Steven F. Hayward Knihy

The Age of Reagan brings to life the tumultuous decade and a half that preceded Ronald Reagan's ascent to the White House. Based on scores of interviews and years of research, Steven F. Hayward takes us on an engrossing journey through the most politically divisive years the United States has had to endure since the decade before the Civil War. Overseas, we were embroiled in a war we couldn't win; at home our streets had become battlefields; and in Washington, the old liberal order was collapsing under the weight of a long string of failed policies. "It seemed that an era of American optimism and progress had come to a close," Hayward writes. "The concatenation of Vietnam, Watergate, the recurrent energy crisis, the swooning economy, the increasingly disorderly world scene, and the failed presidencies associated with these events robbed Americans of their native optimism for the future." Meanwhile, from out of the West arose a new conservative movement led by Ronald Reagan, a one-time Hollywood actor whose speech in 1964 in support of the doomed candidacy of Barry Goldwater not only electrified a national television audience but also created a political star who would change the course of history. With meticulous detail, Hayward captures an America at war with itself--and an era whose reverberations we feel to this very day. He brings new insight into the profound failure of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, the oddly liberal nature of Richard Nixon's administration, the significance of Reagan's years as California's governor, and the sudden-death drama of his near defeat of Gerald Ford in the 1976 Republican primary, the listlessness of Jimmy Carter's leadership, and the political earthquake that was Reagan's victorious presidential campaign in 1980. Provocative, authoritative, and majestic in scope, The Age of Reagan is an unforgettable account of the rebirth and triumph of the American spirit.--Publisher description

Focusing on a group of influential thinkers, particularly Harry Jaffa and Walter Berns, the book explores their challenge to the prevailing liberal views of American political history. Their ideas significantly influenced the conservative movement and contemporary political discussions, addressing topics like constitutional interpretation and civil rights. The authors articulate profound reasons for patriotism, advocating for love of America based on its values of freedom and justice, rather than mere national identity.

M. Stanton Evans was one of the unsung heroes and key figures of the modern conservative movement, offering a model to be remembered and emulated in both thought and deed. A person of extraordinary breadth, he combined the roles of journalist, first-rank thinker, and political action, often at the center of crucial events for the conservative movement from the mid-1950s to his last decade in the 2010s. He was the principal author of the Sharon Statement, the founding document of Young Americans for Freedom. Evans was also a mentor to an entire generation of conservative writers and journalists, including Ann Coulter, John Fund, Martin Morse Wooster, Tim Carney, Richard Miniter, William McGurn, and this author. Evans was libertarian in economics and policy, traditionalist in moral and social matters, respectful of religion, and resolutely anti-Communist. Over the years he wrote a number of elegant articles and one book, The Theme is Freedom, that reconciled many of the strains that often appear between these differing schools of conservative thought. He also wrote a controversial defense of Joseph McCarthy, which is one of many examples of his fearlessness in contesting the conventional wisdom.

Exploring the intriguing relationships and parallels between two of history's most influential leaders, this book delves into their lives, ideologies, and the impact they had on the world. It uncovers the lesser-known interactions and shared experiences that shaped their decisions and leadership styles. By examining historical contexts and personal anecdotes, the narrative reveals how their legacies continue to resonate today, offering insights into leadership, power dynamics, and the complexities of human connection.

This book is a lively intellectual history of a small circle of thinkers, especially, but not solely, Harry Jaffa and Walter Berns, who challenged the "mainstream" liberal consensus of political science and history about how the American Founding should be understood. Along the way they changed the course of the conservative movement and had a significant impact on shaping contemporary political debates from constitutional interpretation, civil rights, to the corruption of government today. Most importantly, these thinkers explain the deep reasons for patriotism--why we should love America not just because it is our country, but because it is a free and just country.

Leadership is portrayed as a crucial quality for success, exemplified by Winston Churchill, a prominent political leader of the 20th century. His wisdom, wit, and inspiration not only shaped Great Britain during challenging times but also serve as valuable lessons for the world of commerce. The book explores how Churchill's leadership style can be applied in business, highlighting his ability to manage a nation with the acumen of a corporate leader.

Loyalty. Betrayal. Injustice. A rudeboy never forgets. It's been ten long years and 'Jam' has been working his way through a list of men who tormented his best-friend, Jabba. Now there's only one name left to cross off... When he takes an easy lookout job for criminal entrepreneur, Herbert Long, he knows something's not quite right. Knock-off gear and bent coppers have never been his bag, but the money's good and he doesn't want to live with his aunt forever. All he has to do is get down to the depot, watch a handover and report back what he sees. Little does he know what he's getting himself and Jabba in to. He's not the only one nervous about the deal, DI Terence Pinner needs this to go off smoothly to settle a debt that has him enslaved to South London gangster Raymond Riggs. But with so many people involved and serious money at stake, things get messy very quickly. Out of his depth and up against an organised criminal gang, Jam has to learn fast to stay alive. But if there's one thing that keeps him going, it's thoughts of sweet revenge...