Status Updates From A Student's Guide to Americ...

Very engaging book. I found his reference to Tocqueville's 'The Social Condition o the Anglo-Americans' - concerning Religion - to be an interesting highlight. I was also impressed with the care he takes in pointing out important parts of the Federalist papers. Namely how the ancient thinkers, and the founders conception of law is very Republican. I need to read Arendt's 'On Revolution' with the quickness!!

Carey's books is pretty non-ideological; its goal is primarily to articulate the basic founding ideals in a manner that sets the student up for study. Its pretty clear by my own observation that Republicanism vs. Pluralism is the paradigm that divides American liberals and conservatives virtue vs. interest. I am more deferent towards a 'radical democratic pluralism myself, but virtue ethics have some purchase...