I do not usually post my book reviews, but reading this book helped me understand better our current cultural climate, in particular the elastic notion of truth that is so prevalent in politics, media, the church, and the university setting.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A book that is devastating to many of those that modern thinkers hold in high esteem, such as Rousseau, Marx, Tolstoy, Sarte and Brecht. Johnson knows a lot, has studied a lot, and is willing to call these men (and one woman) what they were: mean, greedy for fame and often money, immoral, hateful towards women and children, and above all persistent liars. Truth for them was malleable, especially when their reputation was at stake.
One reviewer said that Johnson ignored their good contributions, which is not true. He notes that if Tolstoy has stuck to writing he would have been fine. He says that Hemingway’s devotion to his craft was unsurpassed. But the point of the book is that they did not just write or speak. They thought they were messiahs who had some special destiny to guide humanity in truth. The theme is not what they did well, but how their lives were staunchly immoral, despite their accomplishments.
As I look around our world the thoughts and ideas of these men still echo, but it has shifted to Hollywood. Today it is not philosophy professors or even playwrights who shape thinking, but actors, directors, and the movies they make. Fascination with sexual freedom, the love of money, the shading of the truth in the name of Humanity, the desire to identify with the workers, excusing violence when it accomplishes their ends, and the vicious intolerance of all opposing viewpoints was characteristic of intellectuals and is now characteristic of Hollywood and our ruling class in general.
Unfortunately, Johnson’s book assumes, what can no longer be assumed, a standard of right and wrong that has long since be lost. Most who read it today will be fascinated, but ultimately will say, “So what that Hemingway was a drunk adulterer? Who cares that Marx lied? Who cares that men claimed to be pacifists, but often supported violence to accomplish their goals? What is that to me? I like their books and their ideas and their movies. And isn’t my opinion and feelings what really matters?” That response goes to show that, at least in America and Europe, the intellectuals have won.
Hi Peter,
Sounds like a book I need to read! Your review raised a question in my mind and I wondered how you would respond to it. I can imagine having a discussion with my non-christian friend about how the intellect is not the answer to life’s questions and basing some of my arguments on the above book/review. Here is the question/argument that I would hear back, “What about Augustine, he had a lot of “bad habits”…?” I just used Augustine as an example but we all still have sin to deal with even after our redemption. How would you answer a question like that? I hope that makes sense? Does the book deal with this question? Thanks for all your posts, I always enjoy your perspective.
Robert, the book really doesn’t answer that question. Here is a short answer from me. For Christians the answer comes in several ways. First, we acknowledge sin to be sin. We do not make mistakes. We break God’s law which means we deserve death. Even sin we don’t see needs to be confessed (Psalm 19:12-13). We know that we indwelling sin can never be totally defeated. Second, we continually flee to Christ’s blood to cleanse us from our sins. Third, we rely upon the Spirit, working through the Word, prayer, and His people to help us kill indwelling sin over the course of our lives. We do not simply confess sin we also mortify it. The men in the book, with one exception, did not see their lying, greed, adultery, etc. as sin. They excused it because of all the great good they had done for humanity.
Thanks, brother. That is the direction I was thinking too. It comes down to recognizing that we are sinners and I believe that is the work of The Spirit. Keep up the good work!