In July I published in World Magazine a review of Robert P. George’s new book, Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth (Encounter Books). Here’s how the review begins:
Robert P. George, the McCormick professor of jurisprudence and director and founder of the James Madison Program, at Princeton University, is arguably the most influential conservative intellectual in America today. Since the early 1990s, he has distinguished himself in a variety of fields of academic inquiry—law, politics, philosophy, and theology—in addressing a diversity of contested social, moral, and jurisprudential questions that often overlap. These issues include abortion, same-sex marriage, religious liberty, constitutional law, and academic freedom. (George also happens to be a very good banjo and guitar player, a devotee of country, folk, and bluegrass music).
George has also distinguished himself as a man of impeccable personal integrity. In his careful and deliberate manner, a practice that is becoming increasingly rare among public-facing academics, George has not hesitated to criticize his fellow conservatives when he thinks they’ve gotten things wrong or defend liberal colleagues who he thinks have been treated unjustly. You may find yourself disagreeing with George, as I have on the rare occasion, but you cannot help but admire the intellectual and moral virtues that he has cultivated and consistently practiced over his illustrious career. A devout Catholic, he has collaborated with like-minded evangelicals, Jews, Muslims, Latter-day Saints, and unbelievers in his research and work in public policy. I know many professors, pastors, and wonks who part ways with George on a variety of matters, but I know of none who do not like him.
If you can read one book that gives you a sense of the depth and width of George’s interests and character, it is his latest tome: Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth (Encounter, 312 pp.). A collection of previously published essays, some of which were co-authored by colleagues and former students, this book gives you the full “Robby” (as he’s known to his friends).
You can read the review in its entirety here.
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