“After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery,” by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. is an insightful, refreshing, and optimistic, review of American conservatism. This book does not just talk about the problems that plague conservatism in the U.S. today, but instead reveals how those problems developed over time, and what can and should be done about them. Tyrrell’s book is a refreshing antidote for those conservatives who are worn out and discouraged by today’s political landscape. In fact, some may view Tyrrell as too optimistic, given today’s political trends. However, Tyrrell confronts such discouragement with conservatism’s historical record, as well as the large infrastructure in American today that supports a conservative agenda. In addition, Tyrrell points out that as Liberalism (with a capital L) in American leans more radically left, that an increasing number of Americans continue to identify as conservative.
Although I would recommend this book to virtually anyone who cares about today’s political trends and challenges, I must also admit that Tyrrell’s style of writing was at times hard to follow. He often simultaneously combines two to three thoughts or points into one sentence. In addition, Tyrrell does get caught up in a rather extended tribute to one of the conservative movement’s great leaders, which at times seems a bit out of context in this book. However, for those readers who can wade through the run-on sentences, and who are willing to be subject to a lengthy personal tribute of William F. Buckley, Jr., this book is a treasure-trove of American conservatism’s history and present-day status. In addition, it is presented with wit, humor, insight, and hope for the future.
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