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American Patriots: Answering the Call to Freedom
The United States of America was founded and established by ordinary citizens just like you and me. In their struggle for independence, these heroic men and women willingly shed their blood, sweat, and tears―often sacrificing their own lives and fortunes in order to hand down the precious legacy of freedom we all enjoy today. Now is the time for a new generation of American patriots to rise up and join in the fight. Now is the time for every American to return to the virtues, values, and ideals that formed our foundation of freedom, and enable America to remain a great nation, a powerful democracy, and a beacon of hope for the world.
American Patriots highlights the heroic men and women who valiantly fought to secure our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness―not only for themselves and their children, but for countless future generations. Their stories are a true reminder of the extraordinary faith, courage, and determination that set this country on the path to greatness centuries ago, and an inspiration for future generations of great American patriots.
American Patriots highlights the heroic men and women who valiantly fought to secure our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness―not only for themselves and their children, but for countless future generations. Their stories are a true reminder of the extraordinary faith, courage, and determination that set this country on the path to greatness centuries ago, and an inspiration for future generations of great American patriots.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2012
About the author
Rick Santorum
12 books13 followersAmerican Republican Party politician. He served as a United States Senator representing Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007, and was a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination. On April 10, 2012 Santorum announced the end of his presidential bid.
Santorum holds socially conservative positions, including opposition to same-sex marriage and birth control.
In the Senate, he voted for tax cuts and a balanced budget amendment, supported the use of earmarks, and played a leading role in enacting welfare reform.
He also voted for spending programs for education and transportation such as No Child Left Behind and funding for Amtrak, which he later disavowed.
Santorum holds socially conservative positions, including opposition to same-sex marriage and birth control.
In the Senate, he voted for tax cuts and a balanced budget amendment, supported the use of earmarks, and played a leading role in enacting welfare reform.
He also voted for spending programs for education and transportation such as No Child Left Behind and funding for Amtrak, which he later disavowed.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 1, 2012
A book that celebrates the unsung men and women who fought for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, sacrificing so much and even giving their lives for America.
Mr. Santorum has written a wonderful compact read, that recognizes what everyday men and women gave up in the cause of freedom. A freedom that they believed enough in, that many of them gave their lives for it's cause. This book has 25 inspiring stories about these heroes, many of whom I have sadly never heard of before reading this book.
Mr. Santorum tells each of their stories concisely, highlighting their passion for patriotism. I loved being able to pick up this book and read a chapter quickly, yet coming away with so much new knowledge. This book was easy to read, and well researched, with a real spirit of patriotism to it.
I absolutely loved learning so much about the unsung heroes of the Revolutionary War, and was inspired by how much these heroes genuinely cared for their country and fellow man/or woman.
Overall, this was an excellent book, that I would like to point out isn't just for adults but would be appropriate for ages 10 & Up as well, because this book reads like many short stories, but you actually learn some history! I immensely enjoyed this book, because I learned so much about historical figures, plus it was a pleasureable read! I am definitely recommending this book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. Thank you!
Mr. Santorum has written a wonderful compact read, that recognizes what everyday men and women gave up in the cause of freedom. A freedom that they believed enough in, that many of them gave their lives for it's cause. This book has 25 inspiring stories about these heroes, many of whom I have sadly never heard of before reading this book.
Mr. Santorum tells each of their stories concisely, highlighting their passion for patriotism. I loved being able to pick up this book and read a chapter quickly, yet coming away with so much new knowledge. This book was easy to read, and well researched, with a real spirit of patriotism to it.
I absolutely loved learning so much about the unsung heroes of the Revolutionary War, and was inspired by how much these heroes genuinely cared for their country and fellow man/or woman.
Overall, this was an excellent book, that I would like to point out isn't just for adults but would be appropriate for ages 10 & Up as well, because this book reads like many short stories, but you actually learn some history! I immensely enjoyed this book, because I learned so much about historical figures, plus it was a pleasureable read! I am definitely recommending this book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. Thank you!
