Moderation is often presented as a simple virtue for lukewarm and indecisive minds, searching for a fuzzy center between the extremes. Not surprisingly, many politicians do not want to be labelled 'moderates' for fear of losing elections. Why Not Moderation? challenges this conventional image and shows that moderation is a complex virtue with a rich tradition and unexplored radical sides. Through a series of imaginary letters between a passionate moderate and two young radicals, the book outlines the distinctive political vision undergirding moderation and makes a case for why we need this virtue today in America. Drawing on clearly written and compelling sources, Craiutu offers an opportunity to rethink moderation and participate in the important public debate on what kind of society we want to live in. His book reminds us that we cannot afford to bargain away the liberal civilization and open society we have inherited from our forefathers.

1. Why radical moderation?; Part I. The World We Live In: 2. Can liberal democracy be saved? Part II. What Kind of Virtue is Moderation?: 3. Rediscovering moderation in our immoderate age; 4. The skepticism toward moderation and what its critics miss about it; 5. The archipelago of moderation (I): the old world; 6. The archipelago of moderation (II): the new world; 7. An alternative to ideology; 8. An antidote to fanaticism; Part III. Do Moderates Have a Political Vision?: 9. The limits of moral clarity; 10. Against the politics of warfare; 11. No manichaeism and litmus tests; 12. Compromise; 13. Trimming and balance; 14. Centrism; 15. Eclecticism and pluralism; 16. Dialogue; Part IV. The Ethos of Moderation: 17. The spirit of moderation; 18. Modesty and humility; 19. Civility; 20. Prudence; 21. Realism and pragmatic partisanship; Part V. Who Needs Moderation Today?: 22. The last beacon of hope?.

Aurelian Craiutu is Professor of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His publications include Liberalism under Siege (2003), A Virtue for Courageous Minds (2012), and Faces of Moderation (2017). Professor Craiutu has also written book reviews and essays for non-academic publications such as Los Angeles Review of Books, Aeon, and the Daily Beast.