DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

On Ordinary Heroes and American Democracy

Gerald M Pomper author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:11th Jul '17

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

On Ordinary Heroes and American Democracy cover

True American heroes need not have superhuman abilities nor do they need to act alone. Heroism in a democracy is different from the heroism of myths and legends, writes Gerald Pomper in this original contribution to the literature of U.S. politics. Through the remarkable stories of eight diverse Americans who acted as heroes by "just doing their jobs" during national crises, he offers a provocative definition of heroism and fresh reasons to respect U.S. institutions and the people who work within them. This new paperback edition includes photographs, an introductory chapter on American heroism after 9/11, a survey of the meanings of heroism in U.S. popular culture, and an original concluding theory of "ordinary" heroism.

“Shows how an individual can make a difference, despite the size and scale of politics in an immense nation trying to keep a democracy.”
—Theodore J. Lowi, Cornell University

“A fascinating examination of heroes and the nature of heroism in a democratic society.”

“Pomper’s inspiring book provokes us to think about how American democracy and American political institutions foster the heroism of ordinary people.”
—Bruce Miroff, State University of New York, Albany

ISBN: 9781138459168

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 453g

328 pages