There are two ways to read this book: as a paean to a hardworking, bristly, moderately visionary industrialist who became a financial angel of the right; or as a step-by-step recounting of how a group of conservative intellectuals allied themselves with a right-leaning wealthy philanthropist to accomplish a massive transformation of American political culture. On the first count, the book serves up an excessively laudatory tribute to John Olin, a man who inherited substantial wealth and devoted… There are two ways to read this book: as a paean to a hardworking, bristly, moderately visionary industrialist who became a financial angel of the right; or as a step-by-step recounting of how a group of conservative intellectuals allied themselves with a right-leaning wealthy philanthropist to accomplish a massive transformation of American political culture. On the first count, the book serves up an excessively laudatory tribute to John Olin, a man who inherited substantial wealth and devoted…

To read this article and start a full year of unlimited online access, subscribe now!

Already a subscriber?

Need to register for your premium online access,
which is included with your paid subscription?