American Gospel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham presents “a nimble examination of how American leaders . . . have wrestled with God personally and publicly” (USA Today)—now featuring a new Afterword by the author

“A revealing and useful primer on an important, timely, and often volatile topic.”—Chicago Tribune

At a time when our country seems divided by extremism, American Gospel draws upon history to offer a new perspective on God and politics. The American Gospel—literally, the “good news” about America—is that religion shapes our public life without controlling it. In this vivid book, Jon Meacham re-creates the fascinating history of a nation grappling with faith and government—from John Winthrop’s “city on a hill” sermon to Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence; from the Revolution to the Civil War; from George Washington to Ronald Reagan. American Gospel makes it compellingly clear that the nation’s best chance of summoning what Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature” lies in recovering the spirit and sense of the Founding Fathers. In looking back, we may find the light to lead us forward.