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Prof. C. Bradley Thompson of Clemson University has written a superb new book, the first of two volumes, about the American Founding, America's Revolutionary Mind: A Moral History of the American Revolution and the Declaration That Defined It. In my opinion this book deserves to take its place alongside Bernard Bailyn's Ideological Origins of the American Revolution and Gordon Wood's Creation of the American Republic as one of the indispensable books for any reader looking for a serious intellectual history of our nation's beginnings. Although it is a solid scholarly book, it is without the specialized jargon and forbidding prose that often make academic books unreadable for non-specialists. And Thompson brings out some sources of the Founding that have been glided over too lightly or ignored by other scholars and historians.
In addition to this book and its planned sequel on the Constitution, Brad runs the Clemson Center for the Study of Capitalism, which in addition to having good things to say about capitalism also offers a Great Books program, which you can read about here, and also in this terrific City Journal profile. Parents of high school students often ask me where they might send their kids to college to get a good education in the humanities instead of the politically correct drivel that has ruined the humanities at most colleges today, and Brad's program makes Clemson a place to add to your list of prospective colleges to consider. (I also hear Clemson has a good football team, but that's just a wild rumor I think.)
In the meantime, run—don't walk—to order your copy of America's Revolutionary Mind. You won't regret it!
Hosted by Steve Hayward
Discussion (2)
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This book sounds fascinating. Another great podcast from Powerline. Steve's background really enhances these types of discussions.
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Thanks for the interview Professor Hayward. Also thanks for telling us that it is readable to ordinary folk. I was going to ask that here but now do not have to do so. It is depressing to hear about current students - maybe a generation will have to be bypassed if we can?