In the Los Angeles Times Book Review, Annette Smith and David Smith demurred: "This long and scrupulous study of a man who was one of the most profound and prophetic thinkers of his time is, alas, scrupulous to the point of boredom [...] Although [the book] does justice to Tocqueville's ideas, it fails in rendering the passion and grace of his intellectual life and the social brilliance of the era".
In the Los Angeles Times Book Review, Annette Smith and David Smith expressed reservations: "This extensive and meticulous study of a thinker who was among the most profound and visionary of his time is, unfortunately, thorough to the point of being unengaging [...] While [the book] does justice to Tocqueville's ideas, it fails in capturing the passion and charm of his intellectual life and the social acumen of the era."