Are We Rome?: The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America Book

This book is incredibly well done. I went into it with high hopes, and it met all of them.

Murphy begins the book by stating outright that, obviously, America is not an exact replica of Roma. OF COURSE there are things that are different, and he immediately points out the key differences. There are, however, some noteworthy similarities, things that crippled Rome and could potentially cripple us. These similarities are the focus of the book.

He devotes a chapter to each of his points:
1. "All Roads Lead to Rome" (the view that Washington D.C. is the most important city in the most important country)
2. Role of the military (a lot of smaller points put together, but mostly its increasing importance)
3. Private interest vs. public interest (privatization, "what's in it for me?" mentality in politics)
4. Us vs. Them (our view of foreigners)
5. Borders ("protecting" America)
Within each chapter, he highlights examples from Roman history and how they're applied to the status of America today.

Overall, it's very well written, with each point well encapsulated within an anecdote or story, both making it easier to read and more memorable. It reads incredibly well for non-fiction, particularly something that's essentially trying to make an argument. It doesn't feel overly preachy (until his "here's how we solve the problem" bit at the end, but that part is more thought/speculation than "I know I'm right" cockswinging), and his arguments are well researched and developed. As a couple others on here have mentioned, it's also surprisingly objective/unbiased. One can probably make a solid guess at his politics, but again, I think people will all kinds of political viewpoints can read and appreciate this. It's food for thought, for sure, and a fascinating read for anyone who's curious about the current state of our country and/or Ancient Rome.