The Rise of the Imperial Self establishes a geneaology of aristocracy and places America firmly within an aristocratic tradition originally articulated by St. Augustine, but adapted to American society by Alexis de Tocqueville. Ronald W. Dworkin then traces the evolution of American culture from Tocqueville's America, when American aristocracy was defined by a love of something beyond the self to today's preoccupation with individuality, self-expression, autonomy, and self-esteem—the "imperial self."

"yields some starkingly original insights. . . . is plausible and obviously the product of considerable thought and erudition." - First Things

"This ambitious book finds a template for the "culture Wars " of contemporary America in the culture wars of late antiquity. Dworkin pursues his interesting thesis with creativity and with some success." - Journal of Church and State, Vol. 41, No. 1 Winter 1999

"An important contribution to the literature on the historical roots of expressive individualism. . . . the book has great breadth and depth and it covers a large intellectual territory. The book is especially useful for historians, philosophers and psychologists who are interested in the development and maintenance of the imperial self." - Comptes Rendes