# The Myth of the Good War: Elizabeth Samet on American Nostalgia

- Link: https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2022/01/the-myth-of-the-good-war-elizabeth-samet-on-american-nostalgia/
- Published: 2022-01-26T21:41:24-05:00

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World War II is nostalgically remembered throughout American culture as the “good
war”––a conflict where Americans idealistically banded together to free the world
from tyranny. Of course, there is more to this story, but is this simplified popular
understanding dangerous?

In this week’s [episode](https://www.noneoftheabovepodcast.org/episodes/s3e20) of
_None Of The Above_, the Institute for Global Affairs’ [Mark Hannah ](https://twitter.com/ProfessorHannah)
talks with West Point English professor Elizabeth Samet about the importance of 
literature for preparing America’s future officer corps for life in and out of uniform,
and about Americans’ collective memory of the Second World War. Elizabeth shows 
how our romanticized reading of history has led US policymakers to overstate the
effectiveness and righteousness of military force.  

**Listen Here:** [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/none-of-the-above/id1460825733)
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**This podcast episode includes references to the Eurasia Group Foundation, now 
known as the Institute for Global Affairs.**