The Crosswinds of Freedom

by James MacGregor Burns

Looks at developments in American history from the Roosevelt administration to the Reagan administration, and discusses the ways leaders and ordinary people have pursued freedom

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, 20th Century, American

864 pages, Paperback

Published April 14, 1990

About the author

An award-winning author of presidential and leadership studies, James MacGregor Burns was the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Government Emeritus at Williams College and Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park. He received his bachelor's degree from Williams College and his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard, and he also attended the London School of Economics. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was past president of the American Political Science Association and the International Society of Political Psychology.

Reviews

[Heather G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry but Informative

I am glad to be done with this series. It was education for sure but it was also dry. I learned a lot.

[Josh Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final part of Burns' three-volume survey of US history, this book covers the Depression to the time of its writing, 1989. Here, and in the previous two volumes, what stands out is Burns' ability to point to examples from Shays' Rebellion to the "Reagan Revolution" that illustrate the different ways Americans have defined freedom--and by how these questions and debates are never truly answered or settled. At the dawn of the 90s, Burns holds out hope for the future. He died in 2014: I wonder if had he lived a few more years that hope would have survived.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading

I read all 3. More relevant now than when they were written. Some portions a bit tedious for bedtime reading but I’m going to read the series again. I wish I had found this earlier.

[Paul Eberhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series to prepare for the 250 anniversary.

[John Bails · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I could find Volume 1 and Volume 2. I've only started the book but it's 983 pages of meat. It's amazing how the Republican Party has been the party of no since Lincoln-maybe even before. It seems to me Burns is giving as true a picture of history as is possible. With so much distortion of the history of the U.S. and the right-wing's lies and obstructionism, I needed to go back an try to get a clear picture of our history and direction. This 3 volume set would be a great set of books for either a high-school or college course. This book could be used as the basis of any set of courses. I'm also working on Barzun's From Dawn to Decadence and they should complement and reinforce.

[Rod Zemke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, excellent historian. It ends at approximately 1990, so be aware that you are not going to get Burn's take on the last 25 years of American history