The strain of anti intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just. Long ago richard hofstadter wrote a classic study, anti intellectualism in american life, in which he described the hostility entitled to the life of the mind as deeply rooted in. Its great theme our nations longstanding resentment and suspicion of the life of the mind and of those who are considered to represent it allows the late. In so doing, he explores questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of. Publication date 1963 publisher new york alfred alfred a. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say something about what the intellectual is, and can be, as a. Intellectualism antiintellectualism flashcards quizlet. Read antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter available from rakuten kobo. A selection from antiintellectualism in american life. Michael dirda is a fulbright fellowship recipient and pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world.
A book which throws light on many features of the american character. Culturally, the ideal american was the selfmade man whose knowledge derived from lifeexperience, not an intellectual man whose knowledge of the real world derived from books, formal education, and academic study. Thanks to columbia universitys richard hofstadter we have at last a fresh, forceful, fluent look from the nether end at various aspects of anti intellectualism in america, past and present, and although it is selfstyled a fragmentary rather than a formal study, the work is farranging, artfully approached and filled with a spirited, sensibility, without pedantry or polemic. Antiintellectualism in american life ebook by richard. In anti intellectualism in american life, hofstadter delineates the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society from a virtue to a vice. It is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Explorations of antiintellectualism in black america duration.
According to richard hofstadter 19161970, who authored antiintellectualism in american life 1963, one of the most important studies of this bias, the term itself was rarely heard before the 1950s, when mccarthyism made many people suspicious of thinkers and social critics. Cultivating the life of the mind is not an option for most, and its this perceived elitism that invited antiintellectualism in the hard working sectors. From richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life. In this awardwinning classic work of consensus history, richard hofstadter, author of the age of reform, examines the role of social movements in the perception of intellect in american life. Mar 22, 2018 american enterprise institute 14,084 views 1. March 20, 2007, as the new antiintellectualism in america related stories why thinking outside the box is not so easy, august 30, 2006. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. Antiintellectualism in american life book the seattle. Antiintellectualism is taking over the us opinion the.
But antiintellectualism also exists among corporate elites and political elites because serious social thought means that things might change and change is. Antiintellectualism in america, then and now the new york. Richard hofstadter antiintellectualism in american life. Culturally, the ideal american was the selfmade man whose knowledge derived from life experience, not an intellectual man whose knowledge of the real world derived from books, formal education, and academic study. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. In the wake of eisenhowers ridicule of the intellectual and mccarthyisms outright persecution of intellectuals, hofstadter.
Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter. Antiintellectualism is killing america psychology today. Jul 12, 2017 antiintellectualism in american lifeone of hofstadters best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a sizable hole in the house of. Antiintellectualism in american life book by richard hofstadter. In antiintellectualism in american life, hofstadter delineates the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society from a virtue to a vice. Long ago richard hofstadter wrote a classic study, antiintellectualism in american life, in which he described the hostility entitled to the life of the mind as deeply rooted in. In this book, hofstadter set out to trace the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society. Intellectuals, civilization, united states, intellectuels.
Hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life 1964 is a work of impressive scholarship that remains extremely and sometimes depressingly relevant today. Antiintellectualism in american life work by hofstadter. A measure of hofstadters standing in literary and scholarly circles is the honors he received in 1964 for anti intellectualism in american life 1963pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, the ralph waldo emerson prize of phi beta kappa, and the sidney hillman prize award. Anti intellectualis m in american life by richard hofstadter. Description of the book antiintellectualism in american life. Description of the book anti intellectualism in american life. Intellectualism antiintellectualism study guide by kturn18 includes 12 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Buy antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter online at alibris. Antiintellectualism in american life by hofstadter. Buy a cheap copy of antiintellectualism in american life book by richard hofstadter. Go to the editions section to read or download ebooks. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read antiintellectualism in american life. Antiintellectualismthe term antiintellectualism refers to a perceived cultural bias in america against those dedicated to conceptual production and analysis rather than to pragmatic, practical industry.
Anti intellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. A measure of hofstadters standing in literary and scholarly circles is the honors he received in 1964 for antiintellectualism in american life 1963pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, the ralph waldo emerson prize of phi beta kappa, and the sidney hillman prize award. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing antiintellectualism in american life. Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter january 22, 2018 humans may be functionally hardwired to resist changing our minds even when presented with compelling, factual evidence that demonstrates our initial positions to be incorrect.
The new antiintellectualism in america education week. Thanks to columbia universitys richard hofstadter we have at last a fresh, forceful, fluent look from the nether end at various aspects of antiintellectualism in america, past and present, and although it is selfstyled a fragmentary rather than a formal study, the work is farranging, artfully approached and filled with a spirited, sensibility, without pedantry or polemic. Yes, anti intellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, but it gives off an aura of dense, scholarly writing, its now fifty years out of date, and the title suggests more of a selfdefensive justification than a deep investigation. American libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Yes, antiintellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, but it gives off an aura of dense, scholarly writing, its now fifty years out of date, and the title suggests more of a selfdefensive justification than a deep investigation.
Antiintellectualism in american life books you may like. Hofstadter saw american anti intellectualism as a basically cyclical phenomenon that often manifested itself as the dark side of the countrys democratic. The age of american unreason by susan jacoby, anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter, ashes b. Brown notes of the publication of richard hofstadters anti intellectualism in american life 1963, cited approvingly by warner, it was ironically published in the golden age of. Antiintellectualism in american lifeone of hofstadters best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a sizable hole in the house of. Hofstadter saw american antiintellectualism as a basically cyclical phenomenon that often manifested itself as the dark side of the countrys democratic. Sep 24, 2012 in this elite company i place richard hofstadters wideranging cultural history, antiintellectualism in american life, recipient of the 1964 pulitzer prize for history. Anti intellectualis m in american life internet archive. He is the author of the memoir an open book 2003 and several collections of essays, including book by book 2005 and classics for pleasure 2007. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say something about what the intellectual is, and can be, as a force in a democratic society. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character.
In so doing, he explores questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of education altered that purpose and reshaped its form. Antiintellectualism in american life ebook written by richard hofstadter. Knopf collection universallibrary contributor universal digital library. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter, 1963, knopf edition, in english 1st ed. Apr 05, 2011 as a quasi extension of our occasional what were reading posts, i will report that just this morning i started antiintellectualism in american life, by the historian richard hofstadter, a book that won the pulitzer prize in 1964 and that seemed as if it might have a thing or two to say about the current moment. Bush, posed the question on his frumforum blog as to whether richard hofstadters great masterwork, antiintellectualism in american life 1963. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Much evidence suggests that this perception is an accurate one, even within institutions of higher learningthe oftcalled ivory towerswhen one looks simply at the appropriation of. Bush, posed the question on his frumforum blog as to whether richard hofstadters great. Antiintellectualism in american life this book sheds light on many features of the american character. Antiintellectualism in american life book by richard.
Jan 04, 2012 antiintellectualism in american life ebook written by richard hofstadter. This 1963 work is the classical study of the subject, followed by many more recent ones. Explorations of anti intellectualism in black america duration. Hofstadter unfolds the fascinating story, it is no crude battle of eggheads. Other articles where antiintellectualism in american life is discussed. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Richard hofstadter, antiintellectualism in american life, was published in early 1963, between the anticommunist crusades of the mccarthy era and the social convulsions of the late 1960s. Despite the late usage of the term, however, the phenomenon. Antiintellectualism in america, then and now the new. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing anti intellectualism in american life. Buy a cheap copy of anti intellectualism in american life book by richard hofstadter. His antiintellectualism in american life 1963, which won the 1964 pulitzer prize, presented his controversial thesis that the egalitarian, populist sentiments of jacksonian democracy, themes that have echoed recurrently through u. And i will refer you to his the paranoid style in american politics to show that we have always had tinhats. Antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter, 1963, knopf edition, in english 1st ed.
Antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Richard hofstadter and americas new wave of antiintellectualism. Antiintellectualism in america more than 25 years after allan bloom duration. It traces periods of intellectual flourishing as well as the reactions against them, from the deeply intellectual founding fathers to the incoherent and incandescent antiintellectual aggression of the mccarthy era. Antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. May 18, 2012 anti intellectualism is taking over the us. Lest i be accused of publicly putting on airs, i should.
Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfictionantiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Richard hofstadter, anti intellectualism in american life, was published in early 1963, between the anti communist crusades of the mccarthy era and the social convulsions of the late 1960s. Jan 04, 2012 winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfictionanti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. As a quasi extension of our occasional what were reading posts, i will report that just this morning i started antiintellectualism in american life, by the historian richard hofstadter, a book that won the pulitzer prize in 1964 and that seemed as if it might have a thing or two to say about the current moment.
Antiintellectualism in american life in april of 2009, david frum, a popular conservative journalist and former economic speechwriter for president george w. Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Review of richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in. If antiintellectualism has become, as i believe it has, a broadly diffused. His latest book, on conan doyle, was published in 2011 by princeton university press. Brown notes of the publication of richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life 1963, cited approvingly by warner, it was ironically published in the golden age of. In so doing, he explored questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of education altered that.
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