"The Right Talk argues that during the last 30 years...the language and logic of the market have invaded almost every corner of society
to the right's great advantage...Smith's further point
important by itself
is that while Republicans shifted their rhetoric and arguments toward the logic of the market, Democrats made a different shift, to their own political disadvantage... The Right Talk [is] worth ... Read morereading as [a provocation] to greater clarity about the still unanswered question of why Republicans keep winning."
Richard Parker, American Prospect "Given the upcoming elections and the current economic climate, this is a timely book, and one that can be understood by nonspecialists."
S.L. Harrison, Choice "The Right Talk is a brilliant, provocative, well-written, and well-argued scholarly work."
Philip C. Wander and Jay Busse, Rhetoric Review "Smith's book adds, in a lucid and effective way, to our understanding of the conservative revival."
Earl Sheridan, Political Science Quarterly "[A] provocative and persuasive account of the way the two major political parties in the United States have dealt with economic issues in the post-World War II period... [T]his is a well-written and researched work of sound judgment, which should be of value to scholars in a wide range of disciplines."
Paul D. Moreno, Labor History "The Right Talk provides a very valuable argument (and empirical evidence) that ideas and how parties present their arguments matter a great deal to voters. It is a book well-worth reading for those trying to understand contemporary American political dialogs."
Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Public Opinion Quarterly "The Right Talk will appeal to readers interested in rhetoric and framing, political sociology, modern conservatism, culture wars, and public policy. Its many strengths are evident: a timely topic, strong and sober writing, accessible presentation of survey data and relevant literatures, original content analyses, and a consistent, well-structured argument that challenges conventional thinking."
Amy E. Ansell, American Journal of Sociology Show Less