The Age of Anxiety

McCarthyism to Terrorism

By: Haynes Johnson

Narrated by: Kristoffer Tabori

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

For five long years in the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy and his anti-Communist crusade dominated the American scene, terrified politicians, and destroyed the lives of thousands of our citizens. In this masterful history, Haynes Johnson re-creates that time of crisis, of President Eisenhower, who hated McCarthy but would not attack him; of the Republican senators who cynically used McCarthy to win their own elections; of Edward R. Murrow, whose courageous TV broadcast began McCarthy's downfall; and of mild-mannered lawyer Joseph Welch, who finally shamed McCarthy into silence.

Johnson tells this monumental story through the lens of its relevance to our own time, when fear again affects American behavior and attitudes, for he believes now, as then, that our civil liberties, our Constitution, and our nation are at stake as we confront the ever more difficult task of balancing the need for national security with that of personal liberty.

Compelling narrative history, insightful political commentary, and intimate personal remembrance combine to make The Age of Anxiety a vitally important book for our time.

©2005 Haynes Johnson (P)2005 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Pulitzer-winning journalist Johnson (The Best of Times) offers an engrossing account of the career of red-baiting demagogue Joseph McCarthy and a chilling description of his legacy for today." (Publishers Weekly)

Parallels

Johnson is brilliant in bringing to life this era of 50 years ago. You feel like you were there when he narrates the mistreatment of Stevens, the Army Secretary, in McCarthy's desperate attempt to get at Eisenhower through his attacks on the army. When Welch finally nails the senator at the army hearings, you want to just cheer.

The weakness of McCarthy's fellow colleagues is paralleled by that of today's senators, who bought off on the Bush/Powell weapons of mass destruction argument without proof. The parallel between McCarthy's use of fear of reds and today's administrations use of fear of terrorists is eerie.

Well-narrated, but "Roosevelt" is not "Rooosuhvelt" and never was.

absolutely a must hear

This book is a spectacular history lesson for those who want to understand our political system and its weaknesses. This is really a must read.

Inside McCarthyism

Any additional comments?

It's not a study of the effect of McCarthyism so much as a presentation of how it happened and the people most intimately involved in the hearings. Great for wonks and history geeks.

Starts a little slow and then becomes riveting!

What did you like best about this story?

Going into incredible depth in depicting McCarthy in the hearings. Mesmerizing!

What about Kristoffer Tabori’s performance did you like?

All of it. Excellent reader,

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The Red scare was incredibly pervasive in the American psyche in the early 1950s.

Tell a Lie enough and people will believe it.

Filled will half-truths and defamation. I find it appalling how those among us insist on rewriting history to fit their distorted view of what really happened.
The author is just one more small individual in a long line of small individuals who set their sights on greatness and hope to get there through the character assassination of an individual who outclasses them in every aspect of humanity. These small minded creatures glory in making false and malicious statements. They hope that you and I will believe their twisted, psychotic view history. They have lied to themselves for so many decades that the truth becomes whatever they say it is. Don't waste your time nor money on this - unless, of course, you are also standing in that long line of small individuals.