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:

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 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 of Walter Lippmann, which is, in essence, a history of the positive trends in American intellectualism during the 20^th century. More soon.