lindy_b's review
2.0
I read The Age of American Unreason in hope that it would help me identify the cultural shifts that occurred during the Obama administration which lead to the formation of the alt-right, where adherents style themselves as intellectuals beholden to rigorous ideals of logic and reason, sneer at you about "sky fairies" and then in the same breath reproduce eugenic race science straight out of the late nineteenth century. Was the book useful in this regard? Overall, I'd say yes; Jacoby's discussion of the widespread lack of acknowledgement of the religious conservative movements of the 1960s, in particular, was not something I'd considered before.
However, the whole experience of getting to the good stuff in this book was an exercise in patience with eyebrows permanently raised. In fact, I'm not sure who is the intended audience of this book, because I cannot think of a demographic where it would be safe to assume knowledge of Ned Rorem but would need the concept of a Beatles cover band explained to them. In the introduction, Jacoby praises Hofstadter's [b:Anti-Intellectualism in American Life|582067|Anti-Intellectualism in American Life|Richard Hofstadter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327787785s/582067.jpg|233538] for the "fairness of his scholarship... [with] a serious attempt to engage the arguments of the opponents and to acknowledge evidence that runs counter to one's own biases" (xvi). Jacoby then proceeds to write a polemic, employing frequent enormous assumptions about How The World And Humanity Work in the past or in the present that are occasionally just weird and without justification but there are a select few which are cringe-inducing from the vantage point of ten years in the future. The most frustrating problem for me though, was the framing of "junk science/thought" and "pseudoscience." She doesn't directly position them as diametric opposites of "real science/thought" until the conclusion, but the implications of essential purity of a scientific/intellectual culture are clear throughout. Jacoby dismisses Sandra Harding's work on the basis that it "attack[s] some of the most monumental fields of human endeavor as hopelessly tainted by the male lust for violence and domination," (230-231) which I am supposed to recognize as inherently ridiculous even though it is, in fact, a egregious misreading; Jacoby would do well to revisit strong objectivity. Likewise, Jacoby pooh-poohs the entire field of fat studies by pointing to a few books/articles/panels that appear to be messes, but we all know you can do that with every academic field under the sun, and I would argue that fat studies have been instrumental in working towards a more science-based approach to understanding (the inefficacy of and social preoccupation with) dieting and weight loss.
(In case you were curious, the word "Foucault" or any derivatives or associated concepts do not appear in the text; this is kind of cowardly on the part of the author. Jacoby doesn't mention social history either, but I think it's fair to assume she thinks it's debasing.)
Anyway I'm going to go read a book about the history of disco music now.
However, the whole experience of getting to the good stuff in this book was an exercise in patience with eyebrows permanently raised. In fact, I'm not sure who is the intended audience of this book, because I cannot think of a demographic where it would be safe to assume knowledge of Ned Rorem but would need the concept of a Beatles cover band explained to them. In the introduction, Jacoby praises Hofstadter's [b:Anti-Intellectualism in American Life|582067|Anti-Intellectualism in American Life|Richard Hofstadter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327787785s/582067.jpg|233538] for the "fairness of his scholarship... [with] a serious attempt to engage the arguments of the opponents and to acknowledge evidence that runs counter to one's own biases" (xvi). Jacoby then proceeds to write a polemic, employing frequent enormous assumptions about How The World And Humanity Work in the past or in the present that are occasionally just weird and without justification but there are a select few which are cringe-inducing from the vantage point of ten years in the future. The most frustrating problem for me though, was the framing of "junk science/thought" and "pseudoscience." She doesn't directly position them as diametric opposites of "real science/thought" until the conclusion, but the implications of essential purity of a scientific/intellectual culture are clear throughout. Jacoby dismisses Sandra Harding's work on the basis that it "attack[s] some of the most monumental fields of human endeavor as hopelessly tainted by the male lust for violence and domination," (230-231) which I am supposed to recognize as inherently ridiculous even though it is, in fact, a egregious misreading; Jacoby would do well to revisit strong objectivity. Likewise, Jacoby pooh-poohs the entire field of fat studies by pointing to a few books/articles/panels that appear to be messes, but we all know you can do that with every academic field under the sun, and I would argue that fat studies have been instrumental in working towards a more science-based approach to understanding (the inefficacy of and social preoccupation with) dieting and weight loss.
(In case you were curious, the word "Foucault" or any derivatives or associated concepts do not appear in the text; this is kind of cowardly on the part of the author. Jacoby doesn't mention social history either, but I think it's fair to assume she thinks it's debasing.)
Anyway I'm going to go read a book about the history of disco music now.
leannaaker's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book, which takes a detailed look at the dumbing down of America and how our society has come to devalue intellectualism. Jacoby looks at religion, distractionism, the nature of politics, TV culture, etc. I found the book a fascinating account of the historical changes that have lead us to this point, though I found myself wishing for a tighter tie-in to her thesis. Just felt like the individual chapters could have been woven better into the whole. I would recommend this for any discerning reader who might be looking for a historical take on why society is in the disturbing predicament it is.
thebradking's review
3.0
Susan Jacoby's book is at its best when she's weaving together her philosophical take on intellectualism and elitism with failings in modern education, American citizens, and public debate. Unfortunately, she sometimes falls into a sense of "days gone by," reminiscing about individual moments in history, e.g. Robert Kennedy announcing the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr, without convincingly connecting that moment to her thesis.
