The books in American Intellectual Culture examine the place, identity, and public role of intellectuals and cultural elites in the United States' past, present, and future. Written by prominent historians, philosophers, and political theorists, these books look at the influence of intellectuals on American political, social, and cultural life, paying particular attention to the characteristic forms and evolving possibilities of democratic intellect. The books place special, but not exclusive, emphasis on the relationship between intellectuals and American public life. Because the books are intended to shape and contribute to scholarly and public debates about their respective topics, they are concise, accessible, and provocative.

Series Editor: Jean Bethke Elshtain, Ted V. McAllister, Wilfred M. McClay