November 5, 2012
“The burden falls on each of us to raise and educate a generation that understands its precious founding. William Wordsworth wrote, “What we have loved/Others will love, and we will teach them how.” Without an active, informed citizenry, we risk becoming alien to the nation we inhabit.”
Pg. X, William J. Bennett
American Patriots: Answering the Call to Freedom by Rick Santorum is not about being Republican or Democrat, but on being an American.
Santorum tells us the stories of everyday, influential patriots and some of the fifty-two signers of the Declaration of Independence. Slaves and ministers sacrificed for us. Women and men of courage from espionage to baking bread that made a difference. People’s names we may have seen as street names in those suburbs or on the sides of Navy ships. But we never knew their stories because schools don’t teach our beginnings.
Once I had to memorize part of the Declaration of Independence for a grade. We’ve got people who argue whether or not our nation had Christian beginnings. Whether because of gullibility, in denial or out of spite, those same people would find whatever reason to deny it. When the Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness…” (Appendix I), Creator is God. Not all of the founding men were Christian, but many were believers. Thomas Paine was not a believer. Santorum says he was a Deist– “…believing in an impersonal God who does not take notice of humankind, answer prayer, or become involved in human affairs.”
On page 97, Santorum writes about a patriot named Elias Boudinot, subtitled God’s Patriot. Boudinot refuted Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Age of Reason with a pamphlet of his own titled, The Age of Revelation. Paine held an antagonism towards organized religion:
“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish appear set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” Paine is said to believe that the Bible, “is such a book of lies and contradictions there is no knowing which part to believe, or whether any.” The only divine revelation Paine believed in was whatever he experienced himself.
Boudinot’s response in The Age of Revelation:
“Were you to ask me to recommend the most valuable book in the world, I should fix on the Bible as the most instructive, bot to the wise and ignorant….I would make it, in short, the Alpha and Omega of knowledge; and be assured, that it is for want of understanding the scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, that so little value is set upon them by the world at large.” Boudinot also wrote many other noteworthy items in, The Age of Reason. Boudinot spent $45,000 of his own money when George Washington placed him as Commissary General for Prisoners to care for American POW’s in British prisons.
Santorum writes about 26 American patriots who selflessly served and some who died bankrupt. On this important day, Santorum reminds us that our voice can ensure America doesn’t stray too far from its founding roots:
“Today millions of Americans are questioning who we are as a country and what we will become. Are we still the country that believes in the “golden triangle”–the idea that freedom requires virtue, virtue requires faith, and faith requires freedom? Has our desire for the material things of this world superseded the less tangible rewards of freedom and opportunity? The level of courage and sacrifice that we are being challenged to muster may pale in comparison with the heroism and sacrifice of the founders described in these pages. That is not for us to judge. It is simply the duty of every generation to meet the challenge of our time in order to maintain our inherent rights—the rights given to us by God himself.” (pg. 129)
The book ends with appendices of the Declaration of Independence and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. I gave this book five stars.
*book given by publisher to review.
++++++++
Where is the courage and innovation of patriots before us? Where are the values passed down which made our people known as leaders? Where is the compassion when it counts? I’d like our future generation to not look back and see a community who loved material wealth, but to read stories like American Patriots—stories of courage and self-sacrifice. Please vote on Tuesday!
January 24, 2017
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
This may not put me in the best light here, but when I chose to receive a copy of American Patriots I honestly didn't know that Rick Santorum was a politician. His name on the cover looked vaguely familiar, so I assumed he was some historian or author I'd read something from a long time ago. When I actually cracked the cover open and read the author description, I realized my mistake. He's a pretty conservative Republican, right? I honestly haven't read up on him at all, but after reading this book I'm pretty sure that must be the case.
Basically, he takes everything and makes it about religion. And I guess that's not entirely unreasonable, since people were so focused on faith back then and several of the patriots he described were literally pastors, but when he started explaining how "the pursuit of happiness" from the Declaration really meant "the pursuit of virtue," he lost me. I'm a Christian, sure, but I don't believe in twisting history to make it fit your personal outlook. Then again, I don't worship either the Declaration or the Constitution (and there's no way I think all those slave-owning men really meant for the rights given to "all men" to go to minorities and women!), so I'm probably not Santorum's target audience. Every time he mentioned how modern-day America is "under attack" from liberals who want to destroy the principles established by the Founding Fathers, I could barely suppress an eye roll. I'm not exactly stirred to action by that sort of rhetoric; I'm mainly just annoyed by the constant finger-pointing and devil-calling that goes on in modern politics.
Anyway, that aside, I did enjoy reading about all these little-known people from history. I think the only historical figures I recognized in the entire book were Phillis Wheatley and Nathan Hale; the rest of them were completely new to me. My favorite was probably Haym Salomon, the Polish-born Jew who single-handedly kept the revolution financially stable through the war and into its first years as a nation. He seemed like a great guy! Each little chapter focuses on a different historical character (or sometimes a couple characters who have attributes in common). There's a little description of their backstory, key details about their dramatic contributions to the revolution, and then a summary of what happened to them later in life.
Also, just a note: out of twenty-five people mentioned in the book, only six of them are women–and only one of them get a chapter to themselves. Four of them (Emily Geiger, Elizabeth Maxwell Steele, Phillis Wheatley, and Elizabeth Lewis) were lumped into a single chapter. I know that the world was a much more man-dominated place in the 18th century, so it might have been impossible to get enough details to flesh out a lot of character sketches of women patriots, but I for one would have liked to see a little more emphasis given to the women from history.
Basically, I enjoyed learning some more about important characters from history (even if I'm a little hesitant to apply the word "hero" to all of them). If you don't mind the messages Santorum is trying to mix in with his history lesson, then you might love this handy little anthology. Otherwise, though, it's probably best to steer clear.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the Tyndale Rewards program (click here to check it out, and by using my link to make an account you'll get 25 credits (enough to order a book) just to start and I'll get 10!).
This may not put me in the best light here, but when I chose to receive a copy of American Patriots I honestly didn't know that Rick Santorum was a politician. His name on the cover looked vaguely familiar, so I assumed he was some historian or author I'd read something from a long time ago. When I actually cracked the cover open and read the author description, I realized my mistake. He's a pretty conservative Republican, right? I honestly haven't read up on him at all, but after reading this book I'm pretty sure that must be the case.
Basically, he takes everything and makes it about religion. And I guess that's not entirely unreasonable, since people were so focused on faith back then and several of the patriots he described were literally pastors, but when he started explaining how "the pursuit of happiness" from the Declaration really meant "the pursuit of virtue," he lost me. I'm a Christian, sure, but I don't believe in twisting history to make it fit your personal outlook. Then again, I don't worship either the Declaration or the Constitution (and there's no way I think all those slave-owning men really meant for the rights given to "all men" to go to minorities and women!), so I'm probably not Santorum's target audience. Every time he mentioned how modern-day America is "under attack" from liberals who want to destroy the principles established by the Founding Fathers, I could barely suppress an eye roll. I'm not exactly stirred to action by that sort of rhetoric; I'm mainly just annoyed by the constant finger-pointing and devil-calling that goes on in modern politics.
Anyway, that aside, I did enjoy reading about all these little-known people from history. I think the only historical figures I recognized in the entire book were Phillis Wheatley and Nathan Hale; the rest of them were completely new to me. My favorite was probably Haym Salomon, the Polish-born Jew who single-handedly kept the revolution financially stable through the war and into its first years as a nation. He seemed like a great guy! Each little chapter focuses on a different historical character (or sometimes a couple characters who have attributes in common). There's a little description of their backstory, key details about their dramatic contributions to the revolution, and then a summary of what happened to them later in life.
Also, just a note: out of twenty-five people mentioned in the book, only six of them are women–and only one of them get a chapter to themselves. Four of them (Emily Geiger, Elizabeth Maxwell Steele, Phillis Wheatley, and Elizabeth Lewis) were lumped into a single chapter. I know that the world was a much more man-dominated place in the 18th century, so it might have been impossible to get enough details to flesh out a lot of character sketches of women patriots, but I for one would have liked to see a little more emphasis given to the women from history.
