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jedwardsusc's review against another edition
2.0
This is an important book to read for anyone wanting to understand the history of modern conservatism or the ideological foundations for conservative attacks on voting access in the United States. Other than that, it's a dry, philosophically weak collection of mini-biographies dedicated to the historical figures that Kirk approves of.
jdintr's review against another edition
What is a Conservative? Do they exist anymore? Amid the radical right-wing politics of today--torture, contempt for constitutional rights, a hijacking by the gun and energy lobbies--do real conservatives exist anymore?
That's why I checked out _The Conservative Mind_ on audiobook. I knew vaguely about Burke's "Notes on the Revolution in France." A book that promised to trace his influence down to the 1950s seemed irresistible.
For the first 100 years of his study, Kirk relies on familiar writers to trace the strain of conservatism. I was surprised to find James Fenimore Cooper and Nathaniel Hawthorne among the examples that Kirk used. I enjoyed learning more about 19th-century notables like John Quincy Adams, Alexis de Tocqueville and Henry Adams.
Kirk identifies the central precepts of conservatism as being a basic distrust in humanity balanced by a faith for and respect in ultimate power, namely God. Conservatives see virtue in a landed aristocracy, and they see value in limited distribution of education, wealth, authority, etc. In this light the past two hundred years--as liberals expanded suffrage and set up national institutions for education and welfare--have been a long retreat for Conservatives.
Kirk feels that Conservatism has a hope based upon its superior morality and its intellectual vigor. Writing as he did at a time (the early 1950s) when Communist nations were no longer ascendant and were beginning to calcify intellectually, it seems like an intellectual cake walk.
The book bogs down in the latter 3rd. While I enjoyed the thoughts on Burke, I lost interest in the fortunes of the British Conservative Party through Peel and Disreali. The 20th Century thinkers he cites are academic and little related to actual American history or culture. Overall, this was an interesting look into the history of Conservatism. It gave me a number of great reference points that challenged me (a proud liberal) and gave me ammunition for future arguments with my reactionary friends.
That's why I checked out _The Conservative Mind_ on audiobook. I knew vaguely about Burke's "Notes on the Revolution in France." A book that promised to trace his influence down to the 1950s seemed irresistible.
For the first 100 years of his study, Kirk relies on familiar writers to trace the strain of conservatism. I was surprised to find James Fenimore Cooper and Nathaniel Hawthorne among the examples that Kirk used. I enjoyed learning more about 19th-century notables like John Quincy Adams, Alexis de Tocqueville and Henry Adams.
Kirk identifies the central precepts of conservatism as being a basic distrust in humanity balanced by a faith for and respect in ultimate power, namely God. Conservatives see virtue in a landed aristocracy, and they see value in limited distribution of education, wealth, authority, etc. In this light the past two hundred years--as liberals expanded suffrage and set up national institutions for education and welfare--have been a long retreat for Conservatives.
Kirk feels that Conservatism has a hope based upon its superior morality and its intellectual vigor. Writing as he did at a time (the early 1950s) when Communist nations were no longer ascendant and were beginning to calcify intellectually, it seems like an intellectual cake walk.
The book bogs down in the latter 3rd. While I enjoyed the thoughts on Burke, I lost interest in the fortunes of the British Conservative Party through Peel and Disreali. The 20th Century thinkers he cites are academic and little related to actual American history or culture. Overall, this was an interesting look into the history of Conservatism. It gave me a number of great reference points that challenged me (a proud liberal) and gave me ammunition for future arguments with my reactionary friends.
acarman1's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent overview of conservative thought. In an age when most associate conservatism with the selfish libertarianism of Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, Kirk reminds us that true conservatives seek to protect the "permanent things", the traditions of society, and to recognize that the wisdom of humanity is in the aggregate, not the individual. Kirk's unwillingness to confront the issue of slavery weakens him a bit when he includes John Randolph and John Calhoun because of their support for local authority. Kirk claims they stood for the rights of minorities in a democratic age, apparently not noting the irony. Still this book is a welcome antidote to the unintellectual conservatism of the modern day.
tim_michiemo's review against another edition
5.0
4.8 Stars
Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind is an intellectual history of conservative ideas in American and Britain. Although Kirk's book focuses primarily on tracing conservative ideas it accomplishes something far greater than that. By offering an alternative narrative to the post-war liberal mindset, Kirk has written a book that is a rallying call for all conservative thinkers. His book primarily succeeds because it shows that conservative ideas have a tradition that extends far back to the likes of Burke, Adams, Calhoun, Tocqueville, Disraeli, Chesterton, Santayana, and Eliot.
