Kim Phillips-Fein Books In Order is a distinguished historian known for her incisive analysis of modern American political and economic history. Her works explore the rise of conservatism, the influence of business elites, and the transformation of public policy in the United States.
Books such as Invisible Hands and Fear City highlight her ability to connect complex historical forces with contemporary issues.
A “Kim Phillips-Fein books in order” guide helps readers follow the evolution of her scholarship, offering a clear pathway through her major works and the broader narrative of late twentieth-century American history.
A Quick Biography of Kim Phillips-Fein
Kim Phillips-Fein is an American historian specializing in twentieth-century U.S. political and economic history. She earned her Ph.D. from Harvard University and has built a reputation for examining the intersection of business interests, conservatism, and public policy.
Phillips-Fein is a professor at Columbia University, where she teaches modern American history. Her scholarship focuses on how corporate power and political movements reshaped the American state in the late twentieth century.
She is best known for her books Invisible Hands, which traces the rise of conservative economic thought, and Fear City, a detailed account of New York City’s fiscal crisis in the 1970s. Through her research and writing, she has become a leading voice in contemporary historical analysis.
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Invisible Hands | (2010) | Buy Now |
| What’s Good for Business | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Fear City | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Capital Gains | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Country of Lords | (2026) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Think in Public | (2019) | Buy Now |
Kim Phillips-Fein Books In Publication Order
1] Invisible Hands
Invisible Hands by Kim Phillips-Fein is a landmark study of the rise of modern conservatism in the United States. The book examines how business leaders, intellectuals, and activists organized a sustained opposition to New Deal liberalism during the mid-twentieth century. It traces the development of free-market ideology and its growing influence on American politics and policy.
By uncovering networks of donors, think tanks, and political movements, Phillips-Fein reveals how conservative ideas moved from the margins to the mainstream, reshaping the nation’s economic and political landscape.
2] Fear City
Fear City by Kim Phillips-Fein is a detailed historical account of the fiscal crisis that gripped New York City in the 1970s. The book explores how the city faced near bankruptcy and the pivotal role played by financial institutions, government officials, and labor unions in navigating the crisis.
Phillips-Fein shows how unelected financial elites gained significant control over public policy, reshaping urban governance. Through this narrative, the book highlights broader themes of economic power, democracy, and the shifting balance between public authority and private influence.
3] Think in Public
“Think in Public” is not a standalone book by Kim Phillips-Fein, but rather reflects the kind of public-facing scholarship she is known for. The phrase captures her approach to engaging broader audiences beyond academia—through essays, reviews, and commentary on modern American politics and economic history.
In addition to works like Invisible Hands and Fear City, she has contributed to major publications where she analyzes contemporary issues through a historical lens. “Think in Public” thus represents her role as a historian who connects rigorous research with accessible, real-world discussions on power, policy, and society.
Top FAQ on Kim Phillips-Fein
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Who is Kim Phillips-Fein?
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What is Kim Phillips-Fein’s most recent book?
Country of Lords (2026) is her newest book. It explores the long history of anti-egalitarian ideas in America, from social Darwinism to modern tech-utopian politics.
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What is Kim Phillips-Fein best known for?
She is best known for her acclaimed books Invisible Hands and Fear City, which examine conservative political movements and New York City’s 1970s fiscal crisis.
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