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stevereally's review against another edition
3.0
I should probably read it again one of these days. All I really remember from 15 years ago is that Bloom offers a Platonic argument about why the tendency of modern young people to listen to lots of rock music is a really terrible thing.
katireadsalot's review against another edition
1.0
I just can’t with this book. Racism, sexism and elitism repackaged as “intellectual”. But don’t worry— you won’t have to think too hard. The argument is “I did it this way, which is right. And the young people are stupid.” He at one point says you should lose your virginity in college like he did instead of in high school. Like, can you believe someone had the audacity to live a different life than him???
tim_michiemo's review against another edition
4.0
3.8 Stars
The Closing of the American Mind is a challenging book. In this book Bloom takes aim at the American University criticizing it for its failure to educate students. Bloom’s book is challenging because he dismantles everything that we assumed is true in America about education and the university. Bloom’s main contention is the moral relativism and has made it impossible to deal with any of the truth claims of Western society. The desire to declare all cultures equal in truth claims has prevented the university from being a place where students can take seriously these truth claims and learn from them. Bloom, as a philosopher himself, relies heavily on philosophy to prove his point. And as well argues that restoration of philosophical learning in the universities can restore education in America.
Bloom’s book is challenging but it is also a good book. Bloom does an excellent job showing the weakness of modern education and the intellectual crutch moral relativism is. The weaknesses of this book is its structure and it’s thick philosophy. Bloom’s book comes off as an extended rant on American education, and I at times had a hard time following his train of thought. As well, Bloom’s book relies heavily on references and explanations of philosophers like Locke, Rousseau, Nietzsche and Freud. Any person reading this book with zero knowledge of Western Philosophy will find this book almost impossible to read.
But again, I will say this is a good and challenging book. It is not the most accessible, but it is a paradigm shifting book when it comes to education and learning.
The Closing of the American Mind is a challenging book. In this book Bloom takes aim at the American University criticizing it for its failure to educate students. Bloom’s book is challenging because he dismantles everything that we assumed is true in America about education and the university. Bloom’s main contention is the moral relativism and has made it impossible to deal with any of the truth claims of Western society. The desire to declare all cultures equal in truth claims has prevented the university from being a place where students can take seriously these truth claims and learn from them. Bloom, as a philosopher himself, relies heavily on philosophy to prove his point. And as well argues that restoration of philosophical learning in the universities can restore education in America.
Bloom’s book is challenging but it is also a good book. Bloom does an excellent job showing the weakness of modern education and the intellectual crutch moral relativism is. The weaknesses of this book is its structure and it’s thick philosophy. Bloom’s book comes off as an extended rant on American education, and I at times had a hard time following his train of thought. As well, Bloom’s book relies heavily on references and explanations of philosophers like Locke, Rousseau, Nietzsche and Freud. Any person reading this book with zero knowledge of Western Philosophy will find this book almost impossible to read.
But again, I will say this is a good and challenging book. It is not the most accessible, but it is a paradigm shifting book when it comes to education and learning.
xavl's review against another edition
2.0
I still trust, principally, the logic behind the words of that dead poet Novalis - philosophy is really homesickness, an urge to be home everywhere. Following that line of reasoning, it is rather not hard to ascertain that it would be a properly fitted duty for a professor of political philosophy, Allan Bloom, to mourn for the loss of one's great past and to cry for the dimming of one's bright future. The mourning and the crying came from the right person.
However, it is also rather not hard to ascertain that the Closing in itself reads somewhat autobiographical. To read such a piece of cultural criticism in many degrees is to meet and to make acquaintance with the author. Thus, I believe an ad-hominem attack is not uncalled for. On this note, I CANNOT stress enough that Allan Bloom is a POMPOUS ASSHOLE.
However, it is also rather not hard to ascertain that the Closing in itself reads somewhat autobiographical. To read such a piece of cultural criticism in many degrees is to meet and to make acquaintance with the author. Thus, I believe an ad-hominem attack is not uncalled for. On this note, I CANNOT stress enough that Allan Bloom is a POMPOUS ASSHOLE.
rebus's review against another edition
0.25
Now I see where morons like Malcolm Gladwell, David Brooks, and Jordan Peterson came from.
bill_desmedt's review against another edition
4.0
This is it: the book lauded by so many who never troubled to read it (and who, had they peered between the lines, might have tempered their praise).
A rollicking rant. Who but Bloom would think to take on Martin Heidegger and Michael Jackson in the same rap tirade? But is he too much the moth to Nietzsche's flame?
A rollicking rant. Who but Bloom would think to take on Martin Heidegger and Michael Jackson in the same rap tirade? But is he too much the moth to Nietzsche's flame?
stevenk's review against another edition
4.0
A thought provoking read looking into the intellectual standards of the modern university. A lot of discussion involving philosophers and the classic's of history and philosophy. I got bogged down in the chapter "from Socrates' apology to Heidegger's Rektoratsrede" but would otherwise recommend this book.
swatjdm's review against another edition
2.0
Dated in 2011, though accurately retelling the 80's. Could have been shorter, something like "Kids today...grumble, grumble etc."