In 1CMiracles and Massacres: True and Untold Stories of the Making of America, 1D Glenn Beck* means to create, not a scholarly work, but a popular one. The book is a good read and is genuinely informative despite its novel-like style. (To say that most of this book is written at a sixth grade reading level is not a criticism; indeed, education has become so bad in this country that if only more people could RISE to a sixth grade reading level it would be an improvement.)

The book presents twelve different stories from different periods in American history. (Only chapters two and three are at all related.) Each story has been treated before by scholars (so they are not actually 1Cuntold 1D), but each is rarely found in popular history books, and these twelve stories have not previously been gathered together in one book.

The question the reader will have to decide for himself is whether there is anything that these stories share in common. By his chosen title, Beck seems to be criticizing both those who say that the history of the United States is one of unremitting good and those who say it is one of unremitting evil; rather, Beck counters, it is both. The stories include at least two genuine massacres. At Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota in 1890, federal troops massacred defenseless Native Americans. To add sham to horror, several of these mass murderers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The other certified massacre is the My Lai Massacre which occurred during the Vietnam War where some American servicemen murdered defenseless Vietnamese peasants. In the My Lai case, the perpetrators were eventually brought to justice. Not so in the earlier Wounded Knee case.

After reading nine chapters, I have found merit in most of these stories. My favorite, so far, is the seventh story, "Easy Eddie and the Road to Redemption." The title is unpromising, but the saga of a father and son, one a mob lawyer, the other a war hero, is compelling. The most disappointing story, so far, is the third one about the Virginia Convention that ratified the Constitution. The actual points of contention between the federalists and anti-federalist are glossed over and the focus, instead, is on the politics of personalities.

Perhaps it is not so much that each story shows either a miracle or a massacre, but that both good and evil is present in each story. For example, the twentieth century story of the Battle of Athens (Tennessee) tells of a corrupt local political machine 14an all too common part of American politics 14but it also shows how good men rose up and triumphed over it. These stories might help us put a finger on how the American people have done well to listen to their better angels and badly to give in to cynicism and despair.

I have personal connections to the first two stories in this book. Story number one is about Jack Jouett who lived in central Virginia during the American Revolution. His midnight ride in 1781 was both more exciting and possibly more significant than the more famous and earlier ride of Paul Revere. Jouett 19s ride took him to the home of Thomas Jefferson to warn him of the approach of the British who intended to arrest Jefferson. Jouett also rode into Charlottesville, where I currently dwell, to warn other patriots of the British approach. I did know about this story because I live where it happened, but I learned from Beck 19s account many details that I did not previously know.

The next story also touched me with its familiar geographical references. I grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and had heard of Shays 19 Rebellion. There was a mural depicting the revolt in the court house in Worcester, but, again, I learned from Beck 19s account many details that I did not know. Shays 19 Rebellion was a revolt by Revolutionary War veterans in Massachusetts less than ten years after the American Revolution ended. A poignant letter by General Benjamin Lincoln to George Washington put the issue in painful perspective: If the revolution can only be saved by repressing rebels, what kind of revolution do we have? Lincoln nevertheless helped to put down the revolt.

1CI chose to write this book in a narrative style, 1D Beck explains in the after-matter to the book, because 1CI want people to read the stories and feel as if they were there beside the characters, 1D and he cites the sources of his accounts and even sites the sources of those quotations that he has not invented. The more scholarly minded will want to consult these notes.

The reader who is most sensitive to language will notice that, in the oldest stories in the book, the actual eighteenth century quotations sound like authentic eighteenth century English, while the invented dialogue sounds more contemporary or like a modern person 19s imagining of what eighteenth century speech was like. I wonder how little errors got past Beck 19s army of ten (acknowledged) co-authors and editors. For example, whenever Beck deals with eighteenth century English he tends to misunderstand it. When Washington writes to General Lincoln, 1CAre your people getting mad? 1D Beck seems to think he is asking whether they are becoming angry, even though Lincoln 19s reply, as quoted in the book, demonstrates that he understood Washington to be asking whether people in Massachusetts are going insane. (Presuming these are actual quotes from an exchange of letters between Washington and Lincoln; they are not mentioned in the notes at the book 19s end.)

* As always with a book 1Cby Glenn Beck 1D there is a team of writers. Beck dictates to them what he wants and then exercises approval and editorial control. In this book we are given some credits: Writers and editors include Kevin Balfe and Hannah Beck (Glenn Beck 19s oldest daughter), James Best, Jack Henderson, David Pietrusza, Anthony J. Tara, and Jason Wright; other editors include Keith Malinak, Kevin Smith and Martha Weeks. ( )

I had thought of Glen Beck as a radical conservative radio commentator. This book quite changed my opinion of him. I was impressed with the quality of research that went into the creation of this book.

Initially I wondered if the book was historical fiction or what. So I got the hard copy. I found that he is very clear about the dialog being made up, and gives a list of sources for each chapter.

This gave me a feel for some parts of US history that are less well known. It was definitely worth reading. ( )

Relates some historical accounts of events in American history. I enjoyed learning about some things I didn't know before - like what the "shores of Tripoli" reference is in the official song of the Marines. The stories were told well, though I would take them as an interpretation of the facts and not thoroughly accurate in every word. It kept my interest, but I wasn't totally engrossed in it. It's good for a quick listen to become acquainted with or rediscover some events from American history. ( )

I learned so much from reading this book! It was really good. ( )

I learned a lot in this book and it was entertaining, which is what the author was going for. It was a quick read and I really did like it. Perfect for history lovers and goes all the way up to almost present day. 4.5 out of 5 stars, I would recommend it. Even if you'll like some stories better than others. ( )