The Rise and Fall of Modern American Conservatism: A Short History Paperback - 2012

"Brisk, incisive, and constantly absorbing, David Farber's lively history finally brings some coherence to the story of the postwar American Right. Farber recounts conservatism's evolution through the lens of six of its most important leaders, explaining its growing appeal through the decades without condescension or apologetics. This book cuts through the clutter and clatter of much recent writing on conservatism to show clearly and compellingly how a once-marginal movement came to hold in its grasp--for a time, anyway--the main levers of American politics."--David Greenberg, Rutgers University

"An absorbing and convincing history of modern American conservatism, rendered in the elegantly concise style we've come to expect from this author. Farber amply demonstrates conservatives' devotion to the market and to social order, as well as the important role played by human agency and ambition; throughout, he is at once unsparing and fair-minded in his judgments. This is first-rate, original scholarship."--Fredrik Logevall, Cornell University

"A compelling book. With verve and skill, Farber offers a penetrating and persuasive concise history of modern American conservatism. This volume will prove immensely valuable to anyone interested in recent American politics."--Bruce J. Schulman, author of The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture, Society, and Politics

"In a remarkably concise and readable book, Farber has covered an immense amount of ground and made it accessible as well as pleasurable for the reader. Farber has produced an innovative and engrossing study."--Michael W. Flamm, author of Law and Order: Street Crime, Civil Unrest, and the Crisis of Liberalism in the 1960s