Sun Nov 17 15:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Celebrated Columnist Peggy Noonan’s New Book Celebrates American Exceptionalism
**NEW YORK, NY** – Peggy Noonan, renowned speechwriter and Wall Street Journal columnist, is celebrating the release of her new book, *A Certain Idea of America*, with a special event at The Free Press Book Club. The book, a collection of her essays, explores the powerful forces that have shaped America over the past decade, offering a hopeful counterpoint to current anxieties about the nation’s future.
Noonan, who penned speeches for Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, describes her “certain idea of America” as a belief in the nation’s inherent goodness and value, stemming from its unique founding principles and the exceptional efforts of its citizens throughout history. She emphasizes not just the ideals, but the tangible experiences and emotional connection that bind Americans together, drawing parallels to the emotional resonance of classic American stories like *Field of Dreams*.
In an excerpt published by The Free Press, Noonan highlights this sentiment, stating, “We are a people that has experienced something epic together… a political invention based on the astounding assumption that we are all equal.” She further underscores the miraculous nature of America’s enduring success, despite its flaws, urging a sense of profound protectiveness and responsibility towards its future.
To enhance the understanding of this “American miracle,” Noonan recommends three books: E.B. White’s *On Democracy*, *What So Proudly We Hail*, an anthology of American writings, and David McCullough’s *The Pioneers*. These works, she argues, illustrate the “why, how, and what of loving America.”
The Free Press Book Club event, hosted by Bari Weiss, will feature an open bar and promises to be a sell-out. Tickets are available now. *A Certain Idea of America* will be published on November 19th.
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