Why read Suburban Warriors?

Book cover of Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right

Book description

In the early 1960s, American conservatives seemed to have fallen on hard times. McCarthyism was on the run, and movements on the political left were grabbing headlines. The media lampooned John Birchers's accusations that Dwight Eisenhower was a communist puppet. Mainstream America snickered at warnings by California Congressman James B.…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Suburban Warriors as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Kyle Burke

Author

This is a field-defining work. First published in 2001, McGirr’s book prompted a generation of historians to reexamine the rise and evolution of modern American conservatism. Focused on the suburbs of Orange County, California, Suburban Warriors explored how grassroots conservative activists mobilized to reshape the politics of the nation. Through the stories of ordinary people--housewives and defense workers, evangelical worshippers, and anti-communist activists--we learn how the modern American right evolved from a fringe movement into arguably the most powerful political force in the United States.

From Kyle's list on The best books on the history of American conservatism.

Frances FitzGerald

Author

A marvelous account of how the Christian right came to power in Orange County, California, one of their first victories. McGirr, who lives in Orange County, is also a scholar from Princeton.

From Frances' list on The best books to read to understand the ethos of the Christian right.