4 Questions, No Clear Answers
Reviewed By: Susan Keefe
Susan Keefe reviews novels, poetry and non-fiction books for TheColumbiaReview.com
“4 Questions, No Clear Answers,” subtitled “Fascinating Things You Forgot, Weren’t Taught or Never Thought About American History,” by Michael Glass, is a book that challenges you to ask yourself: How much do you think you really know about America? Well, in this book you will discover the answers. Yes, I can confirm that there a quiz in the book, and in fact the author on the first page admits that there will be several! There is a test at the front of the book containing 25 basic questions about American History, which the author invites the reader to try and answer before reading the book, just to see how much they think they know about America; and then invites them to take it again at the end of the book, to see how much they have learned. The answers are found at the back of the book, and take it from me: you will discover countless gems of information about America, its past, states, wars, presidents, symbols and much more; even why America is called America. I bet not many people know the answers to most of these questions!
The character of the author shines through right from the beginning, and his humor and style of writing makes this non-fiction book absolutely fascinating—a compelling read for people of all ages. In its first chapter, ‘My Confession,’ he gives a comprehensive and amusing resume of his life, work, loves, and particularly his views on politics, politicians and presidents. He is forthright, honest and whether you agree with his comments or not, you have to admire his conviction in his answers, and agree with him when he says he loves America. He writes in such a way that, after reading his introduction, you feel that you are reading a book written by a friend rather than an author you have never met in person. So what does ‘Make America Great Again’ mean?
Well, in discovering the answer to the above, Michael Glass examines each word, what it really means, and then discusses objectively what can be done, and on whose shoulders this responsibility lies. He asks the questions, when WAS America great in the past and when did it stop being so, and discusses the different peoples who now live in America, and their nationalities, to discover: who exactly is an American? Heroes, heroines, saviors and villains from all walks of life are bought to life within these pages—their deeds, good or bad, are exposed for discussion. There’s something of interest for everyone.
In summary, I found this book fascinating, full of thought-provoking and fun facts, and a wonderful way to learn more about America, its people and history. A veritable encyclopedia of knowledge packed into one book. – Susan Keefe for TheColumbiaReview.com