Book · 1960 · Conservatism
The Conscience of a Conservative
- mentions
- 10
- people
- 6
- podcasts
- 6
- episodes
- 8
- critical mentions
- 0
When I was 12 years old uh I read the book conscience of a conservative uh and I realized that I was an anti-communist who believed in personal freedom.
What they say about it
- Authored by Barry Goldwater“a book by Barry Goldwater”2
- Influenced political awakening“realized that I was an anti-communist”2
The best things said about it
Goldwater wrote a best-selling book called The Conscience of a Conservative, and it can be seen as basically the blueprint for Reagan-style conservatism, even Trumpism.
I was coming from a working-class background, and I saw the Republican Party—not necessarily the leadership of the Republican Party, but the principles of what Goldwater was talking about as something that attracted my interest.
A book by Barry Goldwater, it's called The Conscience of a Conservative.
Neil deGrasse Tyson The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett · Dec 2022 The company of the commercial faithful gathered on the banks of Cali's Russian River could look for succor to Goldwater's autobiography, The Conscience of a Conservative.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
6 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry M. Goldwater is a foundational political text that outlines core American conservative principles regarding individual liberty, limited government, and anti-communism. The book was examined on Behind the Bastards, where Robert Evans cited it as a crucial intellectual touchstone for business leaders in the late nineteen-sixties and a direct ideological blueprint for modern conservative politics, including Reaganism and contemporary populism. Similarly, political figures and commentators have reflected on its profound personal impact. Roger Stone recounted reading the work at the age of twelve, noting that it solidified his identity as an anti-communist who believed deeply in personal freedom. Paul Manafort pointed to the principles championed by Goldwater as his initial draw to the broader conservative movement from a working-class background. On other programs, Neil deGrasse Tyson mentioned keeping the volume on his bedside shelf to deliberately expose himself to viewpoints he disagrees with, thereby broadening his perspective and analytical thinking. Alex Epstein also referenced the work when discussing Ayn Rand's historical criticisms of conservative terminology and the founding fathers. Across these diverse conversations, the book remains recognized as a defining document that shaped generations of political thought, ignited right-wing grassroots activism, and continues to provoke debate among thinkers across the political spectrum.
Every mention
Robert Evans So, Goldwater wrote a best-selling book called The Conscience of a Conservative, and it can be seen as basi… 4
“The company of the commercial faithful gathered on the banks of Cali Cali's Russian River could look for sucker to goldwater's autobiography the conscience of a conservative”
“The company of the commercial faithful gathered on the banks of Cali's Russian River could look for succor to Goldwater's autobiography, The Conscience of a Conservative, to William F. Buckley's editorials in National Review, to the novels of Ayn Rand!”
“So, Goldwater wrote a best-selling book called The Conscience of a Conservative, and it can be seen as basically the blueprint for Reagan-style conservatism, even Trumpism.”
“Roger Stone claims that his personal political ideology took a rightward turn for the first time at age 11 when he read Barry Goldwaterat's The Conscience of a Conservative.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson one of them was uh a book in it in its 30th printing or something it was originally written back in the ear… 2
“one of them was uh a book in it in its 30th printing or something it was originally written back in the early 60s I think maybe even the 50s a book by Barry Goldwater it's called the conscience of a conservative”
“One of them was uh a book in it in its 30th printing or something it was originally written back in the early 60s I think maybe even the 50s a book by Barry Goldwater it's called the conscience of a conservative”
Alex Epstein I think he had a book called The Conscience of a Conservative that she was, uh, criticizing and she just ma… 1
“I think he had a book called The Conscience of a Conservative that she was, uh, criticizing and she just made this point among others that like, the Founding Fathers were not conservatives.”
George Will he famously did not write but presumably read the conscience of a concern that's it yes 1
“he famously did not write but presumably read the conscience of a concern that's it yes”
Paul Manafort So I was coming from a working-class background, and I saw the Republican Party—not necessarily the leaders… 1
“So I was coming from a working-class background, and I saw the Republican Party—not necessarily the leadership of the Republican Party, but the principles of what Goldwater was talking about as something that attracted my interest.”
Roger Stone when I was 12 years old uh I read the book conscience of a conservative uh and I realized that I was an ant… 1
“when I was 12 years old uh I read the book conscience of a conservative uh and I realized that I was an anti-communist who believed in personal freedom”
