In AMERICAN, Matthews proposes ôTen Grand American NotionsÆ: a self-made country, the constant rebel, the reluctant warrior, the common man, the lone hero, the underdog, pioneers, action, optimism, and American exceptionalism. Each notion is accompanied by stories of American legends that personify it. The ôcharactersö of the book are both fictional and real-life heroes. Whether speaking of CasablancaÆs Ricky or former President John F. Kennedy, Matthews captivates his audience with fascinating quips, motivating quotes, and heart-felt memoirs.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of this book is its timeliness. In a time of international turmoil and political conflict, AMERICAN reminds us of what our nation was founded on, what it has endured, what it is we are fighting to defend. Void of personal bias and political preferences, Matthews delivers an objective view of our countryÆs history. He hails the goodùGeorge WashingtonÆs perseverance during the Revolutionary war, the heroic firefighters of September 11ùwithout forgetting to condemn the evils of corrupt politics and slavery.

AMERICAN is written in a conversational style not often seen in history texts. Rather than continuous narrative, Matthews prefers to tell the story through short glimpses of the past. Appropriate pictures are interspersed among the pages, breaking the chapters into more readable portions.