The Conservative Tradition

By: Patrick N. Allitt, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Patrick N. Allitt

A thorough understanding of Conservatism's lineage, principles, and impact on history is essential to making sense of the 21st-century political dialogue-a dialogue that consumes the television you watch, the newspapers you read, and the radio you listen to.

No matter where you place yourself on the ideological spectrum, these 36 lectures will intrigue you, engage you, and maybe even provoke you to think about this political philosophy in an entirely new way.

In crafting his exploration of just why this has happened, Professor Allitt has specifically designed his lectures to be objective, neutral, and intellectually satisfying for every viewer and listener - whatever their ideological outlook. Using an easygoing and engaging style, these lectures show you how Anglo-American Conservatism developed and evolved in both Great Britain and the United States; how traditional Conservatism produced evolutionary variants like Neoconservatism and Libertarianism; and the provocative ways in which Conservatism has interacted with differing political philosophies. Following the fascinating history of Conservatism, you'll also meet the widest possible range of thinkers and practitioners behind the Conservative tradition, including John Stuart Mill, Ayn Rand, Francis Schaeffer, Adam Smith, Henry Adams, Alexander Hamilton, William Pitt the Younger, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, H.L. Mencken, William F. Buckley Jr., Ludwig von Mises, and Friedrich von Hayek.Whether you consider yourself a Liberal or a Conservative-or something in between-these lectures can make you a more effective and informed citizen, armed with a sharpened understanding of the ways in which this philosophy has influenced events around the world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2009 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2009 The Great Courses

A great eye opener

A wonderfully conservative history and very convincing. Honestly, it's made me want to be more of a conservative individual and see the values of the other political spectrum. Highly recommended!

An Excellent Historical Look at Conservatism

Would you listen to The Conservative Tradition again? Why?

I would listen to this audio book again, but I would skip through certain chapters. Professor Allitt gives a very in depth history of the political tradition. He covers a great deal of British conservatism, which I didn't find as relevant or interesting if you have no connection to the UK. It was still a great lesson.

Thoroughly enjoyable- take the plunge!

There are lots of positive reviews, so perhaps mine isn't needed. Still, I wanted to say that I debated for some time before buying this, but once I did, I listened almost nonstop. I thought it got just a bit biased around the neo-con section but even then it wasn't off-putting.

Still, I intend to give it a second listen very soon.

Outstanding

This is a thorough and unbiased introduction to conservatism. Allitt’s courses are always very a enjoyable listen.

you don't need to be a conservative to enjoy.

Where does The Conservative Tradition rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I found this very interesting, going in I knew very little about conservatism or it's founding ideas as a political philosophy. The course goes into detail from it's history in the UK to the States and around the world. very comprehensive.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

the amount of information covered is very impressive.

Have you listened to any of Professor Patrick N. Allitt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Very entertaining Professor.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

the links between the US and UK

Any additional comments?

if you are interested in politics, even if your viewpoint is not necessarily conservative - check it out.

Essential listening for the politically engaged

It was delightful to learn about the richness and variety of conservatism on both sides of the Atlantic. I wish he would do a course as thoughtful and insightful on the history of the Left and progressivism.

Wonderful, like all Prof Allitt's courses

I can hardly express the delight I've had in listening to this and every one of Prof Allitt's courses. He is one of the most engaging and charming of all narrators, and his narrative style is endlessly fascinating, diverting, and interesting. The worst moment of all his courses is when you come to the end!! He is pretty objective here in surveying conservative theory, or at least I thought he was until he got to Thatcher and Reagan. Iran-Contra? S & L scandal? Never heard of them. I suspect that the author came of political age under Thatcher, and never lost his first love. If there is even a hint of criticism of the Iron Lady I missed it. But this doesn't detract from the overall superlative quality of the course. I learned a ton, most pleasurably.

Didn't Convert Me, But I am more fully informed

The author is a little fuzzy on the definition of conservatism, but that serves him well in this long-term study of the phenomenon. I am much more informed on the history of conservative thought as the author does a sort of archaeology of the ideas. I think no more highly of my conservative colleagues and their tradition, but I certainly feel like I am better grounded in the history of their ideas and the reasons for them holding those ideas.

I Feel More Educated

This is an excellent course no matter what your political affiliation may be. The professor does a very good job walking through the history of the Anglo-American conservative political tradition. He follows a rough chronology, bouncing back and forth between the United States and Great Britain. He gives equal wait to both the historical context and the philosophical basis of the different ideologies covered in the course. I learned a great deal, and I feel more educated.

Fantastic

My history prof in university recommended that I find material by Patrick Allitt, especially regarding conservatism and US History. This history of conservatism is very informative, thought provoking, and Allitt is a lively speaker. This pairs well with Kirk, but especially with Scruton.