Basically, I enjoyed learning some more about important characters from history (even if I'm a little hesitant to apply the word "hero" to all of them). If you don't mind the messages Santorum is trying to mix in with his history lesson, then you might love this handy little anthology. Otherwise, though, it's probably best to steer clear.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the Tyndale Rewards program (click here to check it out, and by using my link to make an account you'll get 25 credits (enough to order a book) just to start and I'll get 10!).
January 7, 2013
Rick Santorum's book is not quite what you'd expect from the guy who finished second in the Republican Campaign for President. It's not a campaign biography, it's not a policy book, rather it's a book about patriots mostly from the American revolutionary era.
Hailing from Pennsylvania, Santorum has an uncommon acquaintance with the patriots of the Revolutionary era and he shares their stories in this compact volume.
If there were a book I could compare it to, it'd be John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Couragewhich profiled eight Senators who JFK found courageous. Santorum chooses to focus on patriotism and most of the book is dedicated to people who never held office.
The small book covers a lot of ground, with fifteen chapters honoring more than twenty patriots, mostly forgotten in today's history books which have become increasingly consumed by personalities such as Marilyn Monroe. The book re-introduces us to great patriots such as Peter Francisco who George Washington called a "one man Army." The book tells also the story of James Armistead Lafayette, a slave who was a spy for the Revolutionary Cause, as well as Nancy Morgan Hart, a tough as nails patriot who engaged in espionage who captured five British soldiers, who'd ordered her to serve them a meal. The book doesn't just honor war heroes, Santorum also honors Elias Boundinot, who took the thankless of job of ensuring British prisoners were cared for and Christopher Ludwick who was the official baker of the revolutionary army. He extends his reach a little bit to honor two black pastors who fought against slavery in the years after the War, Richard Allen and Lemuel Haynes.
The stories are themselves worth reading for bringing to lie stories that have been discarded and Santorum does a great job telling the stories in an engaging manner. However, American Patriots is more than a collection of nice historical vignettes. Santorum weaves a narrative that explains the origins and true meaning of American liberty and our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. It is also a charge to readers to take up the call to defend liberty in our time. As such, American Patriots is more than just a book for students of history, but a must-read for every American concerned about the direction of our country.
Hailing from Pennsylvania, Santorum has an uncommon acquaintance with the patriots of the Revolutionary era and he shares their stories in this compact volume.
If there were a book I could compare it to, it'd be John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Couragewhich profiled eight Senators who JFK found courageous. Santorum chooses to focus on patriotism and most of the book is dedicated to people who never held office.
The small book covers a lot of ground, with fifteen chapters honoring more than twenty patriots, mostly forgotten in today's history books which have become increasingly consumed by personalities such as Marilyn Monroe. The book re-introduces us to great patriots such as Peter Francisco who George Washington called a "one man Army." The book tells also the story of James Armistead Lafayette, a slave who was a spy for the Revolutionary Cause, as well as Nancy Morgan Hart, a tough as nails patriot who engaged in espionage who captured five British soldiers, who'd ordered her to serve them a meal. The book doesn't just honor war heroes, Santorum also honors Elias Boundinot, who took the thankless of job of ensuring British prisoners were cared for and Christopher Ludwick who was the official baker of the revolutionary army. He extends his reach a little bit to honor two black pastors who fought against slavery in the years after the War, Richard Allen and Lemuel Haynes.
The stories are themselves worth reading for bringing to lie stories that have been discarded and Santorum does a great job telling the stories in an engaging manner. However, American Patriots is more than a collection of nice historical vignettes. Santorum weaves a narrative that explains the origins and true meaning of American liberty and our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. It is also a charge to readers to take up the call to defend liberty in our time. As such, American Patriots is more than just a book for students of history, but a must-read for every American concerned about the direction of our country.
November 24, 2012
Age Appropriate for: All Ages
I was really excited to get my hands on this book when it came out. Being a fan of History and an admirer of Rick Santorum, this seemed like a perfect book for me.
