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Product Description
Review
Gray's dissection of modern delusion, cant and wishful thinking is to be welcomed in this moment of convulsion ... This is a book to learn from and argue with (Ben Wilson Literary Review )
A thoroughly enjoyable book ... These essays cover a remarkable range of topics, from Isaiah Berlin to Damien Hirst, from torture to environmentalism. But their unifying theme is that our naïve belief in the idea of progress has turned modern life into a constant round of shadow-boxing (David Runciman Observer )
A visionary ... one of the most reliably provocative and heterodox voices in British intellectual life today (Jonathan Derbyshire New Statesman )
A thoroughly enjoyable book ... These essays cover a remarkable range of topics, from Isaiah Berlin to Damien Hirst, from torture to environmentalism. But their unifying theme is that our naïve belief in the idea of progress has turned modern life into a constant round of shadow-boxing (David Runciman Observer )
A visionary ... one of the most reliably provocative and heterodox voices in British intellectual life today (Jonathan Derbyshire New Statesman )
Product Description
Why is progress a pernicious myth? Why do beliefs that humanity can be improved end in farce or horror? Is atheism a hangover from Christian faith?
John Gray, one of the most iconoclastic thinkers of our time, smashes through civilization's long cherished beliefs, overturning our view of the world and our place in it.
'The most prescient of British public intellectuals' Pankaj Mishra, Financial Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My title is a quote from a cover review: and it sums it up. At times I was nodding in agreement, other times I was furiously irritated, and again sometimes left shaking my head wondering just what his deep, philosophical discussions were about. I like to have my prejudices exposed and challenged. John Gray is happy to parade his prejudices and to argue for them. It makes for a good book.
This selection of essays are drawn from his writings from 1983 to 2008, and cover a wide range of topics. It's possible to see how his thoughts and arguments have changed over time; and how the increasing diversity of his work has translated into his work. So, here are some of his thoughts on morality, politics, religion, art, Green issues - and more.
Well recommended.
This selection of essays are drawn from his writings from 1983 to 2008, and cover a wide range of topics. It's possible to see how his thoughts and arguments have changed over time; and how the increasing diversity of his work has translated into his work. So, here are some of his thoughts on morality, politics, religion, art, Green issues - and more.
Well recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This selection of Gray's work is an excellent window in the thinking that has engaged and enraged many people. Sceptical of progress and humanism, Gray makes those who could not be more certain in the truth stop and think again. The perfect book for those who wish to get to familiar with his work.
Format:Hardcover
The book's title - "selected writings" - is appropriate, because the various essays span decades of Gray's academic career; and it is important to note that many of the passages are in a very tedious academic style. Quite frankly, Gray is dilatory when it comes to making a point.
Gray's worst misdemeanour - in my view - is using excessively long sentences with protracted interjections. Reading Gray is rather like learning German; everything is a mystery until the last word of the sentence, by which time one has forgotten what the sentence was originally about. His second misdemeanour is the use of such uncommon words that the reader must be armed with a good dictionary; which is a shame because plain language would have equally served the purpose in most cases.
Having put all that, Gray's book contains some very fine observations on contemporary politics if one can decypher them, and provided a person can put up with the academic style, it is well worth reading.
Gray's worst misdemeanour - in my view - is using excessively long sentences with protracted interjections. Reading Gray is rather like learning German; everything is a mystery until the last word of the sentence, by which time one has forgotten what the sentence was originally about. His second misdemeanour is the use of such uncommon words that the reader must be armed with a good dictionary; which is a shame because plain language would have equally served the purpose in most cases.
Having put all that, Gray's book contains some very fine observations on contemporary politics if one can decypher them, and provided a person can put up with the academic style, it is well worth reading.
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