That Robert Kennedy uses a few lines of poetry in an extemporaneous speech hardly qualifies as proof of his intellectualism, any more than I using poetry from the likes of Robert Frost or Stephen Crane as a teacher proves my elitism. Still the book offers an interesting take on how relativism in education has helped usher in the age of pseudo-science, which in turn begets a dumbed-down public debate in America.
There's little chance that anyone reading the book will come away with an opinion, as Jacoby's take on religion, television, media, education, and politics are the foundation of the work. While some essays left me wanting the author to prove her point (she often argues with anecdote), each section forced me to consider where I stood on the issue of intellectualism in America.
That Robert Kennedy uses a few lines of poetry in an extemporaneous speech hardly qualifies as proof of his intellectualism, any more than I using poetry from the likes of Robert Frost or Stephen Crane as a teacher proves my elitism. Still the book offers an interesting take on how relativism in education has helped usher in the age of pseudo-science, which in turn begets a dumbed-down public debate in America.
There's little chance that anyone reading the book will come away with an opinion, as Jacoby's take on religion, television, media, education, and politics are the foundation of the work. While some essays left me wanting the author to prove her point (she often argues with anecdote), each section forced me to consider where I stood on the issue of intellectualism in America.
sternjon's review
5.0
One of the best things I read last year -- an account of how smart became uncool and untrustworthy.
thbevilacqua's review
2.0
While there are certain aspects of the book that I disagreed with (even to a profound degree), overall I found Jacoby's book to be a thoughtful diagnosis of the issues in America regarding our lack of intellectual curiosity as well as the degree to which we have become conditioned to not trust those who present themselves as intellectuals. This book addresses a problem in American society that, sadly, persists to this day.
rjvrtiska's review against another edition
4.0
A valuable plunge into the history of an insidious, strategic dumbing down of America. As hard as it is for us to believe in the 21st century, it didn’t start with TicTok, or Facebook, or the internet, nor even the boob-tube. Jacoby unearths the roots, right there behind the creation of American democracy and the touting of personal independence.
Now, 15 years after the book’s publication, on the other side of a particularly egregious example of unreason labeled President and the rise of Fake News, what might it take to turn the tide? What did the Renaissance have that we don’t have? What’s the next Gutenberg press? What situation of experiences will foster the next batch of great thinkers in close enough proximity to sharpen each other? Jacoby’s book seems to rule out America’s upper and middle classes following the current status quo.
(Trigger warning: Jacoby pulls no punches in her treatment of America’s Christian culture and its hand in stifling intellectual conversation and curiosity. As a Christian, I don’t think her points are presented in a balanced way, but, in fairness, American Christianity has rarely encouraged questioning, and generally tends toward fanaticism over criticism. Jacoby’s criticisms deserve consideration.)
Now, 15 years after the book’s publication, on the other side of a particularly egregious example of unreason labeled President and the rise of Fake News, what might it take to turn the tide? What did the Renaissance have that we don’t have? What’s the next Gutenberg press? What situation of experiences will foster the next batch of great thinkers in close enough proximity to sharpen each other? Jacoby’s book seems to rule out America’s upper and middle classes following the current status quo.
(Trigger warning: Jacoby pulls no punches in her treatment of America’s Christian culture and its hand in stifling intellectual conversation and curiosity. As a Christian, I don’t think her points are presented in a balanced way, but, in fairness, American Christianity has rarely encouraged questioning, and generally tends toward fanaticism over criticism. Jacoby’s criticisms deserve consideration.)
viveknshah's review against another edition
2.0
Hooter: Tracing the history of the lack of political astuteness of the voting common man in the American context tending towards anti-intellectual narrative of today.
Highly academic and probably a lot of context which didn't connect with me, the broad strokes are resonating. We are seeing it across the world as the intellectual elite in his/her ivory tower has lost the connect or the aura they once had. Susan feels saddened by that so the book does rail towards the left . Written in a chronological order, captures the phases as various factors lead to the downfall of intelligentsia thinking amongst the masses. Skipping her narrative aside, it gives good color into the history of things like popular culture, politics and movies in America and all her effort into research comes across really well, her bias not so much.
Highly academic and probably a lot of context which didn't connect with me, the broad strokes are resonating. We are seeing it across the world as the intellectual elite in his/her ivory tower has lost the connect or the aura they once had. Susan feels saddened by that so the book does rail towards the left . Written in a chronological order, captures the phases as various factors lead to the downfall of intelligentsia thinking amongst the masses. Skipping her narrative aside, it gives good color into the history of things like popular culture, politics and movies in America and all her effort into research comes across really well, her bias not so much.