Author

Wilfred M. McClay

Wilfred McClay is a professor of history at Hillsdale College and author of Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story, which will appear in a second edition later this year.

40 articles by Wilfred M. McClay

The Progressive Idol With Feet of Clay

by Wilfred M. McClay

Review of 'Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn' by Christopher Cox

modernity can be confusing, woman looks lost in Times Square

‘The Decadent Society’: the Ambiguities of Ross Douthat

by Wilfred M. McClay

Review of his latest book

Committing to Institutions

by Wilfred M. McClay

Review of 'A Time to Build' by Yuval Levin

new york times building

How The New York Times Is Distorting American History

by Wilfred M. McClay

‘The 1619 Project’ and its false and destructive narrative about this country

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

When Is Religion Bad Religion?

by Wilfred M. McClay

For liberals, when it's not liberal; for the truly religious, when it's too fashionable.

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

Winter Stories

by Wilfred M. McClay

A review of David Horowitz's "A Point in Time"

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

Optimistic or Pessimistic About America: Wilfred M. McClay

by Wilfred M. McClay

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

How to Understand Rush Limbaugh

by Wilfred M. McClay

Conservatives, elites, and populism

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

“The Report of our Death was Greatly Exaggerated.”

by Wilfred M. McClay

The Conservative Resurgence.

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

The Bridge, by David Remnick

by Wilfred M. McClay

Wilfred M. McClay reviews David Remnick's "The Bridge."

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

A Lethal Obsession, by Robert S. Wistrich

by Wilfred M. McClay

Wilfred M. McClay reviews Robert S. Wistrich's "A Lethal Obsession."

<img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img data-src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" class="cm-post-image-box-default lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img class="cm-post-image-box-default" src="https://www.commentary.org/wp-content/themes/beck-and-stone/assets/img/default-image.svg" />

Real Education by Charles Murray

by Wilfred M. McClay