Democracy in America, Volume 1

Praise

"No better study of a nation’s institutions and culture than Tocqueville’s Democracy in America has ever been written by a foreign observer; none perhaps as good."
—The New York Times

Praise for the work of Joseph Epstein:

"Epstein is one of the premier contemporary American essayists…What is so remarkable about Epstein as an essay writer is that he’ll begin a discussion at some personal place…and end up in another place relevant to us all. He enjoys making language work, not making it jump through hoops for show." —Booklist

"Joseph Epstein is an essayist in the brilliant tradition of Charles Lamb. He moves so effortlessly from the amusingly personal to the broadly philosophical that it takes a moment before you realize how far out into the intellectual cosmos you’ve been taken."
–Tom Wolfe

"Joseph Epstein’s essays no more need his identifying byline than Van Gogh’s paintings need his signature. Epstein’s style–call it learned whimsy–is unmistakable; for Epstein addicts, indispensable."
–George Will

"Joseph Epstein is the liveliest, most erudite and engaging essayist we have." –James Atlas

"If Epstein’s ultimate ancestor is Montaigne, his more immediate master is Mencken. Like Mencken, he has fashioned a style that successfully combines elegance and even bookishness with street-smart colloquial directness. And there is nothing remote or aloof about him."
–John Gross, Chicago Tribune