Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story about Who We Are

Scott Powell's 'Rediscovering America' is a must-read for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the United States and the principles that have made it great. This insightful book provides a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing America today, and Powell's writing is both engaging and thought-provoking.Throughout the book, Powell presents a compelling argument for the importance of rediscovering America's founding principles and values. His insights into the roots of America's success and the importance of individual liberty and limited government are both timely and timeless.What I appreciated most about 'Rediscovering America' was Powell's ability to provide practical solutions to the problems facing America today. He doesn't just identify the issues; he offers concrete steps that we can take to restore our country to greatness.Overall, I highly recommend 'Rediscovering America' to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of America's history, values, and potential. Powell's writing is clear and accessible, and his insights are both inspiring and actionable. This book is a valuable addition to any library, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future.

Recently, someone to whom I had given this book, told me how much he appreciated it, and that he had lent his copy to a friend. This initiated a conversation about how America, uniquely free and prosperous and the forerunner of modern representative government, is yet so often under appreciated. We both shared observations and theories, agreeing on some, disagreeing on others. Our perspectives differed in part because of a 40+ years difference in ages. I’m the older.But it’s not age per se that informed us differently on REDISCOVERING AMERICA, but that our respective birthdates determined the era in which we grew up, were educated and experienced America.To shorten and risk over simplification, my friend, who loves America, was still inclined to opine that, “Yeah, America is great, but …” This is, I noticed, a virtual HABIT with younger people, even self described conservatives and moderates, when discussing the country.I find it curious that the negative must always be attached to the positive. Do we say, “That's a beautiful rose … BUT that second leaf down has a spot on it.” ? Or, “What a handsome horse! But look at the mud spattered on his forelegs!”?This penchant to focus on and emphasize our nation’s imperfections, as if all imperfect things must be denigrated, and that no telling of our best achievements can be told with weighting it down with negative ballast, seems to me to be more boor and habitual negative attitude than a concern for a full explanation.If I, for example, come home after a good day fly fishing in a beautiful trout stream, and tell my wife how wonderful it was … am I remiss or inaccurate if I fail to mention the time I slipped and fell, and how my old knees gave me a fit? I think not. I think the negatives are not the point. The point, in this case, would be the glories of the experience.So, while I do respect the opinions of those who submitted negative reviews because the author failed to mention that reviewer’s particular, even legitimate dismay over parts of our history, I think to myself, “That reviewer missed the point altogether!”This book is about what we CELEBRATE! And we celebrate that which we love and admire about America.Taking us through our holidays’ origins and explaining WHY WE CELEBRATE them is a salute to our enduring values. Our best simply does not warrant the “yeah, but” tarnishing as some insist. And this book and our holidays are not intended to illuminate our perceived failures… whether universally agreed upon or controversial.Rather, our BEST deserves our focus and we deserve to be lifted up by the realization of just how GREAT our BEST really is! The glass that holds our national achievements is so much more than the proverbial “half full”. Were our most vociferous detractors better acquainted with the historical context, I believe they would come to realize that America’s glass “runneth over”!For this reason, I strongly recommend REDISCOVERING AMERICA to anyone who loves this country and/or desires a deeper and uplifting understanding of it.

This excellent book which enthusiastically illustrates the uniqueness of this country via accurate history of its holidays should be required reading of all students beginning in junior high school. If not made available there, then mandatory by high school graduation. It is imperative that adults be reminded and refreshed in a fund of knowledge that allows them to teach their children why our country is the beacon for mankind that it has been, and this book is stellar at rekindling the quality and fervor of patriotic passion needed. Scott Powell’s mastery of history and ability to convey truths fostering patriotism makes this awesome book compelling reading.

Rediscovering America is an outstanding perspective on the actual history of our great country. Not only does Scott Powell approach his review of our country from the landing of Christopher Columbus on the shores of what Columbus named San Salvadore; he traces the identity of our nation to the Biblical times of Moses, through the times of the Roman Empire and the Reformation. By examining the major holidays celebrated through the United States, Powell digs deeply into the foundational ideals and philosophies firmly held by our Founding Fathers. Often quoted, Confucius stated: ”Study the past if you would define the future.” Contrast this to Orwell’s 1984: “Who controls the past controls the future”, or Marx: “rewrite history and indoctrinate the people.” I sincerely implore that families that love their children, and want to preserve their freedoms in the greatest country on planet Earth, read this book together.

More than ever, this book is what America is needed and reminded about. It is not only reflecting our history deeply but the author stands up for the Truth of what America is all about. America was built on the foundation of Christian Faith even as many of us want to deny that. You can’t change the history but you can learn from it so you can better prepare for the future. This book is one of my favorite book of all. It should be taught at school so our children won’t never forget the History of America through the Truth .