This book is a wonderful little gem for patriots and history buffs alike. Rick Santorum takes us through the rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) by sharing the stories of the forgotten heroes of early America.
I really enjoyed reading about people I had never heard about. Each and every story was inspiring, many were thought provoking, and some will stay with me for a long, long time. In our modern culture of people who think getting stuck behind a red light is a hardship, it is nice to read about men and women who were willing to give so much so that I could live in a free country today.
One of my favorite stories was the story of Phillis Wheatley. She was a slave during the Revolution who wrote poetry. Her master and mistress saw at a young age she was very smart. They made sure she was educated and helped her publish a book of poetry. They also helped her to send a poem to George Washington, which he sent a personal thank you note to Phillis for. It is amazing to me that people like Phillis aren’t celebrated more in the African American community. Even though she was a slave, she didn’t let that stop her from doing great things.
If you want to be inspired by the heroes and heroines of the past, want a quick read, or are looking for a refreshing view on history, I recommend American Patriots.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
I was really excited to get my hands on this book when it came out. Being a fan of History and an admirer of Rick Santorum, this seemed like a perfect book for me.
This book is a wonderful little gem for patriots and history buffs alike. Rick Santorum takes us through the rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) by sharing the stories of the forgotten heroes of early America.
I really enjoyed reading about people I had never heard about. Each and every story was inspiring, many were thought provoking, and some will stay with me for a long, long time. In our modern culture of people who think getting stuck behind a red light is a hardship, it is nice to read about men and women who were willing to give so much so that I could live in a free country today.
One of my favorite stories was the story of Phillis Wheatley. She was a slave during the Revolution who wrote poetry. Her master and mistress saw at a young age she was very smart. They made sure she was educated and helped her publish a book of poetry. They also helped her to send a poem to George Washington, which he sent a personal thank you note to Phillis for. It is amazing to me that people like Phillis aren’t celebrated more in the African American community. Even though she was a slave, she didn’t let that stop her from doing great things.
If you want to be inspired by the heroes and heroines of the past, want a quick read, or are looking for a refreshing view on history, I recommend American Patriots.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
December 1, 2012
Rick Santorum served as a US senator from 1995-2007 representing the state of Pennsylvania. He is better known for his failed 2012 bid to represent the Republicans in the race for the White House. He is a Catholic and with that conservative.
Santorum wrote this book to chronicle the lives of American Patriots from the early days of the country that we may not be familiar with, the ones that don't get much attention and much focus especially in school where we get most of our history education.
History is not really my thing even when it comes to my own nation. I think people naturally assume if you love to read then you love history as well, but that's never been the case for me. However, I do enjoy reading about certain historical figures time has forgotten. The going story nowadays is that the founding fathers were not as Christian as we like to believe. Just because it is popular doesn't make it true. This book gives insight into important historical figures that were religious. There is more to America than the men gracing text books.
The book includes a copy of The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most valuable documents in this nation's history. I believe it is something every American should read and be familiar with. What did our founding fathers want for this country?
Santorum wrote this book to chronicle the lives of American Patriots from the early days of the country that we may not be familiar with, the ones that don't get much attention and much focus especially in school where we get most of our history education.
History is not really my thing even when it comes to my own nation. I think people naturally assume if you love to read then you love history as well, but that's never been the case for me. However, I do enjoy reading about certain historical figures time has forgotten. The going story nowadays is that the founding fathers were not as Christian as we like to believe. Just because it is popular doesn't make it true. This book gives insight into important historical figures that were religious. There is more to America than the men gracing text books.
The book includes a copy of The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most valuable documents in this nation's history. I believe it is something every American should read and be familiar with. What did our founding fathers want for this country?
November 7, 2012
Rick Santorum's, American Patriot, is a touching account of those who sacrificed their lives to build this great nation. In a time of such political uncertainty in our country, American Patriot breathes anew the Patriot Spirit into readers.
I highly recommend American Patriot to all those who love this nation an are concerned with the direction we may be headed in. Also those who love the history of this great nation and want to dig deeper and hear accounts of the bravery showed by the American Patriots in the War of Independence. I also enjoyed the fact that in each book is a copy of the Declaration of Independence--a compelling piece of work that I believe every American should be well versed in.
