Book excerpt: Chris Matthew's trenchant political analysis and unique perspective on politics come to the fore in this boxed set of three of his classic works: American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions; Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think; and Hardball. American: People have often wondered what makes America truly great. With a citizenry of vastly different races, religions, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds, what intangible bond unites and defines us as "Americans"? In American, Matthews explores the best America stands for and portrays our country as a beacon for the modern world—unafraid of challenges, moving ever forward, and ready and willing to prevail. Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think: In this memoir spanning the Cold War to the Clinton years, Matthews gives the straight-up account of his "God and Country" Catholic school education in Philadelphia, complete with air-raid drills and his early enthusiasm for politics. He shares with us his life's adventures—two years in Africa with the Peace Corps, the challenge of running for Congress in his twenties, and his three decades deep in the "belly of the beast" of American politics—using his own experiences to give us an irreverent look at who we are and whom we trust to lead us. Hardball: Chris Matthews has spent a quarter century on the playing field of American politics—from right-hand man of Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill to host of NBC's highest rated cable talk show Hardball. In this revised and updated edition of his political classic, he offers fascinating new stories of raw ambition, brutal rivalry, and exquisite seduction and reveals the inside rules that govern the game of power