Right Above Race

Otto Hermann KahnProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.8
Word count
155K words
Chapters
16

Tags

English Originals Politics Social ObservationRacial IssuesFinancial EmpirePersonal StruggleImmigrant ExperienceSuccess PhilosophySocial CommentaryWealth StoriesCultural IdentityModern China

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Right Above Race by Otto H. KahnAuthor: Kahn, Otto H., 1867-1934,Language: English, Class: D501: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: World War I (1914-1918), Release Date: Nov 20, 2009

Editor's review

This book is a work of political commentary written by Otto H. Kahn during the First World War, centering on debates over war, ethnicity, and national identity. Its title, "Right Above Race," states its core concern: seeking common ground above conflict and prejudice. Speaking as a figure in finance and public affairs, the author writes with the persuasiveness of an orator; his arguments are direct and his positions are clear. The book addresses wartime public opinion, ethnic relations, and social cohesion, and is a primary source for understanding the atmosphere of American public debate in the early twentieth century. Its value lies not in systematic historical conclusions but in showing how intellectuals of the time responded to the divisions wrought by war. Because it was written in a specific historical context, some of its formulations carry clear period limitations; readers should examine it as historical material and read it alongside general histories of World War I and studies of immigration history. It is suitable for use as a text of viewpoints in seminars or reading groups.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Not a good fit for

Reading tips

  1. First learn the social background of the United States around World War I, then begin the text.
  2. Read the book's views as historical texts, noting their positions and modes of argument.
  3. Read alongside other political writing of the same period to compare different voices.
  4. After reading, distinguish factual statements from value judgments in your notes to form your own assessment.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

Contents

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16

FAQ

What is this book about? According to the available information, this book is classified under World War I history; its title, "Right Above Race," suggests a discussion of ethnicity and common ground in the context of war. The author speaks in the mode of political commentary; for specific chapter topics, consult the text itself, as the available information does not provide details.
What is the background of the author, Otto H. Kahn? The available information provides only the author's name and dates of birth and death, not his profession or career. Readers should not infer biographical details from this book; for more information, consult an independent biography or authoritative reference work.
Do the book's views still apply today? The book was written in a specific historical context, and some of its formulations carry period limitations; they should not be applied directly to contemporary issues. Its value lies more in showing how intellectuals of the time thought; read it with historical background in mind and with critical discernment, rather than accepting it as universal conclusions.
Is it suitable for a reading group? Yes. As political commentary with clear viewpoints and moderate length, it is well suited to sparking discussion. Reading groups should assign chapters in advance, have members mark points of agreement and doubt, and then discuss around keywords such as war, ethnicity, and solidarity.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Otto Hermann Kahn Author · American · 1867–1934

Otto H. Kahn (1867–1934) was a German-born American banker, financier, and patron of the arts. Born in Mannheim, Germany, he moved to New York in 1893, joined Kuhn, Loeb & Co. in 1897, took part in reorganizing several American railroad systems, and long served as president of the Metropolitan Opera. Six of his works are held in this collection, commonly classified under inspirational growth, including The New York Stock Exchange and Public Opinion, Government Ownership of Railroads, and War Taxation, High Finance, Right Above Race, War Taxation: Some Comments and Letters, and Frenzied Liberty: The Myth of a Rich Man's War. These writings focus on financial institutions, railroad policy, taxation, and racial issues, combining practical observation with argument. Public information is limited, and details of his life and the influence of his works await further study.