Perlstein convincingly argues that the 1960s, so often treated as the period when the counter-culture exploded and America was transformed, is better understood as a period of backlash and division. How, Perlstein asks, did American go from electing Democrat Lyndon Johnson by an overwhelming margin in 1964 to giving Richard Nixon a reelection landslide in 1972? The answer he provides is that during this period America was riven by generational, political, economic, security, and class conflicts that created political divisions that persist. Into this period of uncertainty and insecurity stepped the master political manipulator - Richard Nixon.
Perlstein's argument is really that conservative backlash, more than liberal or progressive transformation, is the more complete and accurate way to account for American politics in the latter-half of the twentieth century. Given that the divides he examines feel entirely relevant and contemporary (even though the book was written more than 15 years ago) is testament to his argument. I was thoroughly convinced. This, in combination with Perlstein's highly-readable prose makes this a great work of social and political history.
