James Traub Book order

A moral examination of one of the first Jewish senators, confidante to Jefferson Davis, and champion of the cause of slavery

In the era of Trump and Marine le Pen, liberalism faces significant challenges. There is a growing fear that liberal values, once taken for granted, are now at risk from both authoritarian regimes abroad and a waning faith within liberal societies. This raises critical questions: What led to liberalism's decline in majority support? What makes it valuable? Award-winning journalist James Traub addresses these issues by tracing liberalism's history, from the American and French revolutions to the writings of John Stuart Mill and early twentieth-century American progressives. He examines liberalism's midcentury triumph in the West, its current vulnerabilities, and its uncertain future. Traub illustrates that liberalism began with a focus on individual liberty but evolved to balance freedom with justice and equality, opposing both economic exploitation and totalitarianism. This evolution also transformed the relationship between liberalism and democracy; while many nineteenth-century liberals were concerned about democracy's illiberal tendencies, by the mid-twentieth century, liberalism became a shared belief among a broad spectrum of Americans and Europeans. However, even as the liberal West triumphed post-Cold War, its foundations weakened under the pressures of economic inequality and complex issues of race and immigration, leading to a resurgence of liberalism's challenges in recent decades.

A penetrating, lyrical biography of John Quincy Adams, the President and politician whose experiences spanned--and shaped--the most critical period in our nation's history Few figures in American history have held as many roles in public life as John Quincy Adams. The son of John Adams, he was a brilliant ambassador and secretary of state, a frustrated president, and a dedicated congressman who staunchly opposed slavery. In John Quincy Adams, scholar and journalist James Traub draws on Adams's diaries, letters, and writings to evoke his numerous achievements--and failures--in office. A man of unwavering moral convictions, Adams is the father of foreign policy "realism" and one of the first proponents of the "activist government." But John Quincy Adams is first and foremost the story of a brilliant, flinty, and unyielding man whose life exemplified admirable political courage.

The book examines America's historical attempts to promote democracy, particularly during the George W. Bush administration, highlighting the challenges and failures encountered. It argues for the importance of democracy in supporting human rights, resolving conflicts, and fostering stability and development. However, it emphasizes the need for a cautious approach to spreading democratic ideals, both globally and domestically, as the nation moves forward from a period of aggressive interventionism.

Following the invasion of Iraq, critics, and supporters of Kofi Annan, began asking whether failures of UN arise from a clash with a US administration? This book delves into these questions and describes the Oil-for-Food scandal, the failed attempt to act decisively against ethnic cleansing in Sudan, and his sweeping reforms.

Focusing on Times Square's transformation over a century, the narrative explores its evolution from the early 1900s through the vibrant nightlife of the 1920s and 1930s, to its decline in the 1960s and subsequent revival in the 1990s. James Traub, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, captures the colorful history and cultural significance of this iconic district, highlighting its dynamic character as a quintessential part of American history.