Philip Abbott Knihy

The belief that America is not only different but «exceptional» is a central aspect of American identity that appears in the speeches and writings of John Winthrop to Martin Luther King Jr. to Ronald Reagan. Yet how and why America is exceptional has produced widely diverse answers. Philip Abbott alters this debate by arguing that Americans are the way they talk. He examines American exceptionalism as a preoccupation with «newness» in both politics and culture and traces its influence in a series of great American political texts, including the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers, Democracy in America, Walden, The Souls of Black Folk , and various novels and speeches.

Machiavelli's philosophy on leadership emphasizes the necessity for adaptability in the face of change, particularly in the context of American presidents. This text analyzes how each president must navigate and influence evolving political landscapes to succeed. The updated edition features new insights on George W. Bush and Barack Obama, along with revised bibliographical entries. It serves as a valuable resource for educators in political science, history, and American Studies, as well as for those interested in evaluating U.S. presidential leadership.

Inspired by a collection of letters received by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle during the First World War, Philip Abbott explores the inspirational campaign to provide body armour to British soldiers serving in the trenches.