The Long March

The Long March examines the cultural transformation of American institutions during the 1960s. Roger Kimball traces how counterculture movements reshaped universities, art, politics and social norms. Kimball analyzes key figures and events that drove changes in American society, from student protests to shifts in academic curricula. The book presents extensive research on how radical ideas from that era became mainstream in subsequent decades. The text moves between detailed historical accounts and broader cultural criticism, examining both specific campus incidents and nationwide trends. Its scope encompasses changes in education, politics, art, literature and popular culture. The Long March raises questions about the relationship between cultural institutions and social movements, and the lasting impact of the 1960s on American life. Its central theme explores how revolutionary ideas can gradually reshape mainstream institutions.

Readers commend the book's analysis of how 1960s counterculture influenced modern institutions. Many note Kimball's thorough research and clear examples of how radical ideas entered mainstream academia and culture. Positive reviews focus on: - Well-documented historical connections - Clear writing style - Specific examples from universities and cultural institutions - Balanced perspective on both positive and negative impacts Common criticisms include: - Conservative bias in analysis - Too much focus on academic institutions - Some repetitive arguments - Limited coverage of working-class perspectives Ratings: Amazon: 4.3/5 (84 reviews) Goodreads: 3.8/5 (47 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Documents cultural shifts without hyperbole" - Amazon reviewer "Too focused on elite institutions rather than broader social changes" - Goodreads reviewer "Makes clear connections between past movements and present institutions" - Amazon reviewer

The Culture Wars by Morris Berger Cultural conflicts in American universities during the 1980s and 1990s mirror the themes of ideological transformation discussed in The Long March.

The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom This examination of higher education's role in cultural shifts traces the intellectual roots of contemporary academic discourse.

The New Left and the Origins of the Cold War by Robert James Maddox The book documents how radical movements of the 1960s influenced academic interpretations of American foreign policy.

Tenured Radicals by Roger Kimball This companion work explores the impact of 1960s radical movements on American educational institutions and cultural values.

The Western Canon by Harold Bloom The text presents a defense of traditional literary education against political and social critiques in academia.

🔖 The book examines how 1960s counterculture permanently transformed American institutions, particularly in academia and the arts. 📚 Roger Kimball serves as editor and publisher of The New Criterion, a highly influential journal of artistic and cultural criticism founded in 1982. 🎓 The title "The Long March" references Mao's revolutionary tactics and suggests how cultural changes gradually infiltrated American society through universities and intellectual circles. 📖 The book argues that what started as radical ideas from the 1960s became mainstream beliefs in American culture, affecting everything from education to politics. 🗣️ Kimball draws parallels between the cultural revolution of the 1960s and Antonio Gramsci's concept of achieving social change through cultural institutions rather than direct political confrontation.