A most impressive affirmation of faith in American ideals and institution.
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Rambling scholarship that affirms faith in American ideals and institutions.
Copyright 1992 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.About the Author
Russel Kirk (1918-1994) is widely regarded as one of the principal architects of the p ostwar conservative intellectual movement. A columnist, essayist, novelist, historian, and critic, Kirk's best known work is the Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot.
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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Russell Kirk was perhaps the most distinguished American conservative writer of the twentieth century. His life's pursuit was the question of order: how can society maintain the balance between freedom and license, community and individual. In later works, Kirk turned to the question of how modern society can retain an allegiance to the permanent things in the face of decay.
THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN ORDER is a massive study that is in many respects the culmination of Kirk's life's work. Tracing the concept of order from ancient times to nineteenth century America, Kirk highlights those thinkers and ages have provided the United States with her institutions. Starting with the ancient Israelites and ending with Orestes Brownson (the American Burke who, like Kirk, was a convert to Catholicism) Kirk distills the influence of each on American life. In a sense there are four cities that influenced America: Jerusalem, Athens, Rome and London.
Kirk even claims some for the American cause that you might not suspect have a role in a conservative history of culture. Kirk rescues Hume from the caricature of the great skeptic. Instead, Hume is the moderate skeptic who demolished the rationalist pretenses of the philosophes. Kirk argues that the founders (including Jefferson) were fundamentally conservative; practical men seeking to preserve the heritage of English culture and institutions rather than create a system of government from scratch like the French revolutionaries.
This book isn't perfect. I have it on good authority that Kirk was in error in describing the levelers of Cromwell's time as egalitarians. There are some organizational problems as well, such as the section on the Crusades. How that episode of history was a factor in America's order isn't exactly made clear.
Russell Kirk is an important thinker who has certainly not been given his due, particularly by the contemporary conservative movement. Too much interested in the permanent things, Kirk's genteel writings are out of place in the "take no prisoners" world of contemporary conservative journalism. However, there are some signs of a revival of interest in Kirk's thought, most recently by Wes McDonald's recent study. A more basic statement of his creed can be found in his work THE AMERICAN CAUSE.
This edition contains an interesting, albeit too brief, introduction by the distinguished historian Forrest McDonald.
THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN ORDER is a massive study that is in many respects the culmination of Kirk's life's work. Tracing the concept of order from ancient times to nineteenth century America, Kirk highlights those thinkers and ages have provided the United States with her institutions. Starting with the ancient Israelites and ending with Orestes Brownson (the American Burke who, like Kirk, was a convert to Catholicism) Kirk distills the influence of each on American life. In a sense there are four cities that influenced America: Jerusalem, Athens, Rome and London.
Kirk even claims some for the American cause that you might not suspect have a role in a conservative history of culture. Kirk rescues Hume from the caricature of the great skeptic. Instead, Hume is the moderate skeptic who demolished the rationalist pretenses of the philosophes. Kirk argues that the founders (including Jefferson) were fundamentally conservative; practical men seeking to preserve the heritage of English culture and institutions rather than create a system of government from scratch like the French revolutionaries.
This book isn't perfect. I have it on good authority that Kirk was in error in describing the levelers of Cromwell's time as egalitarians. There are some organizational problems as well, such as the section on the Crusades. How that episode of history was a factor in America's order isn't exactly made clear.
Russell Kirk is an important thinker who has certainly not been given his due, particularly by the contemporary conservative movement. Too much interested in the permanent things, Kirk's genteel writings are out of place in the "take no prisoners" world of contemporary conservative journalism. However, there are some signs of a revival of interest in Kirk's thought, most recently by Wes McDonald's recent study. A more basic statement of his creed can be found in his work THE AMERICAN CAUSE.
This edition contains an interesting, albeit too brief, introduction by the distinguished historian Forrest McDonald.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
My first Kirk book, "The Roots of American Order" stands as one of the most influential books I have read, and turned me into an instant fan of his writings. In an age when citizens are searching what it is to be an American, this book describes its vast and rich history and offers remedies for the future. Its scope stretches the history of the western hemisphere but its readability is surprisingly lucid. If anyone has a chance to grab this rare document I highly recommend securing it and treasuring its infinite wisdom. This is a book I wish all I know could have a copy.
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
During my tenure in college (1990-94) as a history/political science major, no other book had as profound an effect on my intellectual development than Russell Kirk's The Roots of American Order. This, not the Conservative Mind, is his finest hour (alas, he died a few years back). It is an easy read but one that you will return to time and again as a reference work; it will also stimulate your interest in the works and authors discussed therein. While many liberal scholars will scoff at Kirk's wide-eyed prose and tendency towards ignoring any contradictory evidence (two of his ocasional flaws as a writer), if you are a conservative or libertarian, your intellectual mouth will water.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
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AMERICA'S TRUE ROOTS
So, many Americans simply think that a herd of great men just decided to go to Philadelphia in 1787, and invented all the great and good ideas which became the U. S. Constitution? Read more
Published 24 days ago by THOMAS JENSEN
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How did America achieve her Greatness!
Russell Kirk explains how 4 major cities played a major role in the founding of America. Russell takes the reader to Jerusalem for America's moral frame work; to Athens for her... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Renee Diemel
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing!
Outstanding book about the origins of the civil society. A must read and classic for anybody interested in how our contemporary society, our system of government,how the various... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Bryn C. Dunham
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Brilliant History of American Governance
Words can't express the depth and wisdom that is poured into this brilliant volume that encompasses the history of not one, but 4 civilizations who impacted American governance and... Read more
Published on March 12, 2010 by Eric A. Brasure
5.0 out of 5 stars
To Reconcile Liberty with Law
Many people in the West tend to take it for granted that some sort of order is at work in the world. Read more
Published on June 7, 2009 by Randy A. Stadt
5.0 out of 5 stars
best history book of all time?
This is quite possibly the best history book of all time. As a ph.d. in history myself, I've read thousands. A handful have actually made me sit up and take note. Read more
Published on October 22, 2008 by upchurch of mississippi
4.0 out of 5 stars
"The Permanent Things": An Introduction
This is possibly the best educated person's introduction to the liberal arts and what it means to be conservative in the United States. Read more
Published on April 12, 2008 by Matt Metevelis
5.0 out of 5 stars
How do we think about politics?
Kirk is a powerful thinker, and his work deserves close reading. The rediscovery of conservative political philosophy owes much to him. But what is unique about this book? Read more
Published on December 10, 2007 by Ben Bartlett
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST READ
Please read and reread this excellent book. DR,Lee Cheek has the best insight on this book, Ignore the clueless review just before Cheeks, Dr Kirk didnt fail in acedamia he left... Read more
Published on August 25, 2006 by T. Taschner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic!
Kirk's Roots is a tour de force of the Western tradition. It is simply one of the finest surveys of the classical, religious, and European influences on American political thought... Read more
Published on December 2, 1999 by Prof. Lee Cheek, Brewton-Parker College
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