E. J. Dionne, Jr.

"The problem for conservatives is that their distance from the new America has made many in their ranks sour about America itself -- not the abstract idea of the America they celebrate but the actual, living America of the early twenty-first century. This, in turn, has created a deep pessimism in a movement that reached its high point in the glow of Ronal Reagan's radiant optimism. As an electoral matter, angry pessimism rarely triumphs. As a disposition for governing, it will neither unite show more nor inspire."

This quote nicely sums up the E.J. Dionne Jr.'s main point and the books central thesis. Eisenhower looms large over these chapters, both as an example of what Republicans once were and as a comparison to what they have become.

This book was written before the 2020 election, before the insurrection, before a good chunk of the Republican party stopped playing patty-cake with fascism and embraced it wholeheartedly. If anything, Why the Right Went Wrong is bittersweet, as it illustrates the many moments Republicans could have turned away from this path and embraced Eisenhower's approach -- one where he recognized the popularity and importance of the New Deal but also balanced the budget. show less

An immensely readable and cojent presentation of how the conservative and progressive movements in the US have gotten to where they are today. Dionne begins by describing the nature of the extreme polarization we all feel in modern politics and then takes us back to the years immediately following the adoption of the US Constitution to show the roots of conflict which have always been a part of our history - primarily the struggle to balance an individualism unique to American culture with a show more strong committment to community and duty to the Union. Our Divided Political Heart focuses especially on the 20th century, and the "Long Consensus" which led to a relatively stable political and economic reality supportive of the rise of the American Century.

If you have not spent any time exploring these subjects, the introductory chapter alone will be a real eye-opener, and will provide the reader with a much healthier understanding of what's going on in modern politics. If it does fire you up enough to read on (as it should), you will be rewarded with both a solid overview of the ebb and flow of consensus and polarization as the US has struggled for balance, and enough historical detail to allow the reader to accept or reject Dionne's conclusions. Either way, you will better understand the 'other'.

Written with a healthy respect for the importance of (and the need for) both conservatism and progressivism in a healthy republic, Our Divided Heart will either arm the moderate liberal with a greater understanding to support opposition to an increasingly aggressive conservatism, or provide the moderate or radical conservative with a better understanding of where those crazy liberals are coming from, and why we need them.

Must read for anyone with an interest in current US politics and its place in political history, regardless of where one resides on the political spectrum.

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I hesitated in buying this book because I assumed the topic would be out of date soon after reading it. I was wrong, and am so glad I read it when I did. The authors are correct in naming it a guide, as it covers the causes of the improbable ascendancy of Trump to the White House, and a well-written and thoughtful way forward. The first section discusses what led to Trump, covering topics such as our new view of 'truth,' the rising acceptance of authoritarianism among some of our population, show more how Trump's message resonated with the working class, and the roles of race, immigration, culture and economics. The second half of the book is the prescription for the situation we find ourselves in, mainly based on policy and individual and group initiatives. The book concludes optimistically, borrowing a quote from President Obama: "Show Up, Dive In, Stay at It."

I don't believe this book will ever feel dated - there will always be lessons to be learned, and the words of these three wise men can show us the way forward. show less

Like E.J. Dionne, I am a liberal Catholic, so the heart of this book, his two chapters on Catholicism, moved me. But I liked all of what he had to say about the role of faith in American politics and public life. His assessment of the current situation and likely future of religion's role in the public square is informative and quite credible. Worth reading, especially if you remember and wondered at the "no Communion for John Kerry" controversy or are trying to understand American show more Catholics' participation in politics. show less