American Patriots paints the picture of why this country was founded and by whom. It should be essential reading for all students in the U.S. to instill a sense of where we come from. To be an American, to have an American spirit, is to know where we come from. We come from these brave men and women who stood up for what they believed in and sacrificed their lives so that we may have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thank you to Tyndale for providing a complementary copy of American Patriots :)
I highly recommend American Patriot to all those who love this nation an are concerned with the direction we may be headed in. Also those who love the history of this great nation and want to dig deeper and hear accounts of the bravery showed by the American Patriots in the War of Independence. I also enjoyed the fact that in each book is a copy of the Declaration of Independence--a compelling piece of work that I believe every American should be well versed in.
American Patriots paints the picture of why this country was founded and by whom. It should be essential reading for all students in the U.S. to instill a sense of where we come from. To be an American, to have an American spirit, is to know where we come from. We come from these brave men and women who stood up for what they believed in and sacrificed their lives so that we may have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thank you to Tyndale for providing a complementary copy of American Patriots :)
September 4, 2019
Here is a copied review of the book by the publisher:
The United States of America was founded and established by ordinary citizens just like you and me. In their struggle for independence, these heroic men and women willingly shed their blood, sweat, and tears--often sacrificing their own lives and fortunes in order to hand down the precious legacy of freedom we all enjoy today. Now is the time for a new generation of American patriots to rise up and join in the fight. Now is the time for every American to return to the virtues, values, and ideals that formed our foundation of freedom, and enable America to remain a great nation, a powerful democracy, and a beacon of hope for the world.
American Patriots highlights the heroic men and women who valiantly fought to secure our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--not only for themselves and their children, but for countless future generations. Their stories are a true reminder of the extraordinary faith, courage, and determination that set this country on the path to greatness centuries ago, and an inspiration for future generations of great American patriots.
I liked the short biographies of people, many of whom I had not heard of.
I enjoyed the book very much.
The United States of America was founded and established by ordinary citizens just like you and me. In their struggle for independence, these heroic men and women willingly shed their blood, sweat, and tears--often sacrificing their own lives and fortunes in order to hand down the precious legacy of freedom we all enjoy today. Now is the time for a new generation of American patriots to rise up and join in the fight. Now is the time for every American to return to the virtues, values, and ideals that formed our foundation of freedom, and enable America to remain a great nation, a powerful democracy, and a beacon of hope for the world.
American Patriots highlights the heroic men and women who valiantly fought to secure our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--not only for themselves and their children, but for countless future generations. Their stories are a true reminder of the extraordinary faith, courage, and determination that set this country on the path to greatness centuries ago, and an inspiration for future generations of great American patriots.
I liked the short biographies of people, many of whom I had not heard of.
I enjoyed the book very much.
January 3, 2013
What are the two things everyone says we are never to talk about?
You guessed it - Religion and Politics! Those are my two favorite subjects.
This book is not quite about politics. It is about the history of America and those who died to give us the right to talk about religion and politics.
I have always loved history, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I have heard Rick speak and am very impressed. His writing is interesting and never boring.
This book is a great read. Santorum has taken small bite-size storys and created a very interesting book. Each story takes a segment of someone in history who gave their time, money and life to help in our struggle for independence.
Many lost everything they had. I thank God every chance I think about what our ancestors gave to make us free.
It is a short read, but almost imposible to put down. I read it in a day. Each story is short, to the point and will leave you wanting more.
I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book, free of charge, from Tyndale House Books in exchange for an honest review.
You guessed it - Religion and Politics! Those are my two favorite subjects.
This book is not quite about politics. It is about the history of America and those who died to give us the right to talk about religion and politics.
I have always loved history, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I have heard Rick speak and am very impressed. His writing is interesting and never boring.
This book is a great read. Santorum has taken small bite-size storys and created a very interesting book. Each story takes a segment of someone in history who gave their time, money and life to help in our struggle for independence.
Many lost everything they had. I thank God every chance I think about what our ancestors gave to make us free.
