Staff Pick
For a lighter but no less valuable look into conservatism today, try Charles Krauthammer's collection of previously published columns and essays, Things That Matter. Krauthammer is an ardent admirer of political philosophy, and the essays in Things That Matter "[skip] over much of the partisan contention that characterizes the daily life of a democracy" to deal instead with constitutional principles. Krauthammer's political pieces explain moderate conservative policies and beliefs in accessible, sometimes humorous language, while his personal essays articulate why he finds conservative values attractive. (Featured Book, "Beyond the Headlines") Recommended By Rhianna W., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From America’s preeminent columnist, named by the
Financial Times the most influential commentator in the nation, the long-awaited collection of Charles Krauthammer’s essential, timeless writings.
A brilliant stylist known for an uncompromising honesty that challenges conventional wisdom at every turn, Krauthammer has for decades dazzled readers with his keen insight into politics and government. His weekly column is a must-read in Washington and across the country. Now, finally, the best of Krauthammer’s intelligence, erudition and wit are collected in one volume.
Readers will find here not only the country’s leading conservative thinker offering a passionate defense of limited government, but also a highly independent mind whose views — on feminism, evolution and the death penalty, for example — defy ideological convention. Things That Matter also features several of Krauthammer’s major path-breaking essays — on bioethics, on Jewish destiny and on America’s role as the world’s superpower — that have profoundly influenced the nation’s thoughts and policies. And finally, the collection presents a trove of always penetrating, often bemused reflections on everything from border collies to Halley’s Comet, from Woody Allen to Winston Churchill, from the punishing pleasures of speed chess to the elegance of the perfectly thrown outfield assist.
With a special, highly autobiographical introduction in which Krauthammer reflects on the events that shaped his career and political philosophy, this indispensible chronicle takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the fashions and follies, the tragedies and triumphs, of the last three decades of American life.
Review
“Required reading…Krauthammer is among the very best — and this is the best of the best, selected by him, with an engaging and fascinating introduction.…Amazingly fresh, and full of thought-provoking formulations and arguments.” The Weekly Standard
Review
“Krauthammer’s assets include steel-trap logic, an epée wit, a profound sense of history, and a withering contempt for journalists who would rather cringe in the dark than bring the truth to light.” City Journal
Review
"Usually thought of as a conservative, this syndicated columnist has won both the left-wing People for the American Way’s First Amendment Award and the right-wing Bradley Foundation’s first $250,000 Bradley Prize. Readers of all political persuasions will find plenty here that’s thought-provoking and worthwhile." Pittsburg Tribune-Review
Review
“For three decades, Charles Krauthammer has enriched American political discourse with his sharply-honed analysis, humane values, and questing mind. From personal meditations to learned examinations of history and policy, Things That Matterstands as a record of a transformative period in the American experience, and a remarkable intellect at work.” Henry A. Kissinger
Review
"Charles Krauthammer is not only the most influential conservative commentator in America, his writing transcends the crush of daily events and can be read, with profit, always." David Brooks, New York Times columnist and bestselling author of The Social Animal
Review
“Amid today's clutter of print and cacophony of broadcast commentary, Charles Krauthammer's lapidary judgments stand out, and stand the test of time. Literature has been called news that lasts. Krauthammer's columns take journalism to the level of literature.” George F. Will, Washington Post columnist
Review
“Blending high-mindedness with strong conservative values, he has commanded respect on both the extreme and moderate sides of the spectrum, becoming the closest thing the factionalized GOP could have to a spokesperson, a de facto opposition leader for the thinking right.” POLITICO
Synopsis
From America's preeminent columnist, named by the Financial Times the most influential commentator in the nation, a must-have collection of Charles Krauthammer's essential, timeless writings. A brilliant stylist known for an uncompromising honesty that challenged conventional wisdom at every turn, Krauthammer dazzled readers for decades with his keen insight into politics and government. His weekly column was a must-read in Washington and across the country. Don't miss the best of Krauthammer's intelligence, erudition and wit collected in one volume.
Readers will find here not only the country's leading conservative thinker offering a passionate defense of limited government, but also a highly independent mind whose views--on feminism, evolution and the death penalty, for example--defy ideological convention. Things That Matter also features several of Krauthammer's major path-breaking essays--on bioethics, on Jewish destiny and on America's role as the world's superpower--that have profoundly influenced the nation's thoughts and policies. And finally, the collection presents a trove of always penetrating, often bemused reflections on everything from border collies to Halley's Comet, from Woody Allen to Winston Churchill, from the punishing pleasures of speed chess to the elegance of the perfectly thrown outfield assist.
With a special, highly autobiographical introduction in which Krauthammer reflects on the events that shaped his career and political philosophy, this indispensible chronicle takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the fashions and follies, the tragedies and triumphs, of the last three decades of American life.
About the Author
Charles Krauthammer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, is a syndicated columnist, political commentator and physician. His column is syndicated to 400 newspapers worldwide. He is a nightly panelist on Fox News’s Special Report with Bret Baier. He’s a former member of the President’s Council on Bioethics and current member of Chess Journalists of America. He lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.