Amaury De Riencourt

I was given this book in 2006 and read it with gusto. The author's style is axiomatic generalization... But not broadbrush, gushy, simplistic generalization. He correlates the history of Rome's Caesars to what he identifies in the American Presidency and numerous presidents. He generalizes between the Culture and Civilization of ancient Greek and Rome with its seeming equivalence in that of Europe and America.

De Riencourt's work isn't thin submittals of an undetached European intellectual in order to make a novel point. His work is a non-sentimental look at the drift of America's Executive from its constitutional mooring to the over-extended demands of an entitlement culture and advantage taking of political order over a de-evolving society.

The correlations de Riencourt makes are not few nor minor... Rome's history is replete with the actions of a powerful Tribune. And America's modern history is littered with remarkable comparatives. Rome's Tribune is now America's Tribune, a powerful politician who offers benefits and declares control in ever increasing areas of existence.

As with Rome, America's Caesarism will not end well. And this is the value of this book. In 1957 de Riencourt prophetically called for warning and awareness. His book was well-received but was not grasped by the grass roots. Today, with the advent of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama the thesis of this book is clear at a much more common level. Who can't see that no matter which Party is elected, the slide into the abyss is the same? De Riencourt shows how and why.

I can't think of a book I've read in the past 30 years that is clearer, more honest about the realities, nor more forcefully argued than this book.… (meer)