The First Twenty Years

Seeking a review of our twenty years of existence that would be neither encomium nor assault, but instead a considered and critical judgment, the editors of Dissent invited the writer Joseph Epstein to put down his opinions about and reactions to the magazine. Mr. Epstein, who in this piece describes himself as “a liberal nonsocialist,” agreed to write the article. Here, exactly as he has submitted it, is his assessment. Let the chips fall, debate continue, freedom ring—and Dissent survive!—Ed.

A magazine is the ideal possession, possibly the supreme toy, of the intellectual. It might serve as the acid test to determine whether a person is an intellectual or not to ask if he ever wished t...