Achieving Our Country: Leftist Thought in Twentieth-Century America by Richard Rorty, published in 1998 by Harvard University Press, is a concise yet provocative work based on Rorty’s 1997 Massey Lectures at Harvard. The book reflects on the trajectory of the American Left, offering a passionate defense of liberal reformism and a critique of the cultural Left’s shift away from practical political engagement. Drawing on the pragmatist philosophy of John Dewey and Walt Whitman, Rorty argues for a reinvigorated, patriotic Left that embraces national pride, democratic hope, and social reform to address economic inequality and injustice, rather than retreating into academic theorizing or cultural critique. The book is structured as a series of essays that blend historical analysis, philosophical reflection, and a call to action, urging progressives to reclaim a vision of America as a nation capable of achieving its democratic ideals.

Rorty begins by contrasting two strands of 20th-century American Leftism: the reformist Left of the early 20th century, exemplified by figures like Dewey, Whitman, and labor activists, and the cultural Left that emerged in the 1960s, which he sees as overly focused on identity politics and theoretical critique. The reformist Left, inspired by Whitman’s democratic poetry and Dewey’s pragmatism, believed in America’s potential to realize a just society through collective action, as seen in movements like the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the labor struggles of the 1930s and 1940s. Rorty celebrates this era’s optimism and its commitment to practical reforms that reduced economic inequality and expanded democratic participation. However, he argues that the Left lost its way after the Vietnam War, when the New Left and later cultural Left turned toward academic Marxism, postmodernism, and identity-based politics, which he views as divisive and disconnected from the broader working-class struggles.

Central to Rorty’s argument is his critique of the cultural Left’s “politics of difference,” which he believes prioritizes symbolic gestures and theoretical purity over coalition-building and economic justice. He contends that this shift has alienated the working class and ceded political ground to the Right, which capitalized on economic grievances in the Reagan era and beyond. Rorty particularly criticizes the Left’s embrace of “spectatorial” attitudes—focusing on cultural critique and moral superiority rather than inspiring hope or effecting change. He also warns against the Left’s growing anti-American sentiment, arguing that rejecting national pride undermines the ability to mobilize citizens for reform. Instead, Rorty advocates a return to a pragmatic, patriotic Left that draws on America’s democratic traditions to inspire a shared vision of social justice.

Rorty invokes Whitman’s vision of America as a poetic, inclusive democracy and Dewey’s emphasis on practical problem-solving to propose a “civic religion” of national hope. He argues that the Left should focus on concrete issues like wealth inequality, labor rights, and universal healthcare, building broad coalitions rather than fixating on cultural or academic debates. He also critiques the Marxist tendency to view capitalism as inherently doomed, urging instead a reformist approach that works within democratic institutions to mitigate its excesses. Rorty acknowledges the failures of American democracy, such as its history of racism and imperialism, but insists that acknowledging these flaws should fuel a commitment to improve the nation, not reject it.

The book’s final sections reflect on the decline of the reformist Left and the rise of globalization’s economic challenges, which Rorty sees as exacerbating inequality and necessitating a renewed focus on economic policy. He warns of a future where unchecked capitalism could lead to social unrest unless the Left reclaims its role as a force for practical reform. Written in Rorty’s accessible, conversational style, Achieving Our Country combines historical narrative with philosophical insight, drawing on literature, political history, and personal anecdotes to make its case.

Critically acclaimed for its clarity and urgency, the book has been praised for its call to re-engage with practical politics but criticized by some for oversimplifying the cultural Left’s contributions and underestimating the importance of identity politics. Rorty’s patriotic tone has also sparked debate, with some viewing it as overly optimistic about American exceptionalism. Nonetheless, the book remains a significant contribution to political philosophy, offering a compelling vision for a revitalized Left. It is widely available in paperback and digital formats, with high ratings (e.g., 4.4/5 on Goodreads from over 1,500 reviews) and is often used in courses on American political thought.