Conservatism An Anthology of Social and Political Thought from David Hume to the Present

"Muller's book is a bracing commentary on the present-day condition of American conservatism, and a welcome invitation to rethink what conservatives ought to be conserving."--Charles R. Kesler, Wilson Quarterly "A smartly designed anthology. Muller is a capable teacher... He brings a freshness to old standbys like Edmund Burke and James Madison and unearths fascinating conservative passages from Winston Churchill and several lesser lights. The readings may be the meat of the book, but Muller's take on conservatism is its lifeblood. His afterword... is nothing short of brilliant... Muller's exciting anthology effectively shows that conservatism, for all its apparent stodginess, is remarkably alive and organic."--John J. Miller, The Detroit News "Jerry Muller's thoughtful primer on conservative thinkers from David Hume to the present day is timely. If the dispossessed of the right feel the need to go back to basics, they could do worse than start here... This anthology, with Muller's useful introductions to the work of two dozen or so political theorists, reminds us that conservatism has always been the most amorphous of political philosophies."--Philip Stephens, Financial Times "Mr. Miller has covered the bases well, giving a good accounting of the breadth and variety of the subject he anthologizes."--Stephen Goode, Washington Times