Intellectuals and Society

Book Club... And Then Some!

Intellectuals and Society
 

by Thomas Sowell




Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This is a 398-page book with 50-pages of notes.

I found this book repetitive, deep, verbose, complex, and extremely difficult in holding my attention.  To provide readers of my reviews a fair shake, I quote here from reviews provided at Amazon.com.

The following are the ideas Sowell covers in this book:
    1: Intellect and Intellectuals
    2: Knowledge and Notions
    3: Intellectuals and Economics
    4: Intellectuals and Social Visions
    5: Optional Reality in the Media and Academia
    6: Intellectuals and the Law
    7: Intellectuals and War
    8: Intellectuals and War: Repeating History
    9: Intellectuals and Society

Robert Kirk of Rancho Cucamonga, CA), wrote the following review of Sowell’s book at Amazon.com, and I’d like to say that it perfectly reflects my feelings about the book: “. . . It's by far his [Sowell's] most difficult book to read because it's subject matter is a bit scattered. However, Mr. Sowell does what many can't do, he makes you think and question ‘conventional wisdom.’ Be prepared to slow down a bit while reading this one since it is a bit more dense than his other books.  It is well worth the effort.”

Callidus Asinus, at Amazon.com, writes this about Sowell’s book: “In his book, Sowell examines the influence intelligentsia (which he defines as all persons who make their living off the production of ideas). Within the class of intelligentsia, Sowell includes such people as university faculty and the media. He excludes people with mentally demanding jobs such as doctors, lawyers and engineers because these people, unlike intellectuals rely on the empirical verifiability of their ideas and practices to survive economically.

Sowell asserts that intellectuals generally have a negative effect on society because their ideas are not subject to the same empirical verification as doctors, lawyers and engineers. Because of this, they can make claims or sweeping judgments on society which they lack the qualifications to make (he cites examples of people such as literature professors making condemnations of the capitalist system without any prior training in economics). Furthermore, he shows that when the ideas of intellectuals are shown to be verifiably wrong, they loose no credibility, and usually use their verbal skills to avoid admitting their errors.”

This lack of accountability among intellectuals causes problems when they begin to sway public opinion in favor of their policies (which are often counterproductive). He cites examples such as the pacifist sentiment in pre-WWII Britain and France which prevented them from taking any aggressive action on Hitler until he had already built up his military. And now we get to the central theme of Sowell's book, which is to have a healthy suspicion of the ideas propagated by intellectuals to mitigate their sway over public opinion. In a democratic nation such as ours, this is an essential quality for the citizens to have so that they can cast their votes more wisely.”

Mindy Rader, at Amazon.com, writes, “Thomas Sowell is a strong critic of intellectuals, traditional and modern, European and American. He specifically discusses definitions of intellectuals and gives us a better understanding of those intellectuals who have for better or worse, had a major influence on society in United States history. He talks about philosophers, government leaders, progressives and intellectual activists. We can learn from the ideas of all those highly respected intellectuals who throughout history have positioned themselves politically on the right or left. The ideas of these scholars, including those of Sowell, are important as they have shaped culture and society. All in all, Sowell's book is interesting and understandable.”

Several reviewers took Sowell to task for concentrating so heavily on liberal intellectuals with whom he disagreed, and if you already know (before reading him) his politics, then you will have some idea of what to expect.  One reviewer even suggested that Sowell should have titled his book, “Liberal Intellectuals and Society.”  I tend to agree. 

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This book is available from Amazon.com: Intellectuals and Society

Wisdom: From philosophy to neuroscience

Book Club... And Then Some!

Wisdom: From philosophy to neuroscience    

by Stephen S. Hall


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
This is a 333-page book with a 14-page index, 15-page bibliography, 23-page section of notes, and a 5-page acknowledgments section.  This makes it 272-pages of content.  There is nothing negative in noting this; however, be aware that this (comparatively speaking) is a large book.

