The Politics of Petulance

In The Politics of Petulance, Alan Wolfe explores how political immaturity, rather than any specific ideology or age group, underpins the challenges facing American politics today, exemplified by figures like Trump. He emphasizes that, despite these difficulties, Americans have faced demagogues before and can develop the intellectual maturity needed to confront contemporary political issues. Wolfe draws inspiration from mid-century intellectuals to suggest that it's possible to forge a new, more engaged political path.