more united. Historian james patterson argues that 1965 transformed america. How 1965 transformed america jan 27 by mark kenneth gardner thursday evening january 24, 20, brown university historian james patterson gave a presentation at the fabre line club 200 allens avenue in providence about the year 1965, and why it is so pivotal in understanding the transformative decade of the 1960s.
Kennedy, felt he needed to show his willingness to get tough against the vietnamese communists to win the 1964 election against sen. Patterson shows that it was actually in 1965 that america truly turned a corner and entered the. Patterson s thesis is that 1965 was a pivotal year in american politics, the high water mark of liberal legislation. Concluding eve of destruction with a brief epilogue on 1966 and the later sixties, patterson misses an opportunity to make a bolder statement by not extending his analysis to more recent. Patterson basic for all that, his heart was often in the right place. Patterson history emeritusbrown univ freedom is not enough. Dec 09, 2014 the eve of destruction is an illuminating look at a remarkably significant year by a master historian. Mar 12, 2020 the history of a single year isnt easy to write, but mr. Read the eve of destruction how 1965 transformed america by james t. A useful time capsule that explains the social fragmentation, political polarization and tumultuous mood swing of a pivotal year in american history. Find a library or download libby an app by overdrive. The eve of destruction how 1965 transformed america, by james t. The moynihan report and americas struggle over black family life from lbj to obama, 2010, etc. When youre learning to hunt demons, homework can be hell for evangeline hollis, a scorching onenight stand has led to a divine punishmentthe mark of cain now reunited, eve and cain are working on transitioning their insatiable desire into a tentative new relationship even as she struggles to become a fullfledged markone of thousands of sinners forced to hunt demons as penance.
In the eve of destruction, patterson traces the events of this transformative year, showing how they dramatically reshaped the nation and reset the course of american life. Gillon, scholarinresidence, the history channelsmart, thoughtful, fastpaced, engaging, and insightfulthese are just a few of the adjectives that describe james t. When we last saw new mark eve hollis she was on the precipice of life and death, so thankfully day wastes no time jumping back into the fray. While you wait the eve of destruction the eve of destruction, book how 1965 transformed america. To speculate about such matters is, of course, rather pointless, but it does not add to our confidence in patterson s main thesis as a valid historical account.
Patterson because eve of desruction was the most popular protest rock song of the year patterson 145. But patterson shows that, even amidst these reassuring developments, american unity was unraveling. This song reminds me of some of 1967s more tripped out ditties with that great backwards guitar sound in the last minute or so of it. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the eve of destruction. It also provides witnesses of the war that tell who how it felt to be in the bloody three day war. Patterson is ford foundation professor of history emeritus at brown university. Patterson s the eve of destruction not quite a reprise nor quite a work of revisionism is no romantic romp of nostalgia. How 1965 transformed america discusses the issues and social unrest of 1965 and some important events that occurred in that time. James t patterson in this book the author argues that 1965, not 1968, was the most transformative year of the 1960s, discussing attacks on civil rights demonstrators, increased african american militancy, the watts. Pattersons sketch of an agonized johnson perfectly mirrors the nations descent from smug selfassurance to puzzlement, peevishness and, finally, anger. Patterson discusses this phone conversation on pages 54 through 60 of the eve of destruction. It is a searching look at a year that spawned lyndon johnsons great society legacy of legislation on education, civil rights, and health and produced a high tide of american liberalism even as bloody confrontations at selma, bombings in north vietnam.
Nov 19, 2012 the historian explores a year that he says began with a sense of optimism but that ended with a bitterly divided country and a conservative resurgence that would define later decades. Patterson traces the transformative events of this critical year, showing how 1965 saw an idealistic. House of representatives, january 1945 january 1971. Most of all, it is hard to capture the sense of urgency and possibility that were the dominant currency of that period. The authors at his best, though, tracking the years political. Lyndon johnson wanted to fight the war on poverty, not the war in vietnam.
Patterson makes a convincing case that you cannot understand america today without coming to terms with. A complex portrayal of johnson as a flawed yet ambitious leader helps patterson to show how cultural discord and polarizing politics made 1965 the inaugural year of the sixties after which, for. Nov 01, 2012 patterson s thesis is that 1965 was a pivotal year in american politics, the high water mark of liberal legislation. Patterson read 16 sep 2018 this book, published in 2012, has as its thesis that 1965 was apiotal year in america. Patterson before purchasing it in order to gage whether or not it would be worth my time, and all praised the eve ofdestruction. James pattersons the eve of destruction chronicles the origins of the awful reckoning that followed. Devastating urban riots would take place in numerous other american cities during the following years, including detroit, my hometown, in 1967.
So the witnesses get me very interested about the war and provides a great amount of information. The eve of destruction hardcover how 1965 transformed america. All in all, the eve of destruction is an illuminating look at a remarkably significant year by a master historian. Conquering generals receiving a triumph were required. He copiously documents his argument noting the many pieces of lyndon johnsons great society that were enacted that year. How 1965 transformed america, declaring it one of the best, something that all readers will enjoy. Patterson offers his readers a great summary of the most important events of 1965, and his choice of lyndon johnson as the main figure emphasizes the tragedy of american liberalism during the 1960s. As patterson shows, 1965 marked the birth of the tumultuous era we now know as the sixties, when american society and culture underwent a. James patterson, the eve of destruction how 1965 transformed. The eve of destruction how 1965 transformed america by james t. Patterson, 97804650586, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Pattersons the eve of destruction not quite a reprise nor quite a work of revisionism is no romantic romp of nostalgia. Sep 09, 2015 the eve of destruction makes an appropriate title to pattersons book, capturing well how progressives might now look back at 1965, a high water mark of postwar liberalism. As patterson shows, 1965 marked the birth of the tumultuous era we now know as the sixties, when american society and culture underwent a major transformation. Lbj, just off hugely successful 1964 election, was eager to enact meaningful legislation and with big majorities in congress did get medicare and the civil rights. Patterson s masterful new book, the eve of destruction. Pattersons masterful new book, the eve of destruction.
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