James Burnham Books

James Burnham’s contributions to Conservative thought in the modern area cannot be understated. In fact, they ring even more true today than they have in all the decades since he wrote them.

A philosopher and political theorist, Burnham became a Marxist in younger years and even regularly spoke with Leon Trotsky.

Concluding that Marxism was not the answer, he eventually rejected it in full and became a conservative thinker, writing on the future of capitalism while also teaching philosophy at New York University.

Burnham co-founded National Review with William F. Buckley Jr. and regularly contributed articles and essays to the publication. Buckley referred to him as “the number one intellectual influence on National Review since the day of its founding.”

Best known for his book The Managerial Revolution, in it Burnham predicted a future evolution of capitalism that is not unlike the world we live in now, with a small group of individuals having enormous sway over the rules and lives of a few. This book actually helped inspire George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

For his contributions, Burnham was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

James Burnham Books

The Managerial Revolution

In this work of political and economic philosophy, James Burnham examines the evolution of the capitalist system and argues, contrary to the socialists of his era, that it won’t be replaced by socialism but rather by a new type of social order: managerialism.

In fact, even at its writing in 1941 he argues that capitalist countries had already partially transformed into this new system, were a small group of managers control the economy and by extension society.

Administrators in both business and government will eventually control most aspects of everyone’s daily lives. Burnham explores the full implications of this new world order.

Suicide of the West: An Essay on the Meaning and Destiny of Liberalism

An enlightening examination of the decline of Western Civilization, James Burnham makes the case the Liberalism isn’t the glorious evolution of modern society but is actually its downfall.

In combination with, “the decay of religion and with an excess of material luxury,” he argues that the ideology of liberalism has not only brought about a declining West, but has actually served as the principle idea behind justifying the decay.

At its heart, liberalism is an apologetic ideology, making excuses for rioters and terrorists, and paving the way for the Wests demise.

This book offers a sound critique for anything still holding to liberal ideals, while at the same time helps form a stronger conservative viewpoint.

The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom