The Forever War

‘This is a must read book for all those who love America and want it to be healed.’ — Justin Webb, presenter of the BBC’s Today programme and Americast

‘Unflinching and insightful.’ — Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent

From the author of When America Stopped Being Great, an insightful and urgent reassessment of America’s past, present and future. With an updated new section covering the ever-changing political landscape.

The Forever War tells the story of how America’s extreme polarization is 250 years in the making, and argues that the roots of its modern-day malaise are to be found in its troubled and unresolved past.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American experiment is failing. Division, mistrust and misinformation are now the country’s defining characteristics. The storming of the Capitol, the prosecution of Donald Trump and battles over gun rights and abortion raise the spectre of further political violence.

Nick Bryant explains how the hate, divisiveness and paranoia we see today are in fact a core part of America’s story. Combining brilliant storytelling, historical research and first-hand reportage, Bryant argues that insurrections, massacres and civil disturbances should sadly not be seen as abnormalities; they are a part of the fabric of the history of America.

Author Biography

Nick Bryant is the author of When America Stopped Being Great, a book Joe Biden kept in the Oval Office. He was one of the BBC’s most senior foreign correspondents, covering the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. He left the BBC in 2021 and now lives in Sydney with his wife and children. Nick studied history at Cambridge and has a doctorate in American history from Oxford.