📖 Overview
Angus Burgin is a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, specializing in the history of political and economic thought in the twentieth century United States and Europe.
His most notable work is "The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free Markets since the Depression" (2012), which won the Merle Curti Award and the Joseph J. Spengler Prize. The book examines the intellectual transformation of free-market ideas from the 1930s through the 1950s, focusing on the Mont Pèlerin Society and figures like Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.
Burgin's research explores how economic ideas move between academic and public spheres, with particular attention to the role of intellectuals in shaping political discourse. His work has appeared in numerous scholarly publications including Modern Intellectual History and History of Political Economy.
Since joining Johns Hopkins in 2011, Burgin has contributed significantly to academic discussions about neoliberalism, conservatism, and the development of economic thought in the modern era. He is currently working on a history of post-industrialism and the rise of the information age.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Burgin's clear explanation of complex economic ideas and intellectual movements. Several academic reviewers note his balanced treatment of free-market advocates without taking partisan stances. On Goodreads, scholars highlight his detailed archival research and skill at tracing the evolution of economic thought.
His book "The Great Persuasion" drew praise for making dense economic history accessible. One reader called it "a careful and nuanced history of how free market ideas developed." Multiple reviews mention the book's thorough documentation and original source material.
Some readers found the writing style too academic and dense for general audiences. A few reviews criticized the narrow focus on specific intellectuals rather than broader social movements.
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (based on 156 ratings)
Amazon: 4.2/5 (47 reviews)
Google Books: 4/5 (12 reviews)
Most critiques center on academic writing style rather than content or research quality. The book gets higher ratings from readers with economics/history backgrounds.
📚 Books by Angus Burgin
The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free Markets since the Depression (2012)
An analysis of how Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman shaped free-market ideas in the mid-twentieth century through the Mont Pelerin Society and Chicago School of Economics.
Age of Certainty: Galbraith, Friedman, and the Rise of Economic Expertise (Forthcoming) A comparative study of John Kenneth Galbraith and Milton Friedman's roles as public intellectuals and their influence on economic policy during the postwar period.
Age of Certainty: Galbraith, Friedman, and the Rise of Economic Expertise (Forthcoming) A comparative study of John Kenneth Galbraith and Milton Friedman's roles as public intellectuals and their influence on economic policy during the postwar period.
👥 Similar authors
Daniel Rodgers writes intellectual histories examining how economic and political ideas spread across societies, with works like "Age of Fracture" analyzing shifts in social thought. His focus on the evolution of market concepts parallels Burgin's examination of neoliberal intellectual networks.
Jennifer Burns researches American political thought and the development of free-market ideology, including a biography of Ayn Rand. Her analysis of how market fundamentalism gained influence in academia and policy circles aligns with Burgin's work on the Mont Pelerin Society.
Quinn Slobodian traces the origins and spread of neoliberal economic thought through transnational networks and institutions. His work on the global dimensions of market-oriented intellectuals complements Burgin's studies of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.
Philip Mirowski examines the history of economic thought and the rise of market-centered ideologies in the twentieth century. His research on the development of neoliberal thinking shares common ground with Burgin's investigations of free-market intellectual movements.
Mark Blyth studies the history of economic ideas and their influence on policy, focusing on how austerity and market-oriented thinking became dominant. His work on the transformation of economic thought in the postwar era connects with Burgin's research on the evolution of free-market ideology.
Jennifer Burns researches American political thought and the development of free-market ideology, including a biography of Ayn Rand. Her analysis of how market fundamentalism gained influence in academia and policy circles aligns with Burgin's work on the Mont Pelerin Society.
Quinn Slobodian traces the origins and spread of neoliberal economic thought through transnational networks and institutions. His work on the global dimensions of market-oriented intellectuals complements Burgin's studies of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.
Philip Mirowski examines the history of economic thought and the rise of market-centered ideologies in the twentieth century. His research on the development of neoliberal thinking shares common ground with Burgin's investigations of free-market intellectual movements.
Mark Blyth studies the history of economic ideas and their influence on policy, focusing on how austerity and market-oriented thinking became dominant. His work on the transformation of economic thought in the postwar era connects with Burgin's research on the evolution of free-market ideology.