The Trouble with Passion: Political Theory Beyond the Reign of Reason. By Cheryl Hall. New York: Routledge, 2005. 192p. $75.00 cloth, $22.95 paper.

This book argues for passion in politics: not just calm passions, that is, sentiments or interests, but “enthusiasm” and “explicit appreciation of and commitment to something valued” (pp. 12, 7). Liberal theory, Hall argues, is wrong to regard political passions as inherently suspect, intolerant, and “opposed to both reason and justice” (p. 3). Passion in politics is inescapable, for passion and reason are not opposed but interpenetrating aspects of human thought and motivation. Beyond this, however, some passions are politically salutary: They inspire worthy political actions, especially movements for social change.