#219: Richard M. Lim - "Refusing a Crown: How George Washington Changed the World"
From Axelbank Reports History and Today · 1:01:54
Show by Evan Axelbank
From the publisher: "Refusing A Crown is sweeping and original history that reveals how George Washington’s voluntary surrender of power—an act unmatched in its time—shaped the American republic, influenced revolutions around the world, and remains one of the few moments in history capable of uniting Americans across today’s political divide.At a time when Americans once again argue about leadership, power, and the future of self-government, one figure continues to stand apart: George Washington. Across the political spectrum—from Donald Trump to Joe Biden—leaders still invoke him as the ultimate measure of political greatness. Refusing a Crown reveals why.Washington’s most extraordinary achievement was not winning the Revolutionary War or helping found a new nation. It was something far rarer: He gave up power—twice. First, when he resigned his command after victory. Then again, when he stepped down as president, establishing a precedent no law required and no force could compel. In an age dominated by kings and emperors, Washington chose restraint—and in doing so, he helped define the American experiment.Refusing a Crown is the first book to place Washington’s decisions within the sweeping Western shift from monarchy to republic, showing why that transition was anything but inevitable. Drawing on the Judeo-Christian moral tradition and the political inheritance from Great Britain, Refusing a Crown reveals how early Americans sought to build a republic strong enough to govern real people—not an idealized political fantasy.Washington’s example did not stop at America’s borders. From Napoleon to Simón Bolívar to Yuan Shikai, revolutionary leaders across the world found themselves compared—often unfavorably—to the American who walked away from power.In an era defined by polarization and distrust, Washington’s story remains one of the few that can still unite—and remind us that the true test of leadership is knowing when to let go."For information on his book, head to: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Refusing-a-Crown/Richard-M-Lim/9781645721284Richard M. Lim's website can be reached at: https://richardmlim.com/Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistoryAxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory
More episodes of Axelbank Reports History and Today
More episodes
- #222: Walter Stahr - "William Howard Taft: A Great American Life"
- #221: Tony Williams - "Divided Over the Declaration: How an Enduring Debate Sustains the Vision of America"
- #220: Nathaniel Philbrick - "The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World"
- #218: Keri Leigh Merritt - "An Inconvenient Woman: The Extraordinary Life of Lillian Smith, the Southerner Who Defied Jim Crow America"
- #217: Sharon and Christopher Leahy - "Presidentess: The Life of First Lady Julia Gardner Tyler"
- #216: Marcia Chatelain - "How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington"
- 215: Catherine Grace Katz - "Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War"
- #214: Peter Bergen - "All The Presidents' Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America's War on Terror"
- #1: Kate Andersen Brower - "Team of Five"
- #2: Sarah Milov - "The Cigarette"
PodSearch is a free, independent podcast search engine. Read about PodSearch, the privacy policy or contact us.