Product Description

"For a man who proudly described himself as "simple," Barry Goldwater remains a historical puzzle."

Barry Goldwater IS the conscience of a conservative.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7543 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 120 pages

Review
"For a man who proudly described himself as "simple," Barry Goldwater remains a historical puzzle." -- Angus Burgin, The New York Sun

Review
The book lays out, clearly and succinctly, [Goldwater's] uncompromising views. Goldwater held freedom as the highest value in American society: freedom from law, freedom from government, freedom from anybody else's vision but your own. You can argue with him on the particulars, but there's something compelling about his quintessentially American notion of self-reliance.
(David Ulin Los Angeles Times )

The new Conscience of a Conservative takes what might be called the 'anti-fusionist' side in the Goldwater wars...The Conscience of a Conservative continues to be read today because it isn't a political tract, a soulless campaign book of the sort generated by every other modern presidential effort.
(Daniel McCarthy The American Conservative )

Praise for the original edition: "Goldwater's conservatism is not isolationism, nor is it a cold-blooded commitment to the 'haves' as against the 'have-nots.' It is the creed of a fighter who has both a warm heart and a clear mind.
(John Chamberlain Wall Street Journal )

Praise for the original edition: "There is more harsh fact and hard sense in this slight book than will emerge from all of the chatter of this year's session of Congress. . . . Sen. Goldwater is one of a handful of authentic conservatives. . . . [H]e has the clarity of courage and the courage of clarity.
(George Morgenstern Chicago Tribune )

It is good that C.C. Goldwater brings us this new edition. It directs new attention to a political figure who, though fiery, was never mean-spirited or unfairly partisan.
(Max J. Skidmore European Legacy )

From the Back Cover
With a New Introduction by Patrick J. Buchanan.



Here is the path-breaking book that rocketed a political philosophy into the forefront of the nation's consciousness, written in words whose vigor and relevance have not tarnished with age:



I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not pass laws, but to repeal them. it is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is "needed" before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall replay that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am dong the very best I can.

Customer Reviews

Good ideas are eternal
I had always been curious about this book and the "radical" fellow who authored it. Upon finally reading "The Conscience of a Conservative", I realized how very little today's conservatives have in common with Goldwater's conservatism, and how much I (a Libertarian) agree with what Goldwater had to say. Of course, the specifics in the book are dated, given the era of its writing, but the essential ideas and his stated reasons for them ring true to the issues of today. Goldwater's explanation of his views also puts paid to the idea that he was "mean" or a racist: his views may not have set well with everyone, but his views were formed through his belief in limited government and maximum individual freedom.

This was a fast read and a long overdue one. If only my next project, "The Wealth of Nations", were such an easy read...

past is prelude to the present
Barry Goldwater predicted the present in 1961. Want to know why the welfare state has destroyed multiple generations? Destroy a persons self image by making them dependent on the federal government and they believe they have a right to benefits rather than an obligation to achieve for themselves. Charity as a right.
Please read and learn. WHO IS JOHN GALT?

Another ghost-written polemic...
As much as most of the posts here would like it to be, this "book" wasn't written by Barry Goldwater. It was pressed upon him by 1960 Draft Goldwater conservatives, namely one L. Brent Bozell, who wrote it in 6 weeks and was "skimmed" by and eventually approved by Goldwater. Bozell was in the forefront of those who had to drag Barry kicking and screaming to the nomination 4 years later. This info can be gleaned from "Before The Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus" by Rick Perlstein. The book does encapsulate mid '50s conservative thought and is very interesting if you try to compare this philosophy with present-day political "conservatives" who are anything but. Goldwater would be rolling in his grave if any politician of today tried to wrap themselves in his flag. It seems today's "conservatives" are only interested in winning elections (by any means) and staying in power (by any means). In other words, the only thing they are conserving is the status quo. Many of his proscriptions were very popular with the people but were hard to put into practice as it would mean rolling back gov't programs that many considered sacrosanct. Today, Conscience of a Conservative could be read by many as a welcome return to "true conservatism" and if things get any worse in these times, people may wake up to a great realization that we need to get back to basic, simple government as envisioned by democracy's founders.