The Irony of American History

Written during the post-World War II years as America emerged as a global power, The Irony of American History examines the gap between American ideals and political reality. Reinhold Niebuhr's work critiques American moral complacency and warns against the dangers of self-righteousness in foreign policy. The book has been cited by politicians across the political spectrum, including Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Niebuhr argues that while serious evil and suffering exist in the world, humility is necessary when attempting to address these problems—without using that humility as justification for inaction. His analysis encourages readers to reconsider their understanding of morality, conflict, and peace.