Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lee Harris
My friend Dymphna at Gates of Vienna suggested I read The Next American Civil War by Lee Harris, in response to one of my recent posts. In the process of looking up the one book at Barnes and Nobel, I saw he had written two others of interest, Civilization and Its Enemies and The Suicide of Reason. I have finished the first and am close to completing The Next American Civil War.
This is the most original and brilliant modern thinker and philosopher I have read. In Civilization he applies a totally new way of looking at the way civilizations come about and how they are maintained. He also puts a totally different perspective on the terrorist acts of the Islamists. In The Next American Civil War he again provides a completely new way of looking at the rise of the United States and provides clear reasons as to why it is unique in the world, and how its functioning is unique.
The ideas are large in scope but the writing is very clear and logical. The books are not even weighty tomes, but are shorter than some novels. His writing style puts a lot of ideas into relatively few words. For anyone who cares about this country, where it is going, and what it faces from the rest of the world, these books provide plenty of material for new ideas. His views cannot be labeled with the usual labels of liberal, conservative, or libertarian. In fact, one cannot properly say he has presented views but rather analysis, excellent analysis.
I took time from my major projects to read these books and will also read The Suicide of Reason before I return to them. The time is well worth it. If nothing else, read Civilization and Its Enemies. If your mind is open to new ideas you will find them. If you want to keep your old, comfortable ways of thinking, its your choice but you will be the worse for it.
This is the most original and brilliant modern thinker and philosopher I have read. In Civilization he applies a totally new way of looking at the way civilizations come about and how they are maintained. He also puts a totally different perspective on the terrorist acts of the Islamists. In The Next American Civil War he again provides a completely new way of looking at the rise of the United States and provides clear reasons as to why it is unique in the world, and how its functioning is unique.
The ideas are large in scope but the writing is very clear and logical. The books are not even weighty tomes, but are shorter than some novels. His writing style puts a lot of ideas into relatively few words. For anyone who cares about this country, where it is going, and what it faces from the rest of the world, these books provide plenty of material for new ideas. His views cannot be labeled with the usual labels of liberal, conservative, or libertarian. In fact, one cannot properly say he has presented views but rather analysis, excellent analysis.
I took time from my major projects to read these books and will also read The Suicide of Reason before I return to them. The time is well worth it. If nothing else, read Civilization and Its Enemies. If your mind is open to new ideas you will find them. If you want to keep your old, comfortable ways of thinking, its your choice but you will be the worse for it.
// posted by Bill @ 3:01 PM 