It is a short read, but almost imposible to put down. I read it in a day. Each story is short, to the point and will leave you wanting more.
I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book, free of charge, from Tyndale House Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2018
This book uses the stories of several unheralded American revolutionary figures to expand on the author’s interpretation of the opening phrase in “Declaration of Independence”. The people selected encompass a wide spectrum of the country. Some of the people went on to lead “ordinary” lives after the war, some did not survive the war, and a few made major contributions after the war. The narration is not nuanced. The American side is wholly virtuous and justified, the British are wholly in the wrong. Many of the stories rely on anecdotes. As I was listening to the book, I did not see the references for any of the stories.
The author strongly emphasizes the importance of religion in starting this country. One of his arguments, however, does show the disparate views on religion held by some of our more prominent patriots. The author does an admirable job of highlighting the areas of “All men are created equal” that this country struggled with during this period.
Overall the stories are engaging and show the breadth of people, and the varied contributions, involved in the Revolutionary war.
The author strongly emphasizes the importance of religion in starting this country. One of his arguments, however, does show the disparate views on religion held by some of our more prominent patriots. The author does an admirable job of highlighting the areas of “All men are created equal” that this country struggled with during this period.
Overall the stories are engaging and show the breadth of people, and the varied contributions, involved in the Revolutionary war.
December 21, 2012
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. These are the things that our founding fathers, and many radical patriots sought to both achieve and protect for us. But at what price? How often do we actually stop to appreciate our freedom and those who protect it? In this book Rick Santorum examines the lives of some less-than-famous patriots during the revolution, and what sacrifices they made to help receive this liberty.
This book was a very easy, eye-opening read. The book is divided into 3 sections, and 18 chapters, each chapter portraying another patriot, or group of patriots. Each chapter also has a bible verse relating to that person’s service or sacrifice discussed. I would recommend this book to any american, because it is very important for us to know what sacrifices were made for our freedom if we are to fully appreciate it and protect it.
Note: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, my opinions are my own.
This book was a very easy, eye-opening read. The book is divided into 3 sections, and 18 chapters, each chapter portraying another patriot, or group of patriots. Each chapter also has a bible verse relating to that person’s service or sacrifice discussed. I would recommend this book to any american, because it is very important for us to know what sacrifices were made for our freedom if we are to fully appreciate it and protect it.
Note: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, my opinions are my own.
January 17, 2014
"God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these states, to the end of time."--Charles Carroll
"By 1776 Witherspoon had gained a considerable reputation--not only for his tremendous faith, but also for his passionate defense of independence."
"Throughout their lives, both Allen and Haynes demonstrated similar passions: service to their God and service to their country. They knew that the pursuit of happiness was not merely a matter of thought or action, but also a matter of the soul."
"The level of courage and sacrifice that we are being challenged to muster may pale in comparison with the heroism and sacrifice of the founders described in these pages. That is not for us to judge. It is simply the duty of every generation to meet the challenge of our time in order to maintain our inherent rights--the rights given to us by God himself."
This was a great little book about some of the lesser known patriots and founding fathers of our country.
"By 1776 Witherspoon had gained a considerable reputation--not only for his tremendous faith, but also for his passionate defense of independence."
"Throughout their lives, both Allen and Haynes demonstrated similar passions: service to their God and service to their country. They knew that the pursuit of happiness was not merely a matter of thought or action, but also a matter of the soul."
"The level of courage and sacrifice that we are being challenged to muster may pale in comparison with the heroism and sacrifice of the founders described in these pages. That is not for us to judge. It is simply the duty of every generation to meet the challenge of our time in order to maintain our inherent rights--the rights given to us by God himself."
This was a great little book about some of the lesser known patriots and founding fathers of our country.
February 23, 2013
Liberty or over-reaching govt, without active informed citizens perhaps death of French Rev via too much fairness vs life-liberty-pursuit of happiness, rights from God vs each other as in French Rev, govt not source of rights, govt is force and power to control rule, law based on William Blackstone, kill unborn is murder, virtuous behaviors and perfection of love vs abusive power via govt control, Maryland refuge for England Catholics, Charles Carroll only Catholic signer worth 30M today age 95 to 1832 oldest, without morals cannot exist, poet Phillis Wheatley, God 4 times in Declaration, if conform or complacent or apathy then need revolution.
