That there has long been a heavy anti-intellectual strain in the American psyche is, I believe, something many won't deny. But what are its roots? Where did it come from? And why?
Susan Jacoby's new book is a look at the dark side of American intellectual evolution (to use a hot-button term). And what a dark side it is.
One aspect of the media coverage I have found of her book that is sadly reinforcing of the general intellectual clime and the tropes of anti-intellectualism in this country is that so many of those reviewing her book seem not to have read past the first chapter.
Take this review for instance: [1]
Such, uh, lack of global awareness is the kind of thing that drives Susan Jacoby, author of “The Age of American Unreason,” up a wall. Ms. Jacoby is one of a number of writers with new books that bemoan the state of American culture. . . The surprise at her own dependency on electronic and visual media made her realize just how pervasive the culture of distraction is and how susceptible everyone is — even curmudgeons.
American culture? Please, did Ms. Cohen actually read the whole book? If she had she'd realize it was about intellectual history and it's influence on or culture--not a book about our culture. All the reviewer does is take a couple of examples from the first chapter and lumps them in with Lee Seigel, of all people. What codswallop, as Jacoby would say.
Or even the oversimplified interview [2] by the godfather of mainstream nuance and criticism Bill Moyers.
That's all for the worse, as this is a very fascinating, if grim look into the history of intellectualism in America. If ever we are to embrace the reality-based world this book is a good first step. I don't have much more to say about the book right now, as I am not finished with it, except this: it would be a remarkable read beside this biography [3]