I teach an AP Government and Politics class in the high school where I teach and this book was such a treat to read and share parts with my students. It was explained in a way that was enjoyable and informational. Great book!

I am not a conservative. But in American Happiness and Discontents, George Will shares a collection of his writings on everything from the Supreme Court, the State of the Union address, historical figures, the American Revolution, drug policy, criminal justice, reform, Corona virus, and numerous pop culture figures. George Will has the unique and unrivaled ability to take the fight out of the air as any one of these topics could easily start a rumble in 2021. It felt awesome to read a book where no one was shouting and going “Hey look at me”!

You may not agree with George Will (I certainly didn’t agree with everything) but in his voice there’s a certain grown ups in the room quality that is sorely needed in a country where our discourses on so many things have gone off the rails. I also think that he’s able to tap into a simplicity of a perhaps past era that cuts through the extra that seems to come along with these topics. It’s like you are having a dialogue with a respected grandfatherly figure.

A uniquely American voice spotlights many of the things that make America unique.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book as I have never previously read any of George Will's columns or knew his approach on social and political issues. This book covers a range of topics from socialism, baseball, climate, COVID-19 to the American revolutionary way. In summary, it covers many important topics throughout America's history up to the current issues still happening today.Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Politics aside, George Will is one of the finest columnists of his generation, expertly weaving wit with erudition like no other. This book is a collection of his columns from recent years, covering all manner of topics (and not just the electoral politics of the day). Perhaps the best part of the book is a collection of eulogies and remembrances of recently departed figures — Antonin Scalia, Charles Krauthammer, Bill Buckley, Yogi Berra, Fidel Castro, Billy Graham, and many more. There, Will’s masterful ability to marshal historical context, insight into human nature, and basic humanity — packaged in the crispest of prose — is at its best. We highly recommend this book to lovers of history, politics, journalism, and — most of all — good writing.

Mr. Will is an excellent word merchant so I was very excited to read his new book BUt it turned out to be a compendium of old Washington Post columns that he was re-issuing many of which I had already read since I am a subscriber to the Post. What a big letdown! If you are a WaPo subscriber like me you can skip American Happiness and Discontents but if you have never read any of George Will's thoughts then this book is a must.

It's difficult to describe the experience of reading Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George F. Will's latest book "American Happiness and Discontents," a collection of reflections simultaneously precise, convicting, quite humorous, and remarkably pointed in their observations.

So profound is Will's presence in the journalistic world that you likely have formed an opinion about the libertarian-conservative journalist whether you've ever read his work or not. This collection of his essays is a reminder that Will is not easily pegged or labeled, his political and cultural insights often transcending the very labels he is projected to endorse often by those who really have no true understanding of what those labels mean.

"American Happiness and Discontents" was a slow read, at least for me, Will's words demanding full-on attention and focus and his essays so relentlessly thought-provoking that to immerse oneself in too many of them at one sitting is to truly miss the value of his words.

I laughed at times both because of what Will said and how Will said it. He seems to have a fondness for the word "ameliorate," a word that I'm exaggerating when I say it's in every other essay. At one point, I thought about going back to the beginning and counting each use and donating to charity for each time the word appears in the book.

I dare say a charity would be quite grateful for the final donation amount.

However, I can't deny that "American Happiness and Discontents" gave me a healthy new respect for George F. Will precisely because he avoids easy opinions and easy conversations in favor of true analysis and a fearless willingness to confront cultural icons and beloved voices. It would be nearly impossible to disagree with Will on everything he writes in "American Happiness and Discontents," a fact with which I'd imagine Will is comfortable yet I'd also imagine he'd be completely comfortable challenging you on your disagreement.

There were, of course, essays that didn't particularly hold my attention. This wasn't so much because they were flawed as they were simply outside my own social lens. Other times, intriguing essays felt a tad brief but, well, isn't that always true of essays or columns?

George F. Will has a masterful way of saying a whole lot in very few words. He is clear. He is concise. He is incredibly intelligent and he is surprisingly funny. I'd dare to say that prior to reading "American Happiness and Discontents" it had never occurred to me that I'd likely enjoy sitting down over a beer with Will and watching a baseball game.

I don't even like baseball.

While Will is primarily known as a political columnist, it takes only barebones fact-finding to realize he's also written popular books on baseball and he's well versed in a variety of areas impacting daily life. "American Happiness and Discontents" includes quite a few columns centered around mostly Supreme Court cases while also exploring the American Revolutionary War, a variety of historical figures, a scathing and darkly funny assessment on State of the Union addresses, American socialists, anti-capitalist conservatives, drug policy, the criminal justice system, Coronavirus, the First Amendment, parenting, meritocracy and education, China, fascism, authoritarianism, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, and the morality of enjoying football.

"American Happiness and Discontents" is intelligent, a minimal standard for Will, and it is also engaging, thoughtful, entertaining, and, again I say, surprisingly funny. Will had only been a columnist for three years when he won the Pulitzer Prize, an award to be followed by numerous other awards and an award he followed by becoming one of America's most recognized and respected columnists and intellectuals.

"American Happiness and Discontents" is a reminder of just how much one man's voice matters and that man's voice in this case is George F. Will. .

So timely. Amazing.
I'm a culture junkie. Yes, I watch Bravo TV. I also listen to Country Music. And I'm fascinated by politics.
Though I'm accustomed to liking more emotional reads (Dana Perino/ Andrew Breitbart for reference), Mr. Will wrote a book I will highly recommend to anyone wondering how we've become so divided. Or anyone curious about the nature of politics.

Mr. Will examines the last thirteen years; from 2008 to 2020 and reflections on our culture, examining the many ways in which expertise, reason, and manners are continually under attack in our institutions, courts, political arenas, and social venues. His writing is a bit more dry than what I usually read, still, it's a wonderful read that flows well and has a sense of humor.

Other topics addressed include the American Revolutionary War, historical figures from Frederick Douglass to JFK, as well as a scathing assessment of how State of the Union Addresses are delivered in the modern day. Mr. Will also offers his perspective on American socialists, anti-capitalist conservatives, drug policy, the criminal justice system, climatology, the Coronavirus, the First Amendment, parenting, meritocracy and education, China, fascism, authoritarianism, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, and the morality of enjoying football.