Dumbing Down

Essays on the Strip-Mining of American Culture

22 December 1997

John F. Thornton (Editor), Katharine Washburn (Editor)

With an Introduction by John Simon

Description

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.

Reviews

"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

"What distinguishes this collection is its breadth, its liveliness. This valuable book provides much ammunition for . . . unrepentant elitists." — Lisa Zeidner, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Provides the best picture we have of the declining and embarrassing condition of discourse in America." — Neil Postman

"A terrific book. It is unsettling, arresting, and compelling, and its publication is a public service." — William J. Bennett

Paperback

9780393317237

157 x 234 mm • 332 pages

£20.00

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