{"product_id":"un-americanism-george-lewis-9780813079516","title":"Un-Americanism: A History of the Battle to Control an Idea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInside notorious and influential struggles to define what it \u003cbr\u003emeans to be \"un-American,\" illuminating the complex evolution of the \u003cbr\u003eterm throughout US history \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cbr\u003e term \"un-American\" has been wielded as a powerful tool throughout US \u003cbr\u003ehistory, from Jefferson's vision of the early Republic to the Trump era, \u003cbr\u003e yet no objective definition has ever been universally agreed upon. For \u003cbr\u003ethe first time, George Lewis's Un-Americanism offers a long history of \u003cbr\u003ethis term, tracing what it has meant to whom through close looks at the \u003cbr\u003emost prominent contests for control of its definition and deployment. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLewis examines case studies that show politicians using the idea of the \u003cbr\u003eun-American to advance their agendas, organizations using it in racial \u003cbr\u003enationalist campaigns, and federal committees using it in investigations\u003cbr\u003e such as those of the anticommunist \"Red Scare\" of the Cold War--along \u003cbr\u003ewith activists and coalitions who have countered rhetoric of the \u003cbr\u003e\"un-American\" by claiming their own use of the term. In these chapters, \u003cbr\u003eLewis delves into the role of institutions and organizations such as the\u003cbr\u003e American Legion, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and\u003cbr\u003e the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Lewis paints a compelling \u003cbr\u003epicture of how the term has both shaped and been shaped by the country's\u003cbr\u003e social and political landscape. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUn-Americanism \u003c\/em\u003eoffers\u003cbr\u003e a profound analysis of how this term has drawn and redrawn lines \u003cbr\u003ebetween what is considered \"good\" or \"bad\" politically. By exploring its\u003cbr\u003e complex evolution, the book highlights how the term has impacted each \u003cbr\u003egeneration's understanding of national values and American identity. \u003cbr\u003eLewis challenges readers to reflect on its ongoing influence in defining\u003cbr\u003e who truly belongs in the American story. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e George Lewis\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0813079519\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780813079516\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Press of Florida\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/13\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 372\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover","brand":"George Lewis","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46962459410687,"sku":"9780813079516","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b291a995-ad5a-4675-baa0-059e9e8ad4a5.jpg?v=1750651496","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/un-americanism-george-lewis-9780813079516","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}