Kevin Mattson Livres

Exploring the political landscape of the 1960s, Kevin Mattson delves into the ideas and activism of key intellectuals who shaped New Left political theory. By blending intellectual biography with social history, he examines figures like C. Wright Mills and Paul Goodman, highlighting their contributions to protests and social movements. Mattson critiques contemporary political ambivalence, suggesting that a commitment to truth-telling and political engagement is essential. His work redefines the relationship between the New Left and liberalism, offering insights for those interested in the era's legacy and its relevance today.

"When America Was Great" is an intellectual history that reexamines postwar politics and culture through the lens of influential thinkers like Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and John Kenneth Galbraith. It portrays a nuanced liberal tradition, emphasizing hope and social justice while opposing communism, challenging stereotypes of liberalism.

Kevin Mattson offers a history of punk rock in the 1980s. He documents how kids growing up in the sedate world of suburbia created their "own culture" through DIY tactics. Punk spread across the continent in the 1980s as it found expression in different media, including literature, art, and poetry. Punks dissented against Reagan's presidency, accusing the entertainer-in-chief of being mean and duplicitous (especially when it came to nuclear war and his policies in Central America). Mattson has dived deep into archives to make his case that this youthful dissent meant something more than just a style of mohawks or purple hair.