Kirk's definition of conservatism is remarkable, far different than what we would think of political conservatism is today. Conservatism recognizes the reality of revelation or "natural law", believes human existence is mysterious, that there is a natural aristocracy within society, that freedom and property are inseparably linked, and that all reform must be linked to some sort of custom or tradition.
The great maxim of conservatism is "the individual is foolish, but the species is wise." Tradition holds truth so we should be slow to "renovate" or "remake" society, for that is often the very means to destroy society and give power to dictators and despots. Conservatism is skeptical of ideologies that centralize all society under one idea, one government, or one personality. For government is built upon society, and not the other way around.
Much can be said about the conservative ideas and thinking of the men that Kirk covers. The bulk of Kirk's book covers the contributions to conservative thinking from Burke to Santayana. The number of thinkers that Kirk surveys are voluminous, and it offers the reader a rich treasure trove to pull conservative ideas from. Kirk's strongest point of his book is how well he surveys and summarizes the views of so many men and offers a coherent narrative, in America and Britain, of their ideas.
For Christian readers, this book is extremely valuable. Kirk's writing shows that government and society are rooted in transcendent truths. We cannot remake society in our image, we cannot live as creatures dependent upon the structures that God has designed for us to take part in. As well this book will challenge Christians in their views on politics. With Christian conservativism often associated with leaders like Fallwell, Robertson, and Trump, it is illuminating to see that there is a better way. Politics is not about power, society is a gift from God, and we find joy in rightly taking part in the society that God has ordained. Centralizing authority and power in one position can only bring about the death of liberty. So, I cannot recommend this book more highly, read it, and be challenged to think more deeply about the world that God has created and how the government is designed to be built upon the gift of society.
Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind is an intellectual history of conservative ideas in American and Britain. Although Kirk's book focuses primarily on tracing conservative ideas it accomplishes something far greater than that. By offering an alternative narrative to the post-war liberal mindset, Kirk has written a book that is a rallying call for all conservative thinkers. His book primarily succeeds because it shows that conservative ideas have a tradition that extends far back to the likes of Burke, Adams, Calhoun, Tocqueville, Disraeli, Chesterton, Santayana, and Eliot.
Kirk's definition of conservatism is remarkable, far different than what we would think of political conservatism is today. Conservatism recognizes the reality of revelation or "natural law", believes human existence is mysterious, that there is a natural aristocracy within society, that freedom and property are inseparably linked, and that all reform must be linked to some sort of custom or tradition.
The great maxim of conservatism is "the individual is foolish, but the species is wise." Tradition holds truth so we should be slow to "renovate" or "remake" society, for that is often the very means to destroy society and give power to dictators and despots. Conservatism is skeptical of ideologies that centralize all society under one idea, one government, or one personality. For government is built upon society, and not the other way around.
Much can be said about the conservative ideas and thinking of the men that Kirk covers. The bulk of Kirk's book covers the contributions to conservative thinking from Burke to Santayana. The number of thinkers that Kirk surveys are voluminous, and it offers the reader a rich treasure trove to pull conservative ideas from. Kirk's strongest point of his book is how well he surveys and summarizes the views of so many men and offers a coherent narrative, in America and Britain, of their ideas.
For Christian readers, this book is extremely valuable. Kirk's writing shows that government and society are rooted in transcendent truths. We cannot remake society in our image, we cannot live as creatures dependent upon the structures that God has designed for us to take part in. As well this book will challenge Christians in their views on politics. With Christian conservativism often associated with leaders like Fallwell, Robertson, and Trump, it is illuminating to see that there is a better way. Politics is not about power, society is a gift from God, and we find joy in rightly taking part in the society that God has ordained. Centralizing authority and power in one position can only bring about the death of liberty. So, I cannot recommend this book more highly, read it, and be challenged to think more deeply about the world that God has created and how the government is designed to be built upon the gift of society.
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