1. Since that Vox article came out, I've been getting lots of requests for suggestions on what to read on the history of American conservatism. I will use this thread to link to the books I've read on the subject. Feel free to mute the thread if it's not of interest to you.
2. This is a foundational classic. Many have criticized it, but it basically started the field. amazon.com/Conservative-I…
3. Nash's most recent thoughts on Trump can be found here. It's worth noting that Nash identifies as a conservative himself, not just as a historian of conservatism. newcriterion.com/issues/2018/1/…
4. Aside from Nash, very few historians were writing about the history of conservatism in the 70s and 80s. The one exception was Leo Ribuffo. amazon.com/Old-Christian-…
5. In 1994 Alan Brinkley (the author of a great book on Charles Coughlin and Huey Long), wrote a seminal article pointing out how strange it was that American Historians had not really explored the history of conservatism. archives.cerium.ca/IMG/pdf/Lundi_…
6. Brinkley's article touched off a scholarly revolution. What follows is a list (in no particular order) of the scores of excellent books on American conservatism that have appeared since the mid-90s.
7. Before that, however, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention two key books that came out before Brinkley. Ron Formissano's subtle take on the politics of school integration and bussing. amazon.com/Boston-Against…
8. And Dan Carter's book on George Wallace. amazon.com/Politics-Rage-…
9. One of the first books to emerge out of the wave of post-Brinkley scholarship was Lisa McGirr's brilliant study of Southern California. amazon.com/Suburban-Warri…
10. This book is an important read for anyone trying to figure out where Newt Gingrich came from. Suburbanization and conservatism are very much interconnected stories. amazon.com/White-Flight-A…
11. For the Sunbelt version of the story, this book is indispensable. amazon.com/Silent-Majorit…
12. An excellent book linking the history of Arizona to the history of conservatism, via Arizona's favorite son, Barry Goldwater. amazon.com/gp/product/081…
13. Ayn Rand is one of the most important "thinkers" in the history of American conservatism. I put that in quotes because, well, I mean...have you read any of her books? Anyway, this is an excellent history of her career. amazon.com/Goddess-Market…
14. A book which tackles the complexities of race and conservatism on the state level is Joe @CrespinoJoe's book on Mississippi. amazon.com/Search-Another…
15. This book exposes the key role that wealthy businessmen have played in supporting (or creating?) the conservative movement. amazon.com/Invisible-Hand…
16. The most recent book by @KevinMKruse connects the dots between business elites, religious leaders, and the rise of evangelical conservatism. amazon.com/One-Nation-Und…
17. Here's another smart take on conservatism, business, and religion. amazon.com/Blessings-Busi…
18. A foundational work on conservatism and religion is Daniel Williams's, God's Own Party. amazon.com/Gods-Own-Party…
19. Michelle Nickerson's Mothers of Conservatism illustrates the central role that women at the grass roots played in building the conservative movement in the 1950's and 60s. amazon.com/Mothers-Conser…
20. This book also explores the conservative grassroots movement that drove the rise of Goldwater and Reagan. All the books on this list are fantastic, but this one stands out as being an especially gripping read. amazon.com/Bible-Belt-Sun…
21. This book brings together gender, religion, region, and class into a fascinating and subtle account of Wal-Mart's origins. amazon.com/Serve-God-Wal-…
22. A general survey of American conservatism can be found here, written by a historian who also identifies as a conservative. amazon.com/Conservatives-…
23. Another book by a scholar who also identifies as a conservative is this biography of Phyllis Schlafly. amazon.com/Phyllis-Schlaf…
24. This book looks at the history of conservatism from the perspectives of African-Americans who have struggled to find a place within the @gop. amazon.com/Loneliness-Bla…
25. This book explores the evolution of the @gop from the party of Lincoln to the party of GWB. From the party of big government and racial justice to the party of compassionate conservatism. amazon.com/Make-Men-Free-…
26. Until recently, most works on the history of conservatism have focused on the post WWII period. Sadly, the history of the KKK in the 1920s has become newly relevant, and this is a great study of that history. amazon.com/Second-Coming-…
27. Another great book on the KKK is by Nancy MacLean. amazon.com/Behind-Mask-Ch…
28. MacLean has been making the social media rounds recently due to her recent appearance on Bill Maher to discuss this recent book of hers. Also highly recommended. amazon.com/Democracy-Chai…
29. For those interested in the history of the media and conservatism, this book is very worth your time. Almost all of it is about the pre-Fox News era...yes, there was plenty of conservative media before Fox. amazon.com/Messengers-Rig…
30. For those looking for a rigorously critical take on the history of conservatism, this is the go-to book. Some historians may quibble with some of the lines of interpretation here, but Robin knows his stuff and it's a forcefully argued and written book. amazon.com/Reactionary-Mi…
31. While I don't find the argument of this book all that convincing, this is an interesting and informed take on the 18th century origins of modern conservatism that offers a conservative counterpoint to Robin's progressive take on the subject. amazon.com/Great-Debate-E…
32. The number of books on 19th century American conservatism could probably be counted on one hand. This recent book is the best of the lot. amazon.com/Stormy-Present…
33. It's not out yet, but I expect Joshua Lynn's book on conservatism in the Jacksonian and Antebellum era to be fantastic. jackmillercenter.org/joshua-lynn-an…
34. I'm sure I've overlooked some other excellent and important works. Please chime in, other #twitterstorians, with your suggestions. Hope the list is of interest or use for folks.
35. Alas, I've forgotten to mention a book on Trump, evangelicals, and conservatives by #twitterstorian extraordinaire, @JohnFea1. John writes about Trump as a historian of American religion, and as an evangelical Christian himself. It's well worth a read. amazon.com/Believe-Me-Eva…
36. Of course I just keep forgetting books I should not have. Rick Perlstein's trilogy (beginning with this book on Goldwater) offer a gripping, narrative history of the rise of conservatism into the 1980s. rickperlstein.net/before-the-sto…
37. The Amazon links are just for ease, not promotional purposes. Many (if not most) of these books can be found at your local booksellers. I'm partial to The Book Bin in Salem, OR and Powells in Portland.
38. With TPUSA in the news, it's worth revisiting this book on the 1960s precursors to folks like Ben Shapiro, Charlie Kirk, and Candace Owens. amazon.com/Other-Side-Six…
39. Another survey of 20th century conservatism that offers an excellent, biographically-focused overview of the topic. amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Mode…
40. This book comes out next month. Much needed study of conservative populism and the white working class. upenn.edu/pennpress/book…
41. Another late addition to the list. A study of Edmund Burke's influence on American thought and culture. amazon.com/Edmund-Burke-A…
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