jorgjuar's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
In The Madness of Crowds Douglas Murray takes a deep dive into the different existing agendas within gender, race and identity.
This book is just great. D. Murray takes an excellent approach on the subjects in question with an enjoyable writing style, but most important the research, analysis, and questions being raised on such issues. In a society that considers offensive pretty much anything, D. Murray exposes the many inconsistencies and contradictions within each of the different currents of thoughts; pointing out how society is now afraid to even dare to suggest to have a discussion about such polarizing subjects, and how we got here.
In shot, The Madness of Crowds is a must-read. Period.
This book is just great. D. Murray takes an excellent approach on the subjects in question with an enjoyable writing style, but most important the research, analysis, and questions being raised on such issues. In a society that considers offensive pretty much anything, D. Murray exposes the many inconsistencies and contradictions within each of the different currents of thoughts; pointing out how society is now afraid to even dare to suggest to have a discussion about such polarizing subjects, and how we got here.
In shot, The Madness of Crowds is a must-read. Period.
sil3nos's review against another edition
3.0
This book is controversial and I can see why. Murray holds opinions that would be called outrageous by many.
But I agree with him on some points. The debate around identity politics is way too emotional and full of people throwing words at each other instead of listening to the other position' point. There are many inconsistensies in many claims of intersectionality. People do tend to see the world more cruel than it actually is (this is not that there are no injustices, just that the things we already achieved aren't highlighted enough).
However, this book is far from being the rational, netural perspective on the issue that I would've expected. Murray recounts a lot of examples and singular tweets of extremists saying that "All men are trash" and such idiotic claims. Similarly I could recount tons of racist attacks on people, racists tweets etc. to push an agenda that the world is in fact full of hatred. But that won't bring us further. Just as the intersectionalists that he critiques, Murray doesn't use any studies and when he does, does just accept their result without critically talking about their methods.
He does (to a lesser extent) what he claims his ideological opponents are doing: Gloss over things that support your opinion as instantly correct but condemn every mistake your opposite has made.
But overall if you are really listening to what he is saying and going in without prejudice I don't think that you can honestly call this book problematic. Conservative? Sure, but not problematic.
But I agree with him on some points. The debate around identity politics is way too emotional and full of people throwing words at each other instead of listening to the other position' point. There are many inconsistensies in many claims of intersectionality. People do tend to see the world more cruel than it actually is (this is not that there are no injustices, just that the things we already achieved aren't highlighted enough).
However, this book is far from being the rational, netural perspective on the issue that I would've expected. Murray recounts a lot of examples and singular tweets of extremists saying that "All men are trash" and such idiotic claims. Similarly I could recount tons of racist attacks on people, racists tweets etc. to push an agenda that the world is in fact full of hatred. But that won't bring us further. Just as the intersectionalists that he critiques, Murray doesn't use any studies and when he does, does just accept their result without critically talking about their methods.
He does (to a lesser extent) what he claims his ideological opponents are doing: Gloss over things that support your opinion as instantly correct but condemn every mistake your opposite has made.
But overall if you are really listening to what he is saying and going in without prejudice I don't think that you can honestly call this book problematic. Conservative? Sure, but not problematic.
katharine_whitfield's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
robdabear's review against another edition
5.0
Found my preexisting opinions reaffirmed blah blah blah...
I loved listening to Douglas Murray's speeches and podcasts and interviews on YouTube, I love reading his opinions more.
I loved listening to Douglas Murray's speeches and podcasts and interviews on YouTube, I love reading his opinions more.
igarcias's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
2.75
I didn't click with him personally. I do not agree with him the 85% of the times, and his speech is very condescending but I admit that is very easy to read and is good to see other perspectives.
jzaldivar2017's review against another edition
It was not at all what I expected. Pseudo-intellectual ramblings with a clear bias.
chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
1.0
Ill conceived, hardly evidenced, poorly written, and terribly argued.
ketisfolk's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced