Twenty-two sparkling essays defend the apocalyptic proposition that
American culture "has somehow begun sliding down a long, steep
chute into nullity." Ever since Allan Bloom unexpectedly hit the
bestseller lists in 1988 with his denunciation of cultural and
intellectual standards in the US, publishers have cheerfully
cultivated his theme. Bad news is good business, and the news in
Dumbing Down is pretty bad: American religion has degenerated into
kitsch; malls have helped erode our democratic concept of public
space; museums have trivialized history and science; computers are
destroying literacy; bad science is dumbing down good science; the
quality of our language is sinking to an all time low. Even the New
Yorker has been watered down to seem more like People. By now such
news is not exactly news. Nevertheless, as dubious as this genre is
becoming, it must be noted that Washburn and Thornton (she is a
freelance writer and editor, he is a literary agent) have assembled
an outstanding collection of essays on contemporary American life,
with elegant contributions (most of them written expressly for this
volume) from such well-known figures as Joseph Epstein, George
Kennan, and Cynthia Ozick. Anecdote largely replaces argument in
books of this sort. Novelist David Slavitt's recollection of his
job at a major news magazine is typical: "When I was at Newsweek,
it wasn't a magazine that most of the people who worked there would
have read voluntarily. I mean, when they taught me that I was
supposed to write 'Plato, the Greek philosopher once said . . .,'
it wasn't a joke. The identifying appositive had to be there. (I
always tried to imagine someone out there slapping his forehead and
thinking, Oh, yeah, right, that Plato.)" Welcome to the apocalypse.
If we end up in the toxic landfill of History, it won't be because
the writers in this witty, wonderfully entertaining collection
failed to warn us. (Kirkus Reviews)
Passionate observers across the political/intellectual spectrum confront the downward spiral of American life, art, and thought. With vigor, wit, learning, common sense, and urgency, twenty-three essayist—including John Simon, Cynthia Ozick, Phillip Lopate, George F. Kennan, Sven Birkerts, Joseph Epstein, and Brad Leithauser—examine aspects of our pan-cultural "dumbing down" and offer both diagnoses of and possible cures for this wasting disease.
"What distinguishes this collection is its breadth, its liveliness. This valuable book provides much ammunition for . . . unrepentant elitists." —Lisa Zeidner, Philadelphia Inquirer
"A collection of savagely witty essays by a hardy band of cultural commentators who believe things are bad, really bad out there, and are not at all reluctant to say so." —Florence King, National Review
"Provides the best picture we have of the declining and embarrassing condition of discourse in America." —Neil Postman
"Welcome to the Apocalypse. If we end up in the toxic landfill of history it won't be because the writers in this witty, wonderfully entertaining collection failed to warn us." —Kirkus Reviews
"A terrific book. It is unsettling, arresting, and compelling, and its publication is a public service."—William J. Bennett
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