One Sentence Summary
Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics [Deckled Edge] by Charles Krauthammer is a collection of essays from the American Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and commentator covering his thoughts on various political and social issues from Reagan-era to the present day.
Book Genre
Non-fiction, political commentary
Main Topic of the Book
In Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics [Deckled Edge], Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and commentator Charles Krauthammer provides an overview and reflection of his thoughts on various social and political issues from Reagan-era to the present day.
Key Ideas
- Insightful assessment: Krauthammer offers an insightful assessment on key moments in American and world history over the past three decades.
- Prescient views: He presents prescient views on topics ranging from foreign policy and military interventions to geopolitics and the rapidly changing present day American society.
- Sharp reasoning: Krauthammer is known for his sharp reasoning and thoughtful arguments in favour of particular foreign and domestic policies.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part I: This section consists of Krauthammer’s reflections on events during the Reagan-era to the mid-to-late 1990s. It covers topics ranging from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the post-Cold War defense budget cuts, Bosnia, Kosovo, China, and the general American approach to foreign policy.
- Part II: This section focuses on the events and reflections of the new millennium and covers topics such as 9/11, the invasion of Iraq, and the military campaigns in Afghanistan and the war on terror. Krauthammer provides thoughtful perspective on many of the major political developments of the 21st century.
- Part III: This part of the book offers thoughts and opinions on a variety of other social and political issues such as healthcare, the economy, taxes, taxation reform, race, immigration, and social issues.
Key Takeaways
- Krauthammer’s insights and opinion on various international and domestic issues give an in-depth view of how the world has changed since the 1980s.
- By presenting his prescient views on topics from healthcare to war and terrorism, Krauthammer gives enlightening perspective.
- Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics [Deckled Edge] provides a comprehensive look at the past three decades of political and social history.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Charles Krauthammer is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and commentator. He is a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard, a contributing editor to The New Republic, and a contributing writer to The Washington Post. He is a Harvard and Oxford-educated psychiatrist, political theorist, and foreign-policy analyst. Over his long career, he has been awarded various awards, including being named a Pulitzer Prize winner for Commentary in 1987.
Target Audience
This book is intended for people interested in gaining a deeper understanding of American and world history from the Reagan-era to the present day. Krauthammer’s writing style ensures that the book is accessible for readers of all political persuasions.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics [Deckled Edge] was first published in October 2013 by Crown Forum, a publishing company of Crown Publishing Group.