As I’m writing this I realize that the best way for me to review The Puritan Gift: Triumph, Collapse and Revival of an American Dream
I first heard about this book while driving to NYC with my family. In the winter, our local college broadcasts BBC radio programs, and boy am I ever glad. The BBC show HardTalk was interviewing the author, William Hopper about his book, The Puritan Gift — Triumph, Collapse and Revival of an American Dream.
I guess the thing that really intrigued me was Mr. Hopper’s simple explanations about what made America the dominant economic power in the past. And how we ended up in the economic mess that we are in today. I have always felt that part of America’s problems was due to the asinine belief that “experts” actually possessed understanding and discernment about how the economic world actually works.
One of the things that I’ve learned through reading this book is that the problems that we are facing are not new or unique. Actually, the first attempts of colonization by the Europeans, specifically England, was run with the same incompetence and arrogance that we see demonstrated by many of the CEOs and other “leaders of industry”.
One example that stands out in my mind involves the doomed Jamestown landing. The “nobility” (i.e., experts, CEOs and CFOs of the 1600s) wanted to go to America and set up a colony. So, they chartered boats for the journey. The crew and experienced seaman told these “geniuses” that the best time to sail would be during the winter months. The nobility refused to begin their journey then because the Atlantic Ocean is rough during that time of the year, and they could/would not be inconvenienced.
The sailors tried to persuade them that this was a bad move, but they were ignored and ridiculed because they lacked nobility (i.e., MBAs and money). So, the poor sailors were forced to take these yahoos across the Atlantic during the serene summer months. The bigwigs drank, ate and had a jolly voyage. “Wow! What a good idea this was. Isn’t it wonderful?”
And yes, the trip was wonderful. Unfortunately for the “nobility” who had never dirtied their hands or done a hard day’s work in their privileged lives, sailing in the summer means arriving in the WINTER. And you can’t grow foood in the WINTER. And since you have no knowledge of the landscape, you can’t pick a good place to come ashore in the WINTER. And so, the CEOs, CFOs and other “nobleman” starved to death. Their “noble” upbringing was no match for actually having useful skills and experience. My sympathies lie with the sailors who were conscripted to bring the idiots over.
Anyway, the first successful colonization of America was achieved by a common work ethic, the understanding that everyone (including the “owner”) that agreed to the voyage would have to carry their own work. Everyone started at the bottom, learned their trades and transitioned to more responsibilities as their abilities grew. And the main focus was not on self, but on the greater good of the community …
This book is a must read for every American. As a homeschooler, I have been discussing some of the simpler information with my young children. It is never to young to realize that cooperation will get you further than a life solely centered on personal ambition and wants. I am also a small business owner and this book has helped me to understand the importance of setting up systems as well as reaching out to others to improve my products and theirs.
Click here for the HardTalk transcript of their interview with William Hopper. And for those of you who like videos, you can click here.
I hope you find it as edifying as I have.
