ISI Books’ American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia is now in print, and is a must-have for those interested in political theory, law, and the intersection of theology, culture, economics, sociology, and electoral politics.
The encyclopedia includes on articles on major thinkers (Burke, Calhoun, Kirk, Weaver, Lewis, Rand, etc.), elected officials (the Tafts, the Roosevelts, Reagan, etc.), institutions (the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, etc.), movements (evangelical Protestantism, libertarianism, etc.), and ideas (natural law, Declaration of Independence, states’ rights, etc.).
The article on evangelical Protestantism is written by Michael Cromartie, which argues that “beneath the surface diversity is a strong commitment to a common core of beliefs, and so it is possible to speak of evangelicalism as a single phenomenon, conceptually unified and transdenominational in scope.” The article on fundamentalism, by Oran Smith, is more uneven and struggles at the point of definition.
The encyclopedia includes a well-done article on Touchstone by Sam Torode, detailing the history of the magazine and the impact of men such as Kirk, Kushiner, Hutchens, Hitchcock, Podles, Reardon, Mills, Johnson, and George. The entry states: “Throughout its history, Touchstone has remained decidedly conservative and unabashedly patriarchal.”
Order a copy of this massive and important new book. You’ll have more fun than one should have reading an encyclopedia.
