NPR

50 Years Ago, 1968's Radical Protests Changed The World

In 1968, the planet convulsed. Historian Richard Vinen writes about the defining year in his book "1968: Radical Protest and Its Enemies."
"1968: Radical Protest and Its Enemies," by Richard Vinen. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Photographer Harry Benson called 1968 “the year America had a nervous breakdown.” There were the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, protesters clubbed at the Democratic National Convention and a civil rights movement that exploded into marches against the Vietnam War.

Historian Richard Vinen writes about the defining year in his new book “1968: Radical Protest and Its Enemies,” and joins Here & Now‘s Robin Young to discuss.

Book Excerpt: ‘1968’

by Richard Vinen

This book is about ‘68’, by which I mean

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min read
Panera Says It Will Stop Serving 'Charged Sips' Drinks At Center Of Lawsuits
Panera Bread said it's discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks that were tied to at least two wrongful death lawsuits due to their high caffeine content.
NPR3 min read
'Long Island' Renders Bare The Universality Of Longing
In a heartrending follow-up to his beloved 2009 novel, Brooklyn, Colm Tóibín handles uncertainties and moral conundrums with exquisite delicacy, zigzagging through time to a devastating climax.
NPR3 min read
For Those Bringing A Dog Into The U.S., New Rules Aim To Keep Out Rabies
The CDC announced stricter regulations for importing dogs from abroad — or traveling internationally with your furry companions.

Related Books & Audiobooks