Dr. Esolen's Remedy

Fans of Anthony Esolen will certainly want to know that his Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization is now in print this summer. Give a copy to yourself and to your favorite college students as vaccinations before they head off to college this fall, before it's too late!

Comments

[GL]

I can't wait to get my copy!

[Judy K. Warner]

I am copying here a most entertaining review at Amazon -- not at all typical of the mostly very positive reviews, by the way.

0 of 14 people found the following review helpful: bigoted trash and propaganda, July 13, 2008 By B. B. Bridenbaugh "KingNot" - See all my reviews

I read through this and the "Enviornmental" one in this depraved series. It'd be good for a sick laugh, like watching "Shocker" sites on the net, except that few people actually learn "Critical thinking" skills and some people are indeed drawn into the sick poison of "Right wing" thought that behaves much like a destructive mind-control Cult.

I'm "Liberal" I guess, so I don't mind it being here, but I ask this:

If you are also a free thinker, write to the bookstores, talk to the managers and ask to have this series of books removed from the shelves. Too many bookstores already keep stuff we like off the shelves, not just because "Right Wingers" do this all day everyday, but they claim there's not enough market to support all the obscure and weird stuff we really like. But I notice, the "Religious Fiction", the 1/2 of the "Political" section that is "Right Wing" and other blatantly planted stuff gather dust on the shelves. If they can't, say, stock "Hakim Bey" books or "Illuminated Rumi" books, how can they keep enough non-selling "Right Wing" propaganda to reach the false ceiling 3 times?

If this book is so "good", it'll still do well on Amazon and e-bay. Let those knowing about it already order online for the fuel for their bigotry. Let it be placed online by its literary equals, Mein Kamph, The Protocols and that Japanese film that the "Tubgirl" picture is from.

I'm actually offended by this. And I think that's the point. The "Right Wingers" are not going to buy this book. I doubt it'll make a real profit. But, IMHO, the power brokers behind the media and publishing empires printed this and put it on the shelves just to harass us to somehow 'convince' us their dark vision of hatred and fear is right just because that book is in our face and more and more of the stuff we like and buy is pushed online. Joe 6 pack isn't going to buy this book, $20 is a case of beer or 1/8th the price of his pickup/SUV weekly gas bill.

We have the right to vote with our wallets and in personal testimony as customers to remove this garbage. And if the book companies refuse, time to startup more "Non-Corporate" chains, these big book store chains will collapse with the coffeshop empires.

Interesting that this raving lunatic describes himself as "liberal." What do you have to believe to be radical?

[Bill R]

Judy, if that review doesn't cause folks to go out and buy a copy (or many copies), I don't know what will. I'm still laughing...all the way to the bookstore!

[GL]

>>>If you are also a free thinker, write to the bookstores, talk to the managers and ask to have this series of books removed from the shelves.<<<

Ah, yes. A free thinker who wants to ban books. . . . Actually that's par for the course, but then their entire lives are a mass of contradictions, so one should not be surprised to see that demonstrated in a single sentence.

[Nick Milne]

I have not yet purchased my copy, but I intend very much to do so. I'm not sold on the series as a whole, but if Anthony Esolen writes something I'm happy to give it a spot on my shelf.

I regret to say, actually, that I passed up a chance to buy it last weekend. It was in my hand and everything. But, in the end, I spent my allotted budget on a book by Terry Eagleton, an explanation of which turn of events would be too long and depressing to be worthwhile. I've had few stranger experiences than reading a condemnation of postmodern cultural theory and a defense of objective morality and the ordering towards the good as written by someone who still somehow contrives to believe that Marxism is true, but that hardly seems like an excuse for having failed to buy the superior book.

So, Prof. Esolen, if you're reading this: I'm sorry. It won't happen again.

And the review cited above is beautiful.

[Joe Long]

"Listen to the fools reproach! It is a kingly title!"

[Kamilla]

I'm picking up my copy on the way home from work this evening.

But from peaking at the preview pages available at Amazon, I have to tell you, Tony, that I am disappointed. You aren't smiling in your author photo. I've always imagined you smiling.

Kamilla