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The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot Audiobook, by Russell Kirk Play Audiobook Sample

The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot Audiobook

The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot Audiobook, by Russell Kirk Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Phillip Davidson Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 13.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 9.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: November 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781483073682

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

14

Longest Chapter Length:

143:44 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

19:24 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

85:02 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

4

Other Audiobooks Written by Russell Kirk: > View All...

Publisher Description

First published in 1953, this magnificent work will be remembered in ages to come as one of our century's most important legacies. The then-young Kirk wrote this during a time when liberalism was heralded as the only political and intellectual tradition in America. There is no doubt that this book is responsible to a large degree for the rise of conservatism as a viable and credible creed.

Kirk defines "the conservative mind" by examining such brilliant men as Edmund Burke, James Fenimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Quincy Adams, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Benjamin Disraeli, Cardinal Newman, George Santayana, and finally, T. S. Eliot. Vigorously written, the book represents conservatism as an ideology born of sound intellectual traditions.

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"This is a tome - 500+ pages of conservative history. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who had a sincere interest in conservative thought. Certainly, it's not for the uncommitted reader. It's a labor, but I found it to be a labor of love. Aww, isn't that nice? I espeically enjoyed the sections on Tocqueville and John Henry Newman, as I did gaining a greater understanding of the conservative reaction towards Positivism, Materialism, etc. I was force fed this theory in grad school but never knew the conservative reaction in its context. Kirk is obviously a gifted thinker and writer and does a nice job synthesizing eras of thought into digestable portions. The Conservative Mind is one of the chief works in the conservative cannon and deservedly so."

— Chris (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Kirk is assured a place of prominence in the intellectual histories for helping to define the ethical basis of conservatism. He has tried to pull conservatism away from the utilitarian premises of liberalism, toward which conservatism often veers, toward a philosophy rooted in ethics and culture.”

    — Wall Street Journal

Awards

  • National Review’s 100 Best Nonfiction Books of the Century

The Conservative Mind Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.380952380952381 out of 53.380952380952381 out of 53.380952380952381 out of 53.380952380952381 out of 53.380952380952381 out of 5 (3.38)
5 Stars: 8
4 Stars: 4
3 Stars: 2
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 5
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
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  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Some parts of the book are five stars, at least; others one, if any: so I averaged them. "

    — Robert, 1/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An excellent overview of conservative thought. It certainly wasn't persuasive enough to win one over, but it provides an excellent overview. "

    — David, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Gives an interesting take on what Conservationism has become through the ages "

    — Blitsterman, 12/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " For those who thought conservatism was just ignorance/stubborness/conformity/greed, this book was a cold shower. I had never been never been so paradigmatically challenged, and haven't been since. "

    — L.mayville, 12/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is essential reading for understanding why major changes in society should not be accepted rapidly--and blindly. "

    — Jimbo, 9/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Badly written and badly reasoned. "

    — B., 8/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " freaking scarey. if this is how conservatives think, then it is no wonder we are in the mess we are in after 8 years of those idiots. "

    — Al, 5/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very informative, but very, VERY dry reading. I liked it, but I won't read it again. "

    — MG, 12/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very good book on history of conservatism. I've completed about 100 pages, then stopped due to difficult reading. I've simply never gone back yet, though I will. "

    — Chris, 11/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Russel was a fascinating read. It was highly educational and interesting. It is definitely the reason I no longer consider myself conservative or republican :). "

    — Erin, 8/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great book on how conservativism has been defined throughout America and England "

    — Cate, 7/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Muller's anthology of conservative thought (also on this list) is far less biased when it comes to interpretations of religion, moral duties, and personal freedoms. I think Kirk is fairly dogmatic. "

    — Lindsay, 7/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The book that launched the modern American conservative movement, now available in trade paperback. "

    — Eddy, 6/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very good book on history of conservatism. I've completed about 100 pages, then stopped due to difficult reading. I've simply never gone back yet, though I will. "

    — Chris, 4/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I generally disagree with Kirk's political philosophies, and find many of his subjects in this book too minor for serious discussion. Nonetheless, he writes wonderfully and (together with William F. Buckley) strikes me as a rigorous and provocative thinker. "

    — Cam, 9/18/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very informative, but very, VERY dry reading. I liked it, but I won't read it again. "

    — MG, 6/26/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I've been preparing for reading Kirk for a long time - suddenly I'm shy. <br/>I'm ready to come to terms with my own conservatism, a conservatism that has nothing to to with the GOP. Hoping to find some resonance here. <br/>I'll let you know how it goes! "

    — Mary, 6/7/2009
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Gives an interesting take on what Conservationism has become through the ages "

    — Blitsterman, 2/27/2009
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " freaking scarey. if this is how conservatives think, then it is no wonder we are in the mess we are in after 8 years of those idiots. "

    — Al, 9/21/2008
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Russel was a fascinating read. It was highly educational and interesting. It is definitely the reason I no longer consider myself conservative or republican :). <br/> <br/> "

    — Erin, 8/27/2008
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Badly written and badly reasoned. "

    — B., 5/18/2008

About Russell Kirk

Russell Kirk (1918–1994), historian of ideas, critic, essayist, editor, and novelist, was the author of thirty-two books. Among them are The Roots of American Order, The Politics of Prudence, Enemies of the Permanent Things, and six works of fiction. He received twelve honorary doctorates from American universities and many awards, including the Presidential Citizens Medal.