Books: A Century Turns by William J. Bennett

A Century Turns: New Hopes, New Fears by William J. Bennett chronicles the past twenty years of America and the changes it has undergone. While twenty years may not seem like a lot in the span of how long America has been a country, it is enough to mold a young person who goes from being an awkward eleven-year-old to an educated thirty-one year old mother of three with one more on the way. As I read this unbiased history of the past twenty years, I was reminded of events that had happened along the way, which brought back distinct and poignant memories. Events such as the crumbling of the Berlin Wall, Operation Desert Storm, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine High School massacre and September 11th to name a few. As I read, I would have flashes of memories where I remembered where I was and what I was doing when social and or political events significantly impacted me. A Century Turns is a history book and while at a couple points did seem to read as a textbook, there are enough anecdotal stories in which one could see an inside glimpse of more the Washington political scene. This is a recommended read for all to remember where we came from to see where we are going because it seems to be that every twenty years or so, history repeats itself. Are we learning from our past mistakes?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”