{"product_id":"why-we-fought-robert-b-westbrook-9781588342959","title":"Why We Fought: Forging American Obligations in World War II","description":"\u003ci\u003eWhy We Fought\u003c\/i\u003e is a timely and provocative analysis that examines why Americans really chose to sacrifice and commit themselves to World War II. Unlike other depictions of the patriotic \"greatest generation,\" Westbrook argues that, strictly speaking, Americans in World War II were not instructed to fight, work, or die for their country--above all, they were moved by private obligations. Finding political theory in places such as pin-ups of Betty Grable, he contends that more often than not Americans were urged to wage war as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, lovers, sons, daughters, and consumers, not as citizens. The thinness of their own citizenship contrasted sharply with the thicker political culture of the Japanese, which was regarded with condescending contempt and even occasionally wistful respect. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhy We Fought\u003c\/i\u003e is a profound and skillful assessment of America's complex political beliefs and the peculiarities of its patriotism. While examining the history of American beliefs about war and citizenship, Westbrook casts a larger light on what it means to be an American, to be patriotic, and to willingly go to war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Robert B. Westbrook\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1588342956\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781588342959\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Smithsonian Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/06\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 166\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.55lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.38d","brand":"Robert B. Westbrook","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43939820273919,"sku":"9781588342959","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_6efe254d-9c6d-4040-896a-3de0202821db.jpg?v=1681443680","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/why-we-fought-robert-b-westbrook-9781588342959","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}