The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right
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4.2 • 42 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A “must read” (Joe Scarborough) by a New York Times– best- selling author, The Corrosion of Conservatism presents a necessary defense of American democracy.
Praised on publication as “one of the most impressive and unfl inching diagnoses of the pathologies in Republican politics that led to Trump’s rise” (Jonathan Chait, New York), The Corrosion of Conservatism documents a president who has traduced every norm and the rise of a nascent centrist movement to counter his assault on democracy. In this “admirably succinct and trenchant” (Charles Reichman, San Francisco Chronicle) exhumation of conservatism, Max Boot tells the story of an ideological dislocation so shattering that it caused his courageous transformation from Republican foreign policy advisor to celebrated anti- Trump columnist. From recording his political coming- of- age as a young émigré from the Soviet Union to describing the vitriol he endured from his erstwhile conservative colleagues, Boot mixes “lively memoir with sharp analysis” (William Kristol) from its Reagan-era apogee to its corrosion under Donald Trump.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this memoir-manifesto, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Boot (The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam) frankly explores his tumultuous relationship with the Republican Party, likening it to "a tale of first love, marriage, growing disenchantment, and, eventually, a heartbreaking divorce." Boot, a Jewish immigrant from the Soviet Union, describes the journey from the beginnings of his career at the Wall Street Journal through positions at the Weekly Standard and Commentary to his current role as a loud Trump critic at the Washington Post and on CNN. Due to his moral horror at the rhetoric and policies of Donald Trump and his supporters, the author has finally turned his back on the only political party he ever identified with, as well as on many of the conservative beliefs he first formulated as a young reader of National Review in the 1980s. While he considers the Democratic Party as a necessary buffer to Trump in the next few elections, Boot refuses to completely give up on conservatism. Instead, he envisions a future for American politics that includes a centrist party led by an Eisenhower-like figure for disillusioned center-left and center-right voters alienated by the extremists in power. Boot's passionate and principled stand against alleged tyranny will resonate with many readers disillusioned with the state of contemporary politics.
Customer Reviews
Ditto
Never an activist in politics I find myself preparing to cast, in just a few weeks, straight ticket votes for the Democratic candidates for Governor and whatever legislative offices are on the ballot in my state...I don't really care who they are. Always a Republican voter it is not Trump so much as the very collapse of courage, honor, reason, and principle among the candidates and office holders in the Republican Party that has alienated me forever. The Libertarian vote I cast for President in the general election was my statement at the time....like the author, I had no idea the rest of the party was so completely gutless.
Introspection Makes this book worth reading
I have read a few books by Never-trumpers. What makes this book valuable is that Max Boot has taken the time to be self-critical. Boot used for a party line conservative Republican. He has left the Republican party because itemized Trump. He is a tough critic of his former self, but his writing is excellent. The effort is successful because Boot has learned from his experience.
Grift to the left
Max Boot doesn’t have any conservative positions but I guess follow the money right? Capitalism always wins even when you sell out! Ha