While several books have been written about the life and views of Walter Lippmann, this volume is unique in its emphasis on Lippmann's relationships to American liberalism. Riccio examines Lippmann's political thought as evidenced in both his "scholarly" and journalistic work. He observes that although Lippmann started out as a socialist and ended up as something of a conservative, he usually backed liberal public policies and often explored liberalism's philosophical underpinnings.

Walter Lippmann - Odyssey of a Liberal describes Lippmann's attraction to, involvement in, and disillusionment with American socialism prior to the First World War. It chronicles his brief career as a progressive reformer, and his subsequent disenchantment with that movement. Riccio also examines Lippmann's views on foreign affairs. Lippmann's relationships with conservatives and their influence on his views are explored, too.

Riccio articulates Lippmann's vision of liberalism as at odds with much of the liberal mentality of his time. In particular, he contrasts the pundit's views on politics, economics, public opinion, and moral authority with those of John Dewey.

1. Lippmann's impact on politics and on America can be seen in his relationships with several presidents. He advised Theodore Roosevelt, authored eight of Woodrow Wilson's fourteen points, corresponded with Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt, and even helped write John F. Kennedy's inaugural address. Lippmann's influence continues to be felt today. He was one of the founding editors of the New Republic, even now a flagship of American liberalism.

Lippmann's book Public Opinion is still used in journalism courses. Walter Lippmann - Odyssey of a Liberal is a major contribution to seeing Lippmann as a central force of the "American Century." It is an important work that will be of interest to political theorists, intellectual historians, and American studies specialists, as well as Lippmann's many admirers and detractors.