When the Clock Broke

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ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST'S TEN BEST BOOKS OF 2024 and a New York Times bestseller, this acclaimed work offers a revelatory examination of the tumultuous end of the Reagan era and its enduring impact. As the Soviet Union collapsed and the U.S. enjoyed unprecedented power, the early 1990s were expected to herald a "kinder, gentler America." Instead, this period was marked by rising anger and domestic strife, foreshadowing today's polarization and extremism. John Ganz, a noted political writer, explores America's late-century discontents, detailing events from the Crown Heights riots to the rise of figures like David Duke and the emergence of survivalist movements. He captures the era's chaos, exemplified by the broadcasts of Rush Limbaugh and the contentious debates between neoconservatives and the "paleo-con" right. The 1992 campaign saw populist figures like Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot challenge the political status quo amid a backdrop of recession and societal change. As conspiracy theories flourished and intellectuals sought to comprehend the "Middle American Radicals," Bill Clinton's attempt to establish a new political center ultimately proved fleeting. In this engaging narrative, Ganz chronicles the decline of the Reagan order and the ascent of a more turbulent America.