... sweeping but insightful.

... provocative and well-argued.

Caldwell warrants attention. He is one of the right’s most gifted and astute journalists, noted especially for his thoughtful writings on Europe.

With facile writing and impressive research, Caldwell examines his premise in detail, hitting the era’s hot-button issues: abortion, affirmative action, busing, Robert Bork, Gloria Steinem, women’s rights, and gay marriage.

It hardly needs saying that Mr. Caldwell is an original and often engaging thinker. Readers of his journalism will recognize here a familiar clarity of style and forcefulness of phrasing. Sometimes he skewers antagonists with almost painful precision.

As a work of history, the book suffers critical flaws. Most important, it operates on an ahistorical premise.

... [a] stimulating and contrarian rethink of modern politics.