"Goldberg's biography faithfully reflects the honesty and candor that Goldwater himself generally maintained and for which he hopes to be remembered. Goldberg has used his extraordinary access to give us an unvarnished, truthful tale of the man, with empathy and above all, critical understanding. No subject could ask for more". -- Stanley I. Kutler, Chicago Tribune

"Goldberg's admirable and refreshingly brisk biography of Mr. Goldwater could hardly be better timed. Those who want to understand the cycles of success and failure of the conservative movement need to know Goldwaterism". -- Jonathan Rauch, New York Times Book Review

"An insightful, balanced, and multifaceted examination of Goldwater. The author paints a complex portrait of a complex human being.... An excellent, readable, and literate biography". -- Peter Scarlet, Salt Lake City Tribune

"Robert Alan Goldberg's fine new biography should become the standard narrative of Goldwater's public career". -- David C. Ward, Boston Book Review

Amazon.com Review
Barry Goldwater was probably the most important loser in the history of American presidential elections. Although Lyndon Baines Johnson easily defeated him in the 1964 race, Goldwater fundamentally reshaped politics in the United States. As biographer Robert Alan Goldberg shows, Goldwater helped Republicans cut their demographic and financial ties to the Northeast and pushed their influence to the South and West. More important, however, he ushered in the modern conservative movement as a genuine political force.

Goldberg, a professor of history at the University of Utah, writes as a political liberal who holds deep sympathies for Goldwater. During his 1964 campaign, a popular Goldwater slogan was: "In your heart, you know he's right." Goldberg isn't trying to convince readers of this, but it's hard to come away from his book without thinking he still could teach his country a thing or two. --John J. Miller