Making patriots

'Making Patriots' is an essay on the paradox of how patriotism is inculcated in a system that, some argue, is founded on self-interest?

Guiding the reader through the history and philosophy of patriotism in a republic, from the ancient Greeks through to contemporary life, Berns considers the unique nature of patriotism in the United States and its precarious state. And he argues that while both public education and the influence of religion once helped to foster a public-minded citizenry, the very idea of patriotism is currently under attack.