Why this book has endured for four decades is not only because it still rings true, but also for hofstadters ironclad reasoning. In this book, hofstadter set out to trace the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to. When somebody mentions anti intellectualism, richard hofstadter s book usually comes to mind as the place where the problem was defined. The term anti intellectual has appeared in the new york times over 650 times since 1870, and more than threequarters of the times happened after historian richard hofstadter published his 1964 book anti intellectualism in american life. May not include discs, access code or other supplemental materials. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character.
Anti intellectualism by richard hofstadter 1716 words. Born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century. Richard hofstadter s remarkable anti intellectualism in american life reflects the cold warpostmccarthy era, yet still echoes powerfully today. What stunned me about this book was how familiar the antiintellectualism from each period in american history felt. A measure of hofstadter s 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 intellectualism, he suggested in the concluding chapter of his book, is founded in the democratic institutions and the egalitarian sentiments of this country p. The instabilities of a country in its infancy and adolescence made it fear critical activity which poised at least the risk of delegitimating a.
A book which throws light on many features of the american character. Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter. Richard hofstadter s famous anti intellectualism in american life, his tenth book, earned him the pulitzer prize in nonfiction 1964. Antiintellectualism in american life the objective standard. Antiintellectualism, he suggested in the concluding chapter of his book, is founded in the democratic institutions and the egalitarian sentiments of this country p. Anti intellectualism in american life one of hofstadter s best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a. Richard hofstadter books list of books by author richard. This 1963 work is the classical study of the subject, followed by many more recent ones. What stunned me about this book was how familiar the anti intellectualism from each period in american history felt. Richard hofstadter s antiintellectualism in american life and susan jacobys the age of american unreason.
Antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. In the course of his career, hofstadter became the iconic historian of postwar liberal consensus whom twentyfirst century scholars continue consulting, because his intellectually engaging books and essays continue to illuminate. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition, and others. This personal book, called a critical inquiry in his first chapter 20, remains one of this esteemed american historians most famous titles. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say something about what the intellectual is, a. Jan 04, 2012 antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Richard hofstadter was an american public intellectual, historian and dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing anti intellectualism in american life. Hofstadter was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. He received his first pulitzer for the age of reform in 1956. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. For instance, hofstadter hardly addresses the racial inequities in our schools or the unequal opportunities for women.
See all books authored by richard hofstadter, including the american political tradition and the men who made it, and anti intellectualism in american life, and more on. Richard hofstadter author of antiintellectualism in. Richard hofstadter and americas new wave of antiintellectualism. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing antiintellectualism in american life. For the ages for hofstadter, pictured here in 1946, antiintellectualism was an unavoidable part of a democratic society. 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 american society. 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. Books by richard hofstadter author of antiintellectualism. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction.
Hofstadter was awarded a second pulitzer prize for this work in the category of nonfiction in 1964. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. In the pulitzer prizewinning anti intellectualism in american life 1963 and in the paranoid style in american politics 1965, hofstadter offered groundbreaking and still urgent analyses of deep undercurrents in american life. Antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Antiintellectualism in american life by hofstadter, richard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter written in response to the political and intellectual conditions of the 1950s, anti intellectualism in american life emerged as a grand attack on the institutions to which society historically entr. He was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia. Anti intellectualism in american life by hofstadter, richard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Richard hofstadter and the 1930s susan stout baker the book. Anti intellectualis m in american life internet archive.
Antiintellectualism in american life, by richard hofstadter. Antiintellectualism in american life book by richard hofstadter. 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. In the wake of eisenhowers ridicule of the intellectual and mccarthyisms outright persecution of intellectuals, hofstadter. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of.
Rejecting his earlier communist approach to history, in the 1950s he came closer to the concept of consensus history, and. Anti intellectualism in american life one of hofstadter s 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. Richard hofstadter august 6, 1916 october 24, 1970 was an american historian and public intellectual of the mid20th century. Antiintellectualism in american life audiobook by richard. Richard hofstadter s most popular book is anti intellectualism in american life. Review of richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in. But the book, even when one disagrees with hofstadter, possesses such intellectual radiance, such compulsive readability, that it seems to me a. Antiintellectualism in american life ebook by richard. Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the. It is a book which throws light on many features of the american character.
Antiintellectualism in american life by hofstadter, richard, 19161970. Read anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter available from rakuten kobo. 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. Such an experience awaits those who tour a dark facet of the history of american culture through two books. A measure of hofstadter s 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. Written with all the learning, wit, and sophistication that one has learnt to expect from professor hofstadter, this book brings together a mass of illuminating information about an aspect of american development which historians have not hitherto examined in any detail. For nearly 100 years, in short, americans were rarely described as anti intellectual. Richard hofstadters remarkable antiintellectualism in american life reflects the cold warpostmccarthy era, yet still echoes powerfully today. Mar 26, 2020 on the one hand, hofstadter seems to have been pessimistic about the prospect of eradicating antiintellectualism from american life in general. On the one hand, hofstadter seems to have been pessimistic about the prospect of eradicating anti intellectualism from american life in general. Anti intellectualis m in american life by richard hofstadter. Richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life and the paranoid style in american politics are two essential works that lay bare the worrying trends of irrationalism, demagoguery, destructive populism, and conspiratorial thinking that have long influenced american politics and culture. Antiintellectualism in american life was published nearly fifty years ago, and some of it is clearly out of date. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say.
His works include the age of reform, anti intellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition, and others. Antiintellectualism in american life book by richard. Antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. Anti intellectualism in american life, 1963 and the paranoid style in american politics, 1965 describe the provincialism in american society, warning it contains much anti intellectual fear of the cosmopolitan city, presented as wicked by the xenophobic and anti. 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. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Mar 25, 2020 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Antiintellectualism in american life has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Although richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize, it is now almost fiftyfives out of date. 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.
Each author focuses on the social and political phenomenon of anti intellectualism. 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. Antiintellectualism in american life by hofstadter. In the pulitzer prizewinning antiintellectualism in american life 1963 and in the paranoid style in american politics 1965, hofstadter offered groundbreaking and still urgent analyses of deep undercurrents in american life. In anti intellectualism in american life 1963 the historian richard hofstadter said that anti intellectualism is a socialclass response, by the middleclass mob, against the privileges of the political elites. Richard hofstadter has 29 books on goodreads with 29530 ratings.
But antiintellectualism also exists among corporate elites and political elites because serious social thought means that things might change and change is not what is desired. When somebody mentions antiintellectualism, richard hofstadters book usually comes. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Why this book has endured for four decades is not only because it still rings true, but also for hofstadter s ironclad reasoning. This book throws light on many features of the american character. Publication date 1963 publisher new york alfred alfred a. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter 19161970 is a classic work on the subject of american intellectuals and their critics. Mar 12, 2020 antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. 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. Sep 24, 2012 anti intellectualism in american life was published nearly fifty years ago, and some of it is clearly out of date. Erich hartmann magnum photos a nti intellectualism in american life doesnt seem like a catchy title, but, more than 50 years on, it has demonstrated a peculiar staying power.
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