January 15, 2013
This was a very interesting book about little known people who gave a great deal many risked their own lives that we enjoy freedom today. Rick Santorum is a very religeous man and also loves his country. So many of the early patriots were also very religeous. I particularily like and agree with what John Witherspoon said: "Love to God and love to man is the (substance) of religion; when these prevail, civil laws will have little to do."
October 27, 2013
I found it more of a reference book than anything. He gave a few names and a very brief description of person and their contribution to the Revolutionary War. Made me want to read a few actual biographies or more Rev. War books. Not really ok with him throwing religion down my throat in a history book. I Don't really agree with his interpretation of the constitution either.
April 28, 2014
This book is an interesting read with easy-to-manage chapters. If you love to read but don't have hours at a time to do so, this book is a good one to pick up when you can.
I love that this book includes scriptures in the chapters on lesser-known patriots. It would be appropriate for homeschoolers and book clubs, too. Teachers would love this instead of another apple mug, too!
I love that this book includes scriptures in the chapters on lesser-known patriots. It would be appropriate for homeschoolers and book clubs, too. Teachers would love this instead of another apple mug, too!
January 29, 2013
I like History, I even like the author, former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, but I did not like this book.
It’s not that it was a bad book – it was just boring – and reminded me of an old History textbook. That’s not how we win non History buffs over, FYI.
It’s not that it was a bad book – it was just boring – and reminded me of an old History textbook. That’s not how we win non History buffs over, FYI.
May 24, 2013
An awesome tribute to those who may have slipped through the cracks in our history books but played equal roles in America's road to independence as Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, among others. Also spurns us to continue the fight to keep America free.
June 14, 2017
I really enjoyed reading about these not-so-famous patriots of the revaloutonary war. The book is short but it touched on many good points. It is important to remember that freedom does not come with idleness but with courage and sacrifice.
March 7, 2013
Interesting read about little known patriots.
September 5, 2016
Stories of ordinary men and women with extraordinary faith and courage.
March 4, 2013
I really enjoyed these glimpses into lesser known heros of our beautiful American heritage.
February 2, 2014
A nice little book reminding us of some of our great patriots - many whom we've long forgotten.
April 23, 2017
This is a beauty of a little book that will stir the patriotism in your heart. It is filled to the brim with stories of courage in the most extreme of circumstances, the American Revolution. It was a time when men and women had strong convictions and were willing to fight for them, the most important of which was the belief in liberty for all.
Peter Francisco, Austin Dabney, Nancy Morgan Hart, Timothy Murphy. Names you probably have never heard of... twenty-four in all, with stories to remember. Some of the people in this book changed the course of history. All demonstrated courage and fortitude in the face of danger and proved themselves true patriots.
Yes, it's history. No, it's not dry, dusty, boring or irrelevent. In fact, it is very relevant for this generation that is seeing our freedoms assaulted by our own government. We live in a country that is different from every other country in the world. We were founded on faith and freedom and the willingness to fight for those liberties. Rick Santorum is a good story teller and makes this a very interesting read. I'll be sharing it with my children.
This is a book for all Americans.
I received this book free for review.
Peter Francisco, Austin Dabney, Nancy Morgan Hart, Timothy Murphy. Names you probably have never heard of... twenty-four in all, with stories to remember. Some of the people in this book changed the course of history. All demonstrated courage and fortitude in the face of danger and proved themselves true patriots.
Yes, it's history. No, it's not dry, dusty, boring or irrelevent. In fact, it is very relevant for this generation that is seeing our freedoms assaulted by our own government. We live in a country that is different from every other country in the world. We were founded on faith and freedom and the willingness to fight for those liberties. Rick Santorum is a good story teller and makes this a very interesting read. I'll be sharing it with my children.
This is a book for all Americans.
I received this book free for review.
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