The American Spirit by David McCullough c2017 Simon and Schuster : New York

Who better to turn to on this American anniversary than our esteemed historian and eloquent speaker; David McCullough. In this collection of his speeches, Mr. McCullough reminds us of the stories that made us, and the qualities we should strive to keep and encourage in our children, the future of America. Here is an excerpt from a commencement speech at Union College in Schenectady, New York :

“John Adams read everything—Shakespeare and the Bible over and over, and the Psalms especially. He read poetry, fiction, history. Always carry a book with you on your travels he advised his so John Quincy. “You will never be alone with a poem in your pocket.”

“Read. Read. Read! read the classics of American literature that you’ve never opened. Read your country’s history. How can we profess to love our country and take no interest in its history? Read into the history of Greece and Rome. Read about the great turning points in the history of science and medicine and ideas.

Read for pleasure, to be sure….But take seriously-read closely-books that have stood the test of time. Study a masterpiece, take it apart, study its architecture its vocabulary, its intent. Underline, make notes in the margins, and after a few years, go back and read it again.

Make use of the public libraries. Start your own personal library and see it grow. Talk about the books you’re reading. Ask others what they are reading. You’ll learn a lot.

This advice is lovely to hear if you think our continued liberty depends on our being literate and informed Americans. The speeches in this book include stories about presidents, members of congress, and individuals like the Marquis de Lafayette, Abigail Adams, John Trumbull whose painting of the signing of The Declaration of Independence is familiar to most of us. Meet Benjamin Rush, Charles Sumner, Reverend Manasseh Cutler and many other Americans who all made contributions to building a better life for people then and now. Do consider this book for any recent college grad of your acquaintance.