Sarah Vowell is a patriot. She might be left-leaning in her political views and voting trends, but first and foremost, she's a history buff and a lover of America. Her essay collection, The Partly Cloudy Patriot, focuses on the political and cultural issues surround the end of the Clinton presidency and the first years of George W. Bush's tenure in office. She explores a wide range of topics, but without any anger or vituperation against people on the opposite end of the political spectrum.

The shining star in this collection is her ruminations on presidential libraries. Vowell writes an open letter to President Clinton about her ideas for his presidential library. She sets out to visit the Kennedy, Eisenhower, Nixon and Johnson libraries to examine their treatment each man. Johnson directed his curator that no one had managed to save his reputation in the last 20 years, so there was no need to sweep any of his presidential controversies under the rug. Nixon, on the other hand, used his library to present his side of political scandals and the dark side of political witch hunts. Eisenhower's library focuses almost entirely on his military career, while the JFK library shows videos, home videos and pictures of the cultural icon. Vowell recommends that Clinton celebrate his charisma like JFK, openly address issues like Johnson and remember that presidential adversaries will seek out scandal wherever they can find it.

Vowell also gives the reader (or listener, if you pick this up in its outstanding, musically accompanied audiobook form) an inside look at a serious media misquote of presidential candidate Al Gore. While speaking at Concord High School, Gore told students that about environmental hearings he held on sites like Love Canal. A Washington Post reporter left out a key word and the context of his statement, and soon Gore was lambasted in the media for claiming to discover Love Canal. The students were outraged at this mistrial in the press. Their teacher was dismayed that a formative day for many students was tainted by controversy and late-night television jokes. Vowell, a liberal, explores the issue fully, and is willing to grant the harried reporter a pass for a small misquote during her 20-hour day.

Vowell also ponders our propensity to report only on negatives and controversy; no one writes about the powerful and moving statements that get made in speeches and debates.

Other essays include a visit to the underground lunchroom in Carlsbad Caverns, ruminations on Canada's "modestly spectacular" rise to sovereignty from the British, a visit to the theme park that is Salem, Mass., explorations of great moments in American history, and personal pieces about family, tourism, outdoorsiness and Montana.

This is a funny, uplifting and educational collection of essays from a proud American citizen.