To China this time I have brought the Soul of America.
Literally, in the form of Jon Meacham’s new bestseller of the same name, subtitled, “The Battle for Our Better Angels.”
The jacket notes explain, “We have been here before…Meacham helps us understand the present moment in America by looking at critical times in our history when hope overcame division and fear…how presidents and citizens came together to defeat the forces of anger, intolerance and extremism…and to let what Abe Lincoln called ‘the better angels of our nature’ win the day.”
This is my salve, my booster shot, my explanation when Chinese colleagues demand to know of me, “What is your crazy president doing?!”