Before the Storm

Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus

By: Rick Perlstein

Narrated by: Kiff VandenHeuvel

Acclaimed historian Rick Perlstein chronicles the rise of the conservative movement in the liberal 1960s. At the heart of the story is Barry Goldwater, the renegade Republican from Arizona who loathed federal government, despised liberals, and mocked "peaceful coexistence" with the USSR. Perlstein's narrative shines a light on a whole world of conservatives and their antagonists, including William F. Buckley, Nelson Rockefeller, and Bill Moyers. Vividly written, Before the Storm is an essential book about the 1960s.

©2017 Rick Perlstein (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Enthralling Tale of the Seeds of 21st Century

A riveting, accurate, and informative account of American politics in the mid-20th century, setting the stage for all that would follow. Perlstein has a storyteller's skills and an historian's respect for selecting key events and getting all perspectives. This book provides the essential but often missing context behind today's headlines. The reader for the audiobook brings the whole thing to life.

Another Perlstein tour-de-force

no one is better than Perlstein at collecting and ordering the detail with requisite nuance.

great

excellent narration, enjoyed the impersonations of the various presidents quoted. fascinating book, filled in some blank spots in an era that is a little blurry for most of is who didn't live through it.

Excellent

A great start to the rise of the conservative wing of the US Republican Party.

Another banger from Ricky P

So now I have read or listened to all of perlstein’s books. This is a compelling work; start this series if you haven’t already.

Narrator Detracts From Superb Content

Whether mispronunciations - for example, what should be South Vietnamese President Diem [dee-em] rather than Deem - to his attempts at voice impersonations, the narrator undermines the author’s superb content of what is significant history of the emergence of the Big Lie wing of national governance and campaign

Necessary to know of this context to acquire the tools needed to deconstruct the Big Lie with calm and repetitive truth

Excellent, illuminating content Mr. Perlstein!
Thank you

Excellent but marred by narration

This book features an intriguing thesis, in-depth research, and an annoying narrator who for reasons I can’t fathom offers lame impressions of the historical figures quoted in the text. The JFK and Nixon mimicry is bad enough but the half-baked Willy Brandt about 1/3 in was too much for me. I switched to the print version.

Fascinating view into the shape of our future

Loved this from beginning to end. This era of the US has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I know enough about Reagan to hate what he's done to us historically, but seeing the essential blueprint for the republican party was extremely interesting. Especially since Goldwater's loss is such an inevitability. You learn to understand why people fell into this rhetoric and how it began to take shape for future candidates in Nixon and Reagan.

I also gained quite an insight into LBJ, who is often not talked about. I understand the controversy of Vietnam but seeing his undying fortitude against opposition for Civil Rights and Basic Rights of all to health was refreshing. It's fascinating seeing a strong armed democrat in the age of our wildly weak willed leftist options in modernity.

Cannot wait to read more Perlstein, particularly in regards to this era of politics since it's such a turning point in our history.

Thoroughly Informative and Chilling

An outstanding beginning to Rick Perlstein’s modern American conservatism saga. You get to hear about all of the details behind the origin of the modern movement that first took off with the Goldwater campaign in 1964. You go behind the scenes to learn about that idiosyncratic, abrasive ideologue and the people who supported him. As you listen, it will become increasingly clear how the story Perlstein tells has ultimately culminated in a Trump presidency which shares many of the core instincts at the heart of the movement - but little of the intellectual foundation.

Great author. Okay narrator.

Rick Perlstein is a great writer. The narrator for this book is only great if you love sub-par impressions of politicians. When he just reads, it’s fine. When he impersonates JFK or LBJ or MLK or Nixon, it’s cringe-inducing.