The front flyleaf clarifies the content: “[The book] is a dramatic history of wisdom, from its sudden emergence in four different locations (Greece, China, Israel, and India) in the fifth century B.C. to its modern manifestations in education, politics, and the workplace.  We learn how wisom became the provenance of philosophy and religion through its embodiment in individuals such as Buddha, Confucius, and Jesus; how it has consistently been a catalyst for social change; and how revelatory work in the last fifty years by psychologists, economists, and neuroscientists has begun to shed light on the biology of cognitive traits long associated with wisdom—and in doing so, has begun to suggest how we might cultivate it.”

There are three parts.  The first discusses the definition of wisdom, the second, eight neural pillars of wisdom, and the third, becoming wise.  The 15 chapters give you a better idea of how well the book relates to people’s lives (after the first three on philosophical and psychological roots): the art of coping, establishing value, judging right from wrong, the biology of loving-kindness and empathy, the gift of perspective, social justice, fairness, and the wisdom of punishment, temptation and delayed gratification, change, the wisdom of aging, and everyday wisdom.

There is a great deal of substance in this book, and clearly it is not of the “pop-psych” variety—full of cute quips, lively anecdotes, and suggestions for improvement and change.  On the other hand, you get an extremely well-written, easy-to-follow book, that includes great illustrations, many historical references and stories, the incorporation of interesting and relevant recent research, insights and revelations that only a science writer like Hall would not just understand but digest and make palatable for readers, and a fascinating—maybe even a landmark—examination of a topic relevant to everyone.

What Hall delivers is interesting discourse, as witnessed when he talks about the content of his book: “The world doesn’t need another book about neuroeconomics, and this doesn’t plan on being one.  But a lot of recent research in neuroeconomics and (in a broader sense) social neuroscience—including related fields like cognitive neuroscience, behavioral psychology, moral philosophy, and the like—strikes me as an immensely fertile area to till for fresh new insights into the nature of wisdom” (p. 16).

Dr. Vivian Clayton offers this excellent review of Hall’s book on Amazon.com: “Stephen Hall's book on Wisdom manages to integrate the empirical research that's been conducted over the last thirty-five years in a style and convivial manner that has eluded the scientific community. I felt the book delivered on its promise: it offered much information about the ways we go about making complex life decisions. It reflected honestly on the real life shortcomings of people who have always been perceived as wise historically, such as Solomon. In my opinion, the best part of the book was delivered by offering examples of how adopting a wisdom based approach can affect how things are done in settings such as the classroom and the boardroom.

This is not a ‘How to be wise’ manual. If you like labyrinths, and recognize that many paths can lead to the center of things, this is the book for you. Like many portraits in an art gallery, you will find yourself pausing at various junctures to look more carefully at this or that quality of wisdom - be it patience, humility or compassion. Fortunately, there is no 'closing time' to this gallery. At the end of my visit, I personally felt a sense of gratitude that a writer could capture such an illusive topic without diminishing its potential for further study in matters both personal and societal.”

With all of this information it should be easy now to know whether this book would be one that would interest you.  I found it wonderful, interesting, insightful, and full of valuable information seldom found elsewhere. 

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This book is available from Amazon.com: Wisdom: From philosophy to neuroscience.

Everyone communicates, few connect: What the most effective people do

Book Club... And Then Some!

Everyone communicates, few connect: What the most effective people do differently 
        

by John C. Maxwell


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

When I lectured to freshmen and sophomore students at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) for more than 22 years (over 80,000 students), about communication, I taught it as a life skill—an essential skill necessary for everything students wanted to do in their lives.  If they couldn’t communicate, they would find it difficult to cope at work, home, school, and in their relationships.  I felt the same way when I wrote the book, Communicating Effectively, now going into its 10th edition.  It is, indeed, these facts that drew me to Maxwell’s book in the first place.

As a side note: I was not—in my lecturing—what Maxwell described as a self-centered teacher, whose philosophy he described as:
            Ram it in—jam it in,
            Students’ heads are hollow.
            Cram it in—slam it in,
            There is more to follow.
I am certain there are some students of the many to whom I lectured, who feel—probably to this day—that that was exactly my philosophy!  You can’t, after all, win them all!

Maxwell has an informed and engaging approach.  He uses the methods in writing this book that he explains in the book itself.

Because