I Am the Change: Barack Obama and the Crisis of Liberalism,
by Charles R. Kesler
| Is Barack Obama the savior of liberalism—or the last liberal president? Charles R. Kesler's spirited analysis of Obama's political thought shows that he represents either a new birth of liberalism—or its demise. Kesler argues that disappointed liberals don't appreciate the scope of the president's ambition or the long-term stakes for which he is playing. Conservatives also misunderstand Obama, dismissing him as a socialist, hopelessly out of touch with the American mainstream. Reflecting a sophisticated mix of philosophy, psychology, and history, and complemented by a scathing wit, I Am the Change tries to understand Obama as he understands himself, based largely on his own writings, speeches, and interviews. Kesler views him as a gifted and highly intelligent progressive who is attempting to become the greatest president in the history of modern liberalism. Intent on reinvigorating the liberal faith, Obama nonetheless fails to understand its fatal contradictions—a shortsightedness that may prove to be liberalism's undoing. | |
Buy Now | Will Obama save liberalism and become its fourth great incarnation, following Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson? Or will he be derailed by his very successes? These are the questions at the heart of Kesler's thoughtful and illuminating book. |
* * *
"There's plenty to read on Barack Obama, and plenty to read on liberalism. In this imaginative and perceptive book, Charles Kesler brings them together, deepening our understanding of both. Kesler illuminates the contemporary crisis of liberalism—and points a way forward, up from liberalism."
—William Kristol, editor, The Weekly Standard
"Deftly shows how Barack Obama fits into the century-long evolution of American liberalism and why his presidency has brought that movement to a point of intellectual and fiscal exhaustion. I Am the Change is a book that readers should consult to understand the Obama presidency and the great debate taking place between the two political parties."
—James Pierson, author of Camelot and the Cultural Revolution
"Modern liberal presidents from Wilson to Obama have presented their ‘progressivism' as pragmatic and modest—a mere adjusting of governing institutions to gradually changing realities. Kesler shows how far from the truth this presentation is. To embrace the modern liberal project is to reject Madisonian constitutionalism—and vice versa. Each of us, as an American citizen, face a question: Which side are you on?"
—Robert P. George, Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University
Latest News
"Obama and the End of Liberalism?" Kathryn Jean Lopez interviews Charles Kesler for National Review Online
"How conservatives can defeat liberalism," Linda Chavez reviews I Am the Change for the Washington Examiner
"Barack Obama's Election and the Looming Crisis of Liberalism," Charles Kadlec reviews I Am the Change for Forbes
City Journal Podcast, Ben Boychuk and Joel Mathis interview Charles Kesler for City Journal
"He Was the Change," James Piereson reviews I Am the Change for the New Criterion
"Charles Kesler on Obama and Modern Liberalism," an interview with Ray Suarez on PBS NewsHour
"From Obama, agenda at odds with founders," Katherine Kersten reviews I Am the Change for the Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Twilight of the Sort-Of Gods," Rick Richman reviews I Am the Change on PJMedia
"Barack Obama and the Crisis of Liberalism," The Heritage Foundation's First Principles Series Report #45
"Is This Progressivism's Last Gasp?" asks City Journal's Brian C. Anderson, in his Library of Law and Liberty review
"Barack Obama and the Perilous Politics of Progress," a review of I Am the Change by Carson Holloway for Public Discourse
"Still Changing," Townhall columnist Rich Tucker reviews I Am the Change
"The Stakes Are High," Jeffrey H. Anderson reviews I Am the Change in the Weekly Standard
"Deciphering the Riddle that is Barack Obama," David M. Kinchen review I Am the Change for Huntington News
C-Span BookTV video of Charles R. Kesler's talk at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
"Escape from Utopia," Ramesh Ponnuru reviews in National Review
"Barack Obama and the Crisis of American Liberalism," lecture by Charles R. Kesler at Notre Dame, sponsored by the Constitutional Studies Program and the Federalist Society
"The Great Disconnect", Mark Lilla reviews in the New York Times
"Politics to become 'Intense and Bitter' If Obama Reelected", Charles R. Kesler interviewed on Newsmax 9/20/12
"The Coming Liberal Crisis," Andrew Evans discusses Charles R. Kesler's talk at the Heritage Foundation 19/09/12
"How the Left Has Failed the Test of History," James Velasquez reviews on PolicyMic
"Obama's Truth," adapted from Charles R. Kesler's I Am the Change, in the October 01 issue of National Review
"I am the Change: Barack Obama and the Crisis of Liberalism," David DesRosiers reviews in The Washington Times
"Obama: The Real Radical," syndicated column by George Will
"I Am the Change," and "I Am the Change, Starting Today," Steven Hayward discusses on Power Line blog
"Twilight of the Left," Fred Siegel reviews in the Wall Street Journal
Between the Covers, podcast interview with John J. Miller for National Review Online
Liberty Law Talk, podcast interview with Richard Reinsch
Arizona Politics and Culture, radio interview with Seth Leibsohn
*For more information about media appearances and speaking opportunities, please contact Bill Zeiser at bill.zeiser@gmail.com*
Check back soon for more!
Book Info:
ISBN: 9780062072962; ISBN10: 006207296X; Imprint: Broadside Books; On Sale: 9/11/2012; Format: Hardcover; Trimsize: 6 x 9; Pages: 304; $25.99; Ages: 18 and Up; BISAC1:POL000000
