D.G. Hart's Bookshelf review on A13 today covers Matthew Avery Sutton's new book "Chosen Land: How Religion Has Shaped American Presidential Power" (Basic Books). Hart's review is a fair-minded take on a big-canvas history book. For Capital Wealth clients who care about the intersection of politics, history, and how to think about long-horizon risk, the book is a useful addition.
Hart's three main observations:
- Sutton argues that religious rhetoric has been constitutive of American presidential power since Washington. The book's strength is the archival sweep.
- Hart pushes back on Sutton's framework. Every great American political movement — abolition, civil rights, environmentalism — has had religious roots.
- The book's contemporary relevance is real. The 2024-2028 political cycle has seen religious and values rhetoric return to the center of national politics.
Two Financial Planning Read-Throughs
Estate planning, Roth conversions, donor-advised funds
Religious and charitable giving are meaningful tax-planning tools. The CW 2026 Tax Guide covers the current $27.22M estate exemption and the 30% AGI rule.
Gold, inflation-protected bonds, cash-value life
Political regime volatility argues for long-duration hedges. Our Gold theme at 12% is the clearest public-market version.
Client Book Note — Hart On Sutton
Not a trade. This is the kind of book a client might discuss over a coffee meeting — and it's a useful prompt to revisit legacy planning and multi-generational investment policy.