Amity Shlaes
Amity Shlaes
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Amity Shlaes is an American author, historian, and journalist known for her work on economic history and policy.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: October 18, 1958
Active in writing and commentary, with no publicly available information on her passing or current status.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession: Author, Historian, Journalist
Shlaes has written extensively on economic history, policy, and its impact on modern society. Her work often delves into the intersections of politics, economics, and culture.
Early Life and Background
Amity Shlaes was born in 1958 in New York City to a family that valued intellectual pursuits. Growing up in an environment rich in ideas and discussions laid the groundwork for her future career as a writer and historian. Her early life was marked by a strong interest in reading and learning, which would later serve as the foundation for her academic pursuits.
Major Accomplishments
Shlaes' writing career spans decades, with several notable books that have significantly contributed to the discourse on economics and policy. Some of her most acclaimed works include:
- "The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression" (2007): In this book, Shlaes offers a counter-narrative to the conventional view of the Great Depression by focusing on the experiences and perspectives of ordinary Americans.
- "Coolidge" (2013): This biography of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, challenges traditional views of his presidency and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of American history.
Notable Works or Actions
Throughout her career, Shlaes has been recognized for her unique perspectives on economic policy and historical events. Her writing often takes an unorthodox approach, challenging conventional wisdom in favor of a fresh narrative that seeks to engage both historians and policymakers.
- Contributions to The Wall Street Journal: Shlaes served as the Journal's op-ed editor from 2008 until 2010, where she oversaw content related to economic policy and history.
- Public Appearances and Lectures: She frequently gives lectures on her work and appears in public forums, engaging audiences with her insights into historical events and their relevance to modern policy.
Impact and Legacy
Amity Shlaes' impact is multifaceted:
- Challenging Conventional Wisdom: Her books have challenged widely accepted views of the Great Depression and Calvin Coolidge's presidency, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of American history.
- Influence on Policy Discourse: Through her writing and public appearances, Shlaes has influenced the way policymakers and commentators think about economic policy and its impact on society.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Amity Shlaes is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
- Unique Perspectives: Her unorthodox approach to historical events offers readers fresh insights into significant moments in American history.
- Impactful Writing: Through her books, she has challenged conventional wisdom, contributing significantly to the discourse on economic policy and its impact on society.
- Engagement with Policymakers and Commentators: Shlaes' work continues to engage policymakers and commentators, influencing how they think about economic policy and its relevance to modern challenges.
Quotes by Amity Shlaes
With demands for special education or standardized test prep being shouted in their ears, public schools can't always hear a parent when he says: 'I want my child to be able to write contracts in Spanish,' or, 'I want my child to shake hands firmly,' or, 'I want my child to study statistics and accounting, not calculus.'
Surveying the travails of the thirtieth president, some writers have suggested that those personal defeats are the essence of the Coolidge story. They err. Coolidge’s is not a story of “Yes, but.” It is a story of “But yes.” For at every stage, Coolidge did push forward, and so triumph.
Coolidge had ladled out his share of mockery, especially in college, but could see now that attack politics yielded poor results. The best way to win was to stick to the issues and forgo any personal attacks or name-calling. Civility would be his rule from now on. He would try it out in his next campaign, for the office of state representative in Boston.
Perhaps the deepest reason for Coolidge’s recent obscurity is that the thirtieth president spoke a different economic language from ours. He did not say “money supply”; he said “credit.” He did not say “the federal government”; he said “the national government.” He did not say “private sector”; he said “commerce.” He did not say “savings”; he said “thrift” or “economy.” Indeed, he especially cherished the word “economy” because it came from the Greek for.
Once, on a walk with the president, Senator Selden Spencer of Missouri tried to cheer Coolidge by pointing to the White House and asking, in a joking tone, who might live there. “Nobody,” Coolidge replied, “they just come and go.
One should never trouble about getting a better job. But one should do one’s present job in such a manner as to qualify for a better job when it comes along.” The.
Most presidents place faith in action; the modern presidency is perpetual motion. Coolidge made virtue of inaction.
Disillusionment can come as fast as a gust, but building faith that the government won’t inflate again is like building a new sailboat, a project of years.
We’re in a kind of vicious cycle where the media tell the politicians, and the politicians tell the people, that perception is reality, and the perception of saving dooms a politician. I don’t believe perception is reality, or that all Americans think that.
Coolidge believed higher taxes were wrong because they took away from men money that was their property; he believed lower rates were good precisely because they encouraged enterprise, but also because they brought less money. Low rates starved the government beast.