Jennifer Burns
I am a historian of the twentieth century United States working at the intersection of intellectual, political, and cultural history, with a particular interest in ideas about the state, markets, and capitalism and how these play out in policy and politics.
My most recent book is Milton Friedman: The Last Conservative. This is the first full biography of the influential economist and political figure, and was awarded the 2026 Spengler Prize for the best book by the Society for the History of Economics, 2025 Reagan Book Prize, and was a finalist for the 2024 Hayek Prize.
My first book, Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right (Oxford, 2009), was an intellectual biography of the libertarian novelist Ayn Rand. For more on this book, including clips of my interviews with Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, check out my website.
I have published articles about the history of conservatism, libertarianism, and liberalism in a number of academic and popular journals, including Reviews in American History, Modern Intellectual History, Journal of Cultural Economy, The New York Times, The New Republic, and Dissent.
In 2026-27 academic year, I will be teaching the following courses:
Winter 2027
History 269/369: Thinking About Capitalism, Wed, 11:30-2:20 PM, WAYS: ER, SI (discussion class – limited enrollment by permission number)
Spring 2027
History 150C: From Truman to Trump, the United States Since 1945. Tues/Thurs 1:30-2:50. An introductory lecture course focusing on the rise and fall of the postwar order in the United States and beyond; twice weekly lectures and required discussion section.
History 351F: Core in American History, Part VI. Wednesdays, 10:30-1:20. Open to PhD. students only, a survey of recent and classic scholarship on twentieth century American history.
To prospective graduate students:
I will not be accepting advisees for the Fall 2027 admissions cycle. However, I will work with all admitted graduate students in a supportive capacity. Due to the volume of inquiries, I'm not able to offer specific guidance on your application. For general advice on applying, please read the information on this page carefully.
Generally, I can advise a range of twentieth century topics, but my expertise is intellectual, political, and cultural history, with a particular interest in the history of American politics, economic thought, religion, and capitalism. Thankfully, Stanford’s archival collections in these areas are particularly rich, making it possible to explore a range of possible dissertation topics without leaving campus. If you are admitted to our program, you will be invited to campus and will have a chance to meet with me, other faculty, and current students. I am also available to mentor students pursuing a J.D./Ph.D. For more information on this program, please visit the website of Stanford's Center for Law and History.
In the meantime, please read carefully the materials about our program on our website, which should answer most questions. In your application, be sure to list me as a potential mentor and explain why you think our areas of interest overlap. You do not need to have identified a potential dissertation topic, although you can indicate potential ideas. Your "personal statement" should not be a personal essay, but rather should describe the intellectual journey that led you to graduate school, referencing specific books, courses, professors, and research experiences. If you were not an undergraduate history major, explain why history is your chosen discipline and the academic experiences that have prepared you for graduate study. If you are applying for the joint J.D./PhD., be sure to explain why this program fits your particular interests.
A polished writing sample using primary sources, high grades in history courses, and supportive letters from instructors who know you well are the most important parts of your application. There is no minimum GRE score requirement. Be aware that admissions decisions in our department are made collectively. This means your application must appeal not only to me, but to my colleagues. Therefore your application needs to show evidence of a certain level of professional development: that you understand primary source research and historiography and are interested in the general sweep of American history, not just your specific corner of research. Interests often change and develop during graduate school, so the admissions committee is looking for a certain quality of mind, rather than a specific topic. That said, definitely describe your research interests as you currently understand them, and how you see your approach opening up new ways of understanding the past. Applicants to the J.D./Ph.D., program must apply and gain entrance separately to the history department and the law school.
Finally, I request that all prospective applicants familiarize themselves with the realities of the academic job market in history. Due to a contraction in the number of history faculty being hired, securing tenure-track employment has become extremely difficult, no matter your qualifications or accomplishments. The latest data is here.
A Stanford specific study, including placement rates for history Ph.D graduates through 2013, can be found here. Note that the Stanford data do not distinguish between tenure track and adjunct positions. For a caution on graduate student debt, which can significantly impair your future happiness, click here. While I will work assiduously to help all my advisees gain academic employment, I also encourage and support all students in considering a broad range of careers paths possible with a doctorate in history.
