All We Say

** THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ** All We Say is the story of the United States through fifteen speeches – some iconic, others long forgotten, all pivotal – from its founding to the intense divisions of our times, from one of President Obama's former speechwriters. 'A learned and excellently sane book' - Sam Leith, Daily Telegraph (5 Stars) 'Wonderful – fascinating, thought-provoking and full of insights. Essential reading' - Justin Web For 250 years, America has debated what it means to be American. The question shaped the compromises in the Constitution and the arguments they’ve had ever since, spawning abolitionism, secession and civil war; populism, mass migration and global leadership; movements for reform and the backlashes to them. Through riveting accounts of the people, movements and moments that produced these speeches, Rhodes traces the history of America's battle over identity. The result is a singular and revealing portrait of the United States: a nation divided between two stories – one of inheritance, power, and exclusion, the other of equality, striving, and belonging. Drawing on a decade writing for Barack Obama, Rhodes also reveals how words can redirect a nation, what makes a speech enduring, and why oratory is a unique form of persuasion in a democracy. These speeches remind us that history is a living argument. At a time when American identity – and truth – is contested, All We Say offers a fresh and powerful look at who America really is, and who it could still become. ‘Ben Rhodes reminds us what American greatness actually sounds like, and what it means’ – Ayad Akhtar

** THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ** All We Say is the story of the United States through fifteen speeches – some iconic, others long forgotten, all pivotal – from its founding to the intense divisions of our times, from one of President Obama's former speechwriters. 'A learned and excellently sane book' - Sam Leith, Daily Telegraph (5 Stars) 'Wonderful – fascinating, thought-provoking and full of insights. Essential reading' - Justin Web For 250 years, America has debated what it means to be American. The question shaped the compromises in the Constitution and the arguments they’ve had ever since, spawning abolitionism, secession and civil war; populism, mass migration and global leadership; movements for reform and the backlashes to them. Through riveting accounts of the people, movements and moments that produced these speeches, Rhodes traces the history of America's battle over identity. The result is a singular and revealing portrait of the United States: a nation divided between two stories – one of inheritance, power, and exclusion, the other of equality, striving, and belonging. Drawing on a decade writing for Barack Obama, Rhodes also reveals how words can redirect a nation, what makes a speech enduring, and why oratory is a unique form of persuasion in a democracy. These speeches remind us that history is a living argument. At a time when American identity – and truth – is contested, All We Say offers a fresh and powerful look at who America really is, and who it could still become. ‘Ben Rhodes reminds us what American greatness actually sounds like, and what it means’ – Ayad Akhtar

What does it mean to be American? Who gets to decide? This sweeping history of the United States told through fifteen speeches relives the battle over American identity, from a New York Times bestselling author and one of President Barack Obama's former speechwriters. "At a time of moral and political drift, Ben Rhodes reminds us what American greatness actually sounds like, and what it means."--Ayad Akhtar, author of Homeland Elegies For 250 years, we have debated what it means to be American. This question shaped the compromises in our Constitution and the arguments we've been having ever since--spawning abolitionism, secession, and civil war; populism, mass migration, and global leadership; movements for reform and the backlashes to them. In All We Say , Ben Rhodes tells the story of fifteen speeches--some iconic, others long forgotten--which have both shaped and reflected the argument Americans have been having from our founding to the intense divisions of our time. Through riveting and beautifully rendered accounts of the people, movements, and moments that produced these speeches, Rhodes traces the history of our battle over identity. The result is a singular and revealing portrait of America itself: a nation divided between two stories--one of inheritance, power, and exclusion, the other of equality, striving, and belonging. Drawing on a decade writing for Barack Obama, Rhodes also shows us how words can redirect a nation, what makes a speech enduring, and why oratory is a unique form of persuasion in American democracy. From Benjamin Franklin's call for compromise at the Constitutional Convention, to Alexander Stephens' case for white supremacy as the cornerstone of the Confederacy; from Martin Luther King's dream of true equality to Donald Trump's rallying cry against democracy itself, these speeches remind us that history is a living argument. At a time when American identity--and truth--is contested, All We Say offers a fresh and powerful look at who we really are and who we could still become.

What does it mean to be American? Who gets to decide? This sweeping history of the United States told through fifteen speeches relives the battle over American identity, from a New York Times bestselling author and one of President Barack Obama's former speechwriters. "At a time of moral and political drift, Ben Rhodes reminds us what American greatness actually sounds like, and what it means."--Ayad Akhtar, author of Homeland Elegies For 250 years, we have debated what it means to be American. This question shaped the compromises in our Constitution and the arguments we've been having ever since--spawning abolitionism, secession, and civil war; populism, mass migration, and global leadership; movements for reform and the backlashes to them. In All We Say , Ben Rhodes tells the story of fifteen speeches--some iconic, others long forgotten--which have both shaped and reflected the argument Americans have been having from our founding to the intense divisions of our time. Through riveting and beautifully rendered accounts of the people, movements, and moments that produced these speeches, Rhodes traces the history of our battle over identity. The result is a singular and revealing portrait of America itself: a nation divided between two stories--one of inheritance, power, and exclusion, the other of equality, striving, and belonging. Drawing on a decade writing for Barack Obama, Rhodes also shows us how words can redirect a nation, what makes a speech enduring, and why oratory is a unique form of persuasion in American democracy. From Benjamin Franklin's call for compromise at the Constitutional Convention, to Alexander Stephens' case for white supremacy as the cornerstone of the Confederacy; from Martin Luther King's dream of true equality to Donald Trump's rallying cry against democracy itself, these speeches remind us that history is a living argument. At a time when American identity--and truth--is contested, All We Say offers a fresh and powerful look at who we really are and who we could still become.