leonajasmin's review against another edition
4.0
Personally, I disagreed with quite a few of the arguments Murray presented, but I have to admit that I like his writing style. It was highly readable and presented in a way where many of his points make sense. There was clearly a lot of mulling before the publication of this book; you can tell it wasn't written on the fly.
It is very obvious where Murray sits on the political spectrum when reading this book but if you are open to reading pieces from other political viewpoints than I recommend having a gander at this one.
It is very obvious where Murray sits on the political spectrum when reading this book but if you are open to reading pieces from other political viewpoints than I recommend having a gander at this one.
lilyofthevalley_reads's review against another edition
It started out really strong, but I think that this is a case of I waited a bit too long to read this and now nearly ten years after its publication, it’s a bit outdated. Also, some of the chapters were like flogging a dead horse; we get the point you’re trying to make, do we really need a chapter this long in order to make it?! Some of the chapters were really dry , academic, and philosophical about western society (not my speed at all).
frak00's review against another edition
1.0
My mouth tastes foul now…
This book is to history and society what self-help is to psychology and self-care: a grandiose design, filled with dread and inducing anxiety, and oft promising salvation through a prescribed set of solutions. The malady is that, like the self-help genre, it substantiates none of its claims with evidence.
I am appaled by the number of reviews talking about “facts”, as if the opinion of a largely misguided fear-mongerer was, of itself, fact-making. Facts, my fellow kin, are made so by hard evidence (what a rationalist might call lowering the probability of the opposing non-fact).
As a white European, I suppose I should be running to the hills by now. And by the hills I mean Switzerland, which stands as a bastion of purity in a completely Islamified Europe. Oh my, oh my, run away, the death of Europe is coming! We are completely surrounded and the end is near… Repent!
Oh what the hell Mr. Murray, I'll quote the great Billy Connolly: “fuck off!” It's so difficult to see a learned man succumb to the tactics of the extreme political poles (left and right). Please engage with the vast hordes of foreigners and try to be human for once. This isn't to preach that we should “open the gates” to just about anyone, that isn't the point. But I've met a number of refugees and heard their stories. Many don't want to be here in the first place.
Might I suggest, Mr. Murray — seeing as you're a Brit —, that you look at the past actions of your own country and consider how they are linked to the problems that create refugees in the first place? Oh, but oh well, I am now decrying Europe and falling prey to white guilt, I must be an ultra-leftist hyper-liberal woke anti-Christ. My, oh my, it is truly the end of the continent!
Look at the numbers, look at how migration communities contribute to their host countries, etc. Yes, some apples in the basket were rotten, but you can't burn down the whole orchard as a solution. And you shouldn't invade other countries' orchards either. Or fund the weapons used by the orchard rebels. And so on.
Let the whole of this failing continent's assailed populace cry in unison: Mr. Murray, fuck off.
I want to take a few verses from “An die Freude”, the anthem of a Union Mr. Murray's country has decided to abandon. Perhaps the very words that we hoped to enshrine — which the United Kingdom now disregards due to the force majeure of ‘migrants are terrible!’ —, can shine some light on what it could mean to be a true European (a “friend's friend”):
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt.
Alle Menschen werden Brüder
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.
Alright, now that that's out of the way — and I can pretend I never read this —, I'm going to enjoy my perfectly fine agnostic life. Oh sorry, I meant I'm going to try falling asleep whilst soaked in fear, surrounded by Allah-worshipping demons, in the failed nation of Belgium. I hope Brexit really fixes all of that for ya.
This book is to history and society what self-help is to psychology and self-care: a grandiose design, filled with dread and inducing anxiety, and oft promising salvation through a prescribed set of solutions. The malady is that, like the self-help genre, it substantiates none of its claims with evidence.
I am appaled by the number of reviews talking about “facts”, as if the opinion of a largely misguided fear-mongerer was, of itself, fact-making. Facts, my fellow kin, are made so by hard evidence (what a rationalist might call lowering the probability of the opposing non-fact).
As a white European, I suppose I should be running to the hills by now. And by the hills I mean Switzerland, which stands as a bastion of purity in a completely Islamified Europe. Oh my, oh my, run away, the death of Europe is coming! We are completely surrounded and the end is near… Repent!
Oh what the hell Mr. Murray, I'll quote the great Billy Connolly: “fuck off!” It's so difficult to see a learned man succumb to the tactics of the extreme political poles (left and right). Please engage with the vast hordes of foreigners and try to be human for once. This isn't to preach that we should “open the gates” to just about anyone, that isn't the point. But I've met a number of refugees and heard their stories. Many don't want to be here in the first place.
Might I suggest, Mr. Murray — seeing as you're a Brit —, that you look at the past actions of your own country and consider how they are linked to the problems that create refugees in the first place? Oh, but oh well, I am now decrying Europe and falling prey to white guilt, I must be an ultra-leftist hyper-liberal woke anti-Christ. My, oh my, it is truly the end of the continent!
Look at the numbers, look at how migration communities contribute to their host countries, etc. Yes, some apples in the basket were rotten, but you can't burn down the whole orchard as a solution. And you shouldn't invade other countries' orchards either. Or fund the weapons used by the orchard rebels. And so on.
Let the whole of this failing continent's assailed populace cry in unison: Mr. Murray, fuck off.
I want to take a few verses from “An die Freude”, the anthem of a Union Mr. Murray's country has decided to abandon. Perhaps the very words that we hoped to enshrine — which the United Kingdom now disregards due to the force majeure of ‘migrants are terrible!’ —, can shine some light on what it could mean to be a true European (a “friend's friend”):
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt.
Alle Menschen werden Brüder
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.
Alright, now that that's out of the way — and I can pretend I never read this —, I'm going to enjoy my perfectly fine agnostic life. Oh sorry, I meant I'm going to try falling asleep whilst soaked in fear, surrounded by Allah-worshipping demons, in the failed nation of Belgium. I hope Brexit really fixes all of that for ya.
kylahannon's review against another edition
4.0
Everybody should read this book. Should be put onto the school curriculum. Really was a big wake up call for me and made me realise Europe should be doing more to protect its culture, society and history
neural_lauren_unreal's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't finish due to how annoyingly repetitive and emotive it is. Still this book has a few good points:
Diversity is not necessarily good in itself. The absurdity of white guilt both as a popular sentiment as well as a justification for uncontrolled mass migration. The necessity to have a rational discussion about immigrant policy and the impact of massive population influx from a very different culture on the local one without being labelled as a racist. And above all, the truth that one should make political decisions from the head, not and never from the heart. The road to hell IS often paved with good intentions.
I am pessimistic about Europe. Will review at another time.
Diversity is not necessarily good in itself. The absurdity of white guilt both as a popular sentiment as well as a justification for uncontrolled mass migration. The necessity to have a rational discussion about immigrant policy and the impact of massive population influx from a very different culture on the local one without being labelled as a racist. And above all, the truth that one should make political decisions from the head, not and never from the heart. The road to hell IS often paved with good intentions.
I am pessimistic about Europe. Will review at another time.
sandyjhutti's review against another edition
1.0
A passionate defense of white Europeans, who of course could do no wrong.
There is an issue with immigration policies, yet no solution was given or even hinted at. The author would have benefitted from understanding the impact of colonialism on the countries it is working so hard to keep out.
There is an issue with immigration policies, yet no solution was given or even hinted at. The author would have benefitted from understanding the impact of colonialism on the countries it is working so hard to keep out.
cantordustbunnies's review against another edition
5.0
Murray brings his points across in an elegant, mannered, and calm way which showcases not only his intelligence but his class. I would really like to see someone from the opposition read this book in good faith and provide serious and well thought out reasons why they disagree with him, because it would be very difficult to do so. Murray does not villainize or misunderstand the opposition and addresses typical responses and stances within his argumentation. In some ways this book can come across as completely common sense but it very much needed to be written and needs to be read. I thoroughly enjoyed that at no point did Murray pander to the audience and always wrote in an earnest, respectful manner. The issues addressed in this book are among the most prescient concerns of western civilization and Murray provides copious documentation and specific proof of his claims.
ameliacball's review against another edition
4.0
Takeaways from this book:
- Europe has lost its identity, becoming increasingly secular and nihilist. This identity is being take over by an Islamic faith, which has the power to take over whatever little European culture and faith left.
- Chancellor Merkel opened borders to refugees from Syria that turned out to be primarily economic migrants. There was no system of claims for asylum, deportation, or legal immigration in general.
- To oppose this system of mass migration, as E. Europe did, was considered racist and was vehemently fought against- although much of the European public was against this mass migration.
- Assimilation/multiculturalism has historically failed, as stated by the Chancellor in 2010.
- The implications are vast but include less foreign intervention in states abroad and less resistance to migration in the future as the population becomes primarily Muslim.
Well-written and thought-provoking but lacked a holistic view to the situation- if there had been a rebuttal against the overwhelming evidence that migrants are beneficial to the economy/society, I would have been more enamored with the ideas presented. Regardless, unique and provocative, which I suppose is the main goal.
- Europe has lost its identity, becoming increasingly secular and nihilist. This identity is being take over by an Islamic faith, which has the power to take over whatever little European culture and faith left.
- Chancellor Merkel opened borders to refugees from Syria that turned out to be primarily economic migrants. There was no system of claims for asylum, deportation, or legal immigration in general.
- To oppose this system of mass migration, as E. Europe did, was considered racist and was vehemently fought against- although much of the European public was against this mass migration.
- Assimilation/multiculturalism has historically failed, as stated by the Chancellor in 2010.
- The implications are vast but include less foreign intervention in states abroad and less resistance to migration in the future as the population becomes primarily Muslim.
Well-written and thought-provoking but lacked a holistic view to the situation- if there had been a rebuttal against the overwhelming evidence that migrants are beneficial to the economy/society, I would have been more enamored with the ideas presented. Regardless, unique and provocative, which I suppose is the main goal.