More Meditations of a Militant Moderate - by Peter H Schuck (Paperback)

About the Book

The book collects thirty-two opinion pieces, essays, and two poems published by the author in leading media on a wide variety of public policy topics as recently as 2022. The articles and poems range over six broad areas: the moderation ideal, as illustrated by the abortion issue; American exceptionalism; civic discourse; the Trump presidency; campus life; and immigration, citizenship, and refugee policy. The author, a self-described "militant moderate," draws on his participation as a commentator in these and many other public debates.

Book Synopsis

The book collects almost thirty-two opinion pieces, essays, and two poems written by the author on a wide variety of public policy topics and published in books, magazines, and online between 2006 and 2022. The author, a self-described "militant moderate," draws on his participation as a commentator in these and many other public debates.

The articles are grouped into six parts, topical groupings that range widely: the growing need for moderate voices in policy debates, the nature of American exceptionalism, the challenge of civic discourse, the depredations of the Trump years, the role of campus debates in the formation of public ideas, and policies concerning immigration, citizenship, and refugees.

In each of the essays (and poems), the author's distinctive voice is resonant. It is militant, emphasizing the major values at stake and explaining why he would resolve them in particular ways. But it is also moderate in patiently but firmly rejecting extreme factual and normative claims. The form and content of these writings model civic engagement in its highest sense: respectful of differences, reasonable in its reliance on sound evidence, appealing to civic virtue, and rejecting the extreme claims of left and right.

Review Quotes

"Suffering from low blood pressure? Peter Schuck's More Meditations of a Militant Moderate is the perfect cure. Whether you are politically left, right, or center, you will find thrilling support for and infuriating refutation of positions you embrace. But most of all, you will revel in the pleasure of reading the muscular prose of a vigorous intellect wrestling honestly with issues that will surely matter deeply to you." -- Henry J. Aaron, Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Fellow, the Brookings Institution.

"In this book, Peter Schuck demonstrates compellingly that being a 'moderate' need not mean being wishy-washy. He rejects cant from all quarters, demands disciplined examination of factual evidence, and comes to provocative conclusions. Ideologues of all stripes should be forewarned: this book exemplifies intellectual independence." -- Richard Fallon, Story Professor of Law, Harvard Law School.

"In this welcome sequel to his superb 'Meditations of a Militant Moderate, ' Peter Schuck gives an object lesson in the two traits which our intellectual discourse desperately needs: common sense and wise judgment. His verve and passion dispatch the myth that moderates are milquetoasts. Slaying shibboleths about everything from abortion and immigration to cancel culture and campus crybullies, Schuck shows again why his voice is unique and necessary." -- Jonathan Rauch, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

About the Author

Peter Schuck is an emeritus professor at Yale Law School where he taught for 35 years.