The Unraveling of America

In a book that William E. Leuchtenburg, writing in the Atlantic, called a work of considerable power, Allen Matusow documents the rise and fall of 1960s liberalism. He offers deft treatments of the major topicsanticommunism, civil rights, Great Society programs, the counterculturemaking the most, throughout, of his subjects tremendous narrative potential. Matusows preface to the new edition explains the sometimes critical tone of his study. The Unraveling of America, he says, was intended as a cautionary tale for liberals in the hope that when their hour struck again, they might perhaps be fortified against past error. Now that they have another chance, a look back at the 1960s might serve them well.