The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy"[A] passionate, compelling, and disturbing argument that the ills of democracy in the United States today arise from the default of its elites." —John Gray, New York Times Book Review (front-page review) In a front-page review in the Washington Post Book World, John Judis wrote: "Political analysts have been poring over exit polls and precinct-level votes to gauge the meaning of last November's election, but they would probably better employ their time reading the late Christopher Lasch's book." And in the National Review, Robert Bork says The Revolt of the Elites "ranges provocatively [and] insightfully."Controversy has raged around Lasch's targeted attack on the elites, their loss of moral values, and their abandonment of the middle class and poor, for he sets up the media and educational institutions as a large source of the problem. In this spirited work, Lasch calls out for a return to community, schools that teach history not self-esteem, and a return to morality and even the teachings of religion. He does this in a nonpartisan manner, looking to the lessons of American history, and castigating those in power for the ever-widening gap between the economic classes, which has created a crisis in American society. The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy is riveting social commentary. |
Contents
| 3 | |
I The Intensification of Social Divisions | 23 |
II Democratic Discourse in Decline | 115 |
III The Dark Night of the Soul | 195 |
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Common terms and phrases
academic according allegedly American appeared argue argument become believe Brownson called century CHRISTOPHER LASCH citizenship civic civil claim communitarianism concept criticism culture decline democracy democratic Dewey dominant effect elites equality essay ethical foundationalism Freud hope human idea ideal ideology important individuals industrial insistence institutions intellectual issues Jim Sleeper John Dewey laboring class less liberal Lippmann live Mann Mann's Mary Parker Follett ment meritocracy Mickey Kaus middle class mind modern moral neighborhood Oldenburg opinion opportunity Orestes Brownson Oscar Wilde Philip Rieff point of view political poverty privileged professional promote psychoanalysis public debate question R. H. Tawney racial racism radical religion religious responsibility Revolt Rieff secular self-esteem sense shame Siracusa Sleeper social mobility society speak standards theory therapeutic things third place tion tradition universal upward mobility virtue wage labor wealth welfare women words Wurmser York