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lydiawallis's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
jlynncarter1514's review against another edition
5.0
This book is worth the time and effort it takes to read! There were many times that I had to reread sections due to my unfamiliarity with many of the philosophies and individuals cited in the text, and it took me several weeks to finish it. However, I'm so thankful that I read it! Trueman does a fantastic job of explaining how the concept of expressive individualism developed and how it has shaped our current culture. Highly recommend!
librarytech4's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a lot of relevant and useful information in it, but It drug on a long time. I feel like the author could have been much more concise with his words and still be able to get all his points across.
meldymelmello's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to the audiobook, probably should listen again, accent was awesome :) overall a really helpful summary of different thought leaders and how they affected culture, also put together in a way that was easy to follow along.
the_polibyte's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most impactful, insightful, and important books I have ever read.
alanyoung's review against another edition
5.0
This is an excellent book - based on thorough reading, careful thought and logical structure. Who among us cannot be aware of the current turmoil and tensions? This work traces the thinking over the last 200 years which underpins our arrival in our present situation.
Many times reading it, I felt out of my depth for the vocabulary used and the past thinkers examined have not been part of my education. Many names were familiar but I had never wrestled with their writing nor any analyses of it.
There were points where I found myself disagreeing with Trueman but they were no major issues and these differences did not detract from my overall appreciation of and positivity toward the book.
It seems incongruous to me that the progression of philosophical thinking has rejected as untrue and unknowable the spiritual dimension leaving only the material, only to find itself in a position when the material realities are made subservient to unknowable inner psychology. Trueman mentioned gnosticism and it rings so true!
I found the last section of the book especially helpful for it came across to me with realistic expectations, careful distinctions and humble recognition that we Christians need also to be challenged.
I closed the book with
a better awareness of the developments in philosophy
a recognition of the effects of sin in all of us
a frustration with the way dialogue and respectful exchange is no longer possible
a conviction that I need to pick up the closing challenge to be clear on my doctrine and to live in this physical real world with integrity, humility and gentleness. This could be pithily characterised by truth and love or, to put it another way, more like Jesus.
Many times reading it, I felt out of my depth for the vocabulary used and the past thinkers examined have not been part of my education. Many names were familiar but I had never wrestled with their writing nor any analyses of it.
There were points where I found myself disagreeing with Trueman but they were no major issues and these differences did not detract from my overall appreciation of and positivity toward the book.
It seems incongruous to me that the progression of philosophical thinking has rejected as untrue and unknowable the spiritual dimension leaving only the material, only to find itself in a position when the material realities are made subservient to unknowable inner psychology. Trueman mentioned gnosticism and it rings so true!
I found the last section of the book especially helpful for it came across to me with realistic expectations, careful distinctions and humble recognition that we Christians need also to be challenged.
I closed the book with
a better awareness of the developments in philosophy
a recognition of the effects of sin in all of us
a frustration with the way dialogue and respectful exchange is no longer possible
a conviction that I need to pick up the closing challenge to be clear on my doctrine and to live in this physical real world with integrity, humility and gentleness. This could be pithily characterised by truth and love or, to put it another way, more like Jesus.
hjbolus's review against another edition
1.0
Although Trueman expressly states that he is not writing a polemic, he has utterly failed in his attempt to disguise this book as honest historical inquiry. The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self puts forward theocratic, frighteningly anti-liberty conservative Catholic ideas under dishonest persuasive techniques. Terms like the “social imaginary” and “death works,” alongside MacIntyre’s idea that non-religious ethics are no more than emotional expressivism, are used to elide important discussions and dismiss critical disagreements.
Moreover, the historical tracing he does seems like a façade for setting up straw men. Rather than engaging carefully with your opponents, it’s much easier to group all of their ideas together under the dismissive term “social imaginary,” trace them back to someone like Nietzsche, and then explain that Nietzsche must have been wrong because his books were death works! What a coincidence that he and Nietzsche are kindred spirits - neither is interested in careful argumentation.
In fact, if you refuse to take MacIntyre’s ideas for granted, I’m not sure that Trueman makes a single careful argument that any of his views are actually correct. He really doesn’t care. Simply by pointing out that Nietzsche’s, Rousseau’s, or Shelley’s ideas are scary, he blows apart the foundations of modern liberalism. Incredible.
Moreover, the historical tracing he does seems like a façade for setting up straw men. Rather than engaging carefully with your opponents, it’s much easier to group all of their ideas together under the dismissive term “social imaginary,” trace them back to someone like Nietzsche, and then explain that Nietzsche must have been wrong because his books were death works! What a coincidence that he and Nietzsche are kindred spirits - neither is interested in careful argumentation.
In fact, if you refuse to take MacIntyre’s ideas for granted, I’m not sure that Trueman makes a single careful argument that any of his views are actually correct. He really doesn’t care. Simply by pointing out that Nietzsche’s, Rousseau’s, or Shelley’s ideas are scary, he blows apart the foundations of modern liberalism. Incredible.
loganmaloney's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
This book took me 6 months to read and it was extremely worth it! There are so many thoughts that I have taken from this book that I have tucked in my brain and feel like I’ve grown a lot as a reader and just thinker of philosophy of today by reading this book. The author breaks down the social construct of today extremely well and writes in such an understanding way. Thankful for this book!
This book took me 6 months to read and it was extremely worth it! There are so many thoughts that I have taken from this book that I have tucked in my brain and feel like I’ve grown a lot as a reader and just thinker of philosophy of today by reading this book. The author breaks down the social construct of today extremely well and writes in such an understanding way. Thankful for this book!