📖 Overview
Roger Kimball is an American art critic, social commentator, and editor/publisher of The New Criterion, a monthly review of culture and the arts. He serves as editor and publisher of Encounter Books and is widely known for his critiques of liberalism in cultural institutions, particularly in academia and the art world.
His books include "Tenured Radicals" (1990), which examined the influence of left-wing ideology in American universities, and "The Long March: How the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s Changed America" (2000). These works established him as a prominent conservative cultural critic focused on what he views as the decline of traditional cultural standards.
Kimball's writing regularly appears in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times Literary Supplement, The New York Times Book Review, and The National Review. His work often centers on themes of cultural preservation, artistic standards, and political ideology in cultural institutions.
Through his role at The New Criterion, founded by Hilton Kramer and Samuel Lipman in 1982, Kimball has maintained a significant platform for conservative cultural criticism. His contributions to cultural debate have made him a notable voice in discussions about education, art, and intellectual life in America.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently view Kimball's work through a political lens, with reviews often reflecting the reader's own ideological stance. Conservative readers praise his detailed analysis of cultural institutions and academia. A Goodreads reviewer noted "Tenured Radicals" offers "specific examples and documentation of political bias in universities."
What readers liked:
- Clear writing style and research depth
- Documentation of specific cases and examples
- Historical context provided for cultural shifts
What readers disliked:
- Perceived political bias in analysis
- Repetitive arguments across books
- Limited proposed solutions to issues raised
Ratings across platforms:
- Amazon: "Tenured Radicals" 4.2/5 (127 reviews)
- Goodreads: "The Long March" 3.8/5 (89 reviews)
- "The Fortunes of Permanence" 4.1/5 (43 reviews)
Critical reviews note his "tendency to overstate threats to culture" (Goodreads) while positive reviews highlight his "meticulous research into institutional changes" (Amazon). Several readers mention his work validated their experiences in academia.
📚 Books by Roger Kimball
The Long March: How the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s Changed America (2000)
An examination of how the cultural shifts of the 1960s influenced American institutions and society.
Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Our Higher Education (1990) A critique of ideological trends in American universities and their impact on education.
The Rape of the Masters: How Political Correctness Sabotages Art (2004) An analysis of how contemporary art criticism interprets classic works through political lenses.
Art's Prospect: The Challenge of Tradition in an Age of Celebrity (2003) A collection of essays examining modern art criticism and the role of tradition in contemporary art.
Lives of the Mind: The Use and Abuse of Intelligence from Hegel to Wodehouse (2002) A series of biographical essays about intellectuals and their influence on culture and society.
Experiments Against Reality: The Fate of Culture in the Postmodern Age (2000) An exploration of how postmodernism has affected Western cultural and intellectual traditions.
The Fortunes of Permanence: Culture and Anarchy in an Age of Amnesia (2012) A collection of essays addressing cultural memory and the preservation of Western cultural heritage.
The New Leviathan: How the Left-Wing Money Machine Shapes American Politics (2012) An investigation into political funding structures and their influence on American politics.
Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Our Higher Education (1990) A critique of ideological trends in American universities and their impact on education.
The Rape of the Masters: How Political Correctness Sabotages Art (2004) An analysis of how contemporary art criticism interprets classic works through political lenses.
Art's Prospect: The Challenge of Tradition in an Age of Celebrity (2003) A collection of essays examining modern art criticism and the role of tradition in contemporary art.
Lives of the Mind: The Use and Abuse of Intelligence from Hegel to Wodehouse (2002) A series of biographical essays about intellectuals and their influence on culture and society.
Experiments Against Reality: The Fate of Culture in the Postmodern Age (2000) An exploration of how postmodernism has affected Western cultural and intellectual traditions.
The Fortunes of Permanence: Culture and Anarchy in an Age of Amnesia (2012) A collection of essays addressing cultural memory and the preservation of Western cultural heritage.
The New Leviathan: How the Left-Wing Money Machine Shapes American Politics (2012) An investigation into political funding structures and their influence on American politics.
👥 Similar authors
Theodore Dalrymple writes cultural criticism focused on the decline of Western society and modern intellectual movements. His work examines similar themes to Kimball regarding cultural decay and the impact of progressive ideologies on institutions.
Gertrude Himmelfarb specializes in Victorian-era intellectual history and connects historical cultural debates to modern social issues. She shares Kimball's focus on defending traditional Western values and critiquing contemporary academic trends.
Kenneth Minogue analyzes political ideologies and the development of Western liberal democracy. His writings explore how modern progressive movements affect educational institutions and civil society, mirroring Kimball's interest in academic culture wars.
Victor Davis Hanson combines classical scholarship with commentary on contemporary political and cultural issues. His work addresses themes of educational decline and cultural transformation that parallel Kimball's critiques.
Harvey Mansfield writes about political philosophy and the role of traditional values in modern democracy. His analysis of academic institutions and defense of classical liberal education align with Kimball's perspectives on higher education.
Gertrude Himmelfarb specializes in Victorian-era intellectual history and connects historical cultural debates to modern social issues. She shares Kimball's focus on defending traditional Western values and critiquing contemporary academic trends.
Kenneth Minogue analyzes political ideologies and the development of Western liberal democracy. His writings explore how modern progressive movements affect educational institutions and civil society, mirroring Kimball's interest in academic culture wars.
Victor Davis Hanson combines classical scholarship with commentary on contemporary political and cultural issues. His work addresses themes of educational decline and cultural transformation that parallel Kimball's critiques.
Harvey Mansfield writes about political philosophy and the role of traditional values in modern democracy. His analysis of academic institutions and defense of classical liberal education align with Kimball's perspectives on higher education.