Book Review: Why Liberalism Failed by Patrick J Deneen

I liked this one more than I thought I would. I have read more than a few critiques of modernity and this one clocks in well above average. Better than most books, Why Liberalism Failed does an excellent job linking modern progressive liberalism with the classical liberalism of the 18th and 17th centuries. Furthermore the earlier half of the book quite effectively explains why it is liberal individualism inevitably leads to oppressive large government. What we have today is not failed liberalism; it is liberalism’s natural culmination. Classical liberals need to reconcile with this. Lacking a cohesive value system and set of norms, they have no grounds to push back against the progressive “woke” left who are their natural heirs.

Why Liberalism Fails also lays out how liberalism creates massive inequality and an ideologically blinded self-righteous aristocracy. Just generally an insightful book. It does unfortunately fall apart at the end. The conclusion felt muddled and weak-kneed with the final call to action emphasizing the need to “preserve liberalism’s successes” and discard ideology. Deneen is right however that we need more focus on local government and community-level organization. Overall, very worthwhile read.

Grade: B+