Recommended by
- Marc Andreessen: "Six books on the deep history of the American left." source ↗
Summary
A study of the American communist movement from the perspective of its rank-and-file members, drawing on interviews with former party activists. Gornick explores the emotional and ideological appeal of communism for working-class Americans and intellectuals alike. The book examines the tension between the movement's idealistic vision and the bureaucratic realities of party discipline.