The modern conservative intellectual movement began in 1953 with Russell Kirk’s groundbreaking book
The Conservative Mind.
Four years later, he published a pithy, wry, philosophical summary of what conservatism really means. Originally titled
The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Conservatism
, this little book was essentially a popular version of
Now, a century after its author’s birth, this neglected gem has been recovered. It remains what Kirk intended it to be: an accessible introduction to conservative ideas, especially for the young. With a new title and an introduction by the eminent intellectual historian Wilfred M. McClay,
Russell Kirk’s Concise Guide to Conservatism
arrives with uncanny timing. The movement that Kirk defined in 1953 is today so contested and fragmented that no one seems able to say with confidence what conservatism means.
This book, as fresh and prophetic as the day it was published sixty years ago, is a reminder that no one can match Russell Kirk in engaging people’s minds and imaginations—an indispensable task in reviving our civilization.