"With the increased scholarly attention devoted to comparative political theory, this volume serves as a much- needed refinement of Confucian political thought. The first part of the book presents an overview of the author's own interpretation of the most vital version of this stream of political thought, which is described as pragmatic Confucian democracy. Chapters 2 and 3 evaluate the importance of democracy theory to Asian political thought, compare Schumpeter to Dewey, and examine the necessary balance between procedure and values.ÂThe second part of the book offers a study of pragmatic Confucian democracy in relation to specific policy concerns, including criminal justice challenges, economics, and humanitarian intervention." -- H. L. Cheek Jr., East Georgia State College "It deserves a wide reading.

" -- JEC Blog "The book is divided into six chapters that address the philosophies of Jonathan Edwards, Benjamin Franklin, the writers of The Federalist, Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. If a reader is interested in the intellectual backgrounds and objectives of these thinkers--and their relationship to each other--Goodman's book is required reading. There is much to admire about this relatively short (and therefore extremely ambitious) book: its historical detail, its ability to anticipate and foreshadow later philosophical developments, its attention to the nexus of the political and the philosophical, and a gracious manner of writing that invites the reader into a very accessible story about a strain of American thought." -- Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Online "Goodman succeeds in linking the varied intellectual debates that occupied his principle figures to their practical implications, both of their own times and of today. His readings as a result are fresh and convincing, though given the brevity of the book, no discussion is as intense as the topics deserve. His presentations relate his figures to concurrent developments in Europe, but they do not demand more than a casual knowledge of the history of philosophy. As an account of how five prominent thinkers in British North America and the United States responded to debates over slavery, the work illuminates the twists and turns involved when ideals and practical interests are in conflict. These strengths will make this a useful book for some courses, particularly if combined with primary readings.

" -- Society for U.S. Intellectual History.