reading report

American Narcissism
This book, written by Wilber W. Caldwell, is to analyze the very reason of American narcissism: national superiority. So the author explored its reason in several aspects, namely historical, ideological, political, and cultural spectrum. In so doing, the author intended to give a way out for this national fanaticism of superiority.
The very eye catching fact is that this book is filled with examples and quotations from many other notable books by other extinguished writers. So it is very logical and convincing. But while I was reading this book, I find it very obscure. There are many terms and sentences that appear elusive and unknown. In page one, it mentioned gunboat diplomacy. The term actually comes from the nineteenth-century period of imperialism, where European powers would intimidate other less powerful states into granting concessions through a demonstration of their superior naval power. Gunboat diplomacy is considered a form of hegemony as the United States became a military power in the first decade of the 20th century. In the book, nationalism and patriotism emerged quite a number of times. I wanted to figure out the difference between them. Patriotism, as a universal belief, is generally cultural attachment to one's homeland or devotion to one's country. Patriots are faithful and royal to their country. Nationalism can be divided into rational and irrational.
Irrational nationalism can be harmful and dangerous. While rational nationalism, to some extend is quantum to patriotism. In page 55, it referred individualism, which is good in the author’s view, but as far I am concerned, individualism also produced bad effects. While proving his point of view, he expounded in historical, ideological and other aspects. But many reasons and opinions overlapped with each other.。