Description
Book SynopsisFounded by the American Jewish Committee in 1945 as a monthly journal of "significant thought and opinion, Jewish affairs and contemporary issues," Commentary magazine has through the years had a far-reaching impact on American politics and culture. Commentary in American Life traces this influence over time, especially in creating the neoconservative movement. The authors of each chapter also consider the ways the magazine shaped and reflected major cultural and literary trends in the United States. The end result offers a full accounting of one of the most important journals of American political thought, providing insight into the development of American collective politics and culture over the last six decades. Contributors include: Nathan Abrams, Birbeck College; John Ehrman, Nathan Glazer, Harvard University; Thomas L. Jeffers, Marquette University; George H. Nash, Richard Gid Powers, College of Staten Island and the CUNY Graduate Center; Fred Siegel, The Cooper Union; Terry Teachout, Ruth R. Wisse, Harvard University; and the editor.
Trade Review"The major attribute of the entire presentation is its vigorous commendation for the significance of the magazine." Jewish Journal "[T]his collection is not without value. It is fascinating, for instance, to learn of how close Commentary and National Review have become in recent years. Likewise, it is interesting to be reminded how adamantly Commentary has endorsed the aims and strategies of the right-wing evangelical movement in the U.S." American Jewish History "This volume provides an illuminating assessment of Commentary magazine - the growing scholarly and memoir literature on American conservatism and neo-conservatism has been significantly enhanced by this collection." History
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Commentary: The First Sixty Years, by Murray Friedman. Chapter One: 'America is Home': Commentary Magazine and the Refocusing of the Community of Memory, 1945-1960, by Nathan Abrams. Chapter Two: Commentary: The Early Years, by Nathan Glazer. Chapter Three The Jewishness of Commentary, by Ruth R. Wisse. Chapter four: Commentary and the City. Chapter Five: What They Talked About When they Talked About Literature, by Thomas L. Jeffers. Chapter Six: COmmentary and the Common Culture, by Terry Teachout, Chapter Seven: Norman Podhoretz and the Cold War, by Richard Gid Powers. Chapter Eight: Joining the Ranks, by George H. Nash. Chapter Nine: Commentary's Children, by John Ehrman. About the Contributors. Index.
