William F. Buckley: Christian Encounters Series
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Great, accessible Christian biography
This review focuses on William F. Buckley who was a powerful influence in the realm of politics and media. He was on various TV programs and debates and either wrote or contributed to over 50 books. One of the major positive aspects of this book is the interaction with the personal life of Buckley. This book does cover his wider influence but even contains portions of his letters to and from family members. The author, Jeremy Lott, also interacted well with primary texts including many of BuckleyâÂÂs books (the final chapter of the book is a well-written annotated bibliography for further study).
If there is a short coming in the book, it the positive political slant taken by the author. At times it was difficult to separate the authorâÂÂs conclusions from those of Buckley. Otherwise the book was well-written and informative without dragging the reader down in minutiae and historical baggage. Readers may be surprised to find that this is not an overtly Christian biography. The author chose to combine a focus on BuckleyâÂÂs influence in the culture which was formed by his religious beliefs. Those who are interested in the American political tradition, broader conservatism, or the so-called Reagan revival will greatly enjoy this brief introduction to the life and thought of William F. Buckley.
February 11, 2011
Great info but an easy to put down book
William F. Buckley by Jeremy Lott is a book with a lot of great information and seemingly very well researched but I had hoped it would be a little easier reading.
Being a conservative political activist I was already familiar with Bill Buckley but I learned a lot from this book. I would however have enjoyed learning it in a little less dry manner.
I recieved this book free from Booksneeze for purposes of reviewing.
December 10, 2010
Conservatively Speaking...a good book
Often referred to as the âÂÂPatron Saint of the ConservativesâÂÂ, William Buckley dedicated his life to exposing modern liberalism as a threat to politics, economics, religion and in general, the American way of life. In his book, Jeremy Lott attempts to show the reader how William Buckley turned liberalism into a term of derision, and more importantly, why. The author starts with the usual bio âÂÂtrip down memory laneâ and although I did find that it helped me understand William BuckleyâÂÂs roots, and the roots of the movement he created, I often felt a sense of being out of touch with where the author was trying to take me. I was interested in the subject of conservatism, but perhaps my lack of political background knowledge inhibited my ability to grasp the story as a whole. I enjoyed Mr. LottâÂÂs witty remarks and his obvious enthusiasm for BuckleyâÂÂs masterful combination of debate and theatrics when challenging an opponent. The many references to well-known political events and persons maintained my interest, but I often felt like an outsider who didnâÂÂt get most of the jokes.
I found the style of writing reminiscent of a textbook, and although it wasnâÂÂt an easy read for me, I came away with a better understanding of William Buckley and the important role he played in shaping the conservative conscience of America.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the history of modern American politics and the roots of the conservative movement in America.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade CommissionâÂÂs 16 CFR, Part 255 âÂÂGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.âÂÂ
October 3, 2010
There are people in history that have a larger impact than most people can see or comprehend. William F. Buckley was one of those people. His impact on the conservative movement across America was huge. It is really amazing that a figure that might not be familiar to the average American has influenced the public arena in which they live so much. Buckley's life as presented by Lott is compelling and revealing. This work in very enlightening and encouraging. One man can make a difference and going with the flow is not always the best direction. Anyone who is interested in history and especially the conservative movement of the last fifty years would enjoy this work. I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.
September 16, 2010
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