America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin

Our book for November is America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin.

For those who are interested, here is the link to the detailed results from the voting.

Here is a summary of the book:

Grandin redefines the story of the Western Hemisphere by examining the intertwined histories of North and South America over five centuries. The book challenges the traditional narrative that the United States’ identity was shaped primarily by looking eastward to Europe, instead arguing that its sense of self was forged through a complex and often turbulent engagement with Latin America. Grandin traces this relationship from the Spanish Conquest—the greatest mortality event in human history—through the independence movements, the Monroe Doctrine, twentieth-century coups and revolutions, and up to the present. In doing so, he demonstrates how both regions developed distinctive identities in response to each other, shaping laws, institutions, and ideals that have influenced the modern world.

The book is notable for shining new light on both well-known historical figures such as Bartolomé de las Casas and Simón Bolívar, as well as lesser-known actors like Francisco de Miranda and Jorge Gaitán. Grandin reveals how Latin America’s deeply rooted culture of social democracy has often stood as a counterweight to rightwing authoritarianism and US intervention, affecting global institutions like the United Nations. By combining individual stories with grand historical analysis, Grandin offers a sweeping narrative that revises how we understand colonialism, slavery, and race across the hemisphere, ultimately suggesting that centuries of conflict and diplomacy have fundamentally shaped the political and moral contours of both the United States and Latin America.

This event will be hybrid. I will host the meeting in person at my house in Berkeley which is near the intersection of College Ave and Woolsey St. I will email people the address the Saturday before the meeting. Here are the Google Meet details:

Meeting ID
Link: https://meet.google.com/tfn-vpfb-gpj
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 561-408-9075‬ PIN: ‪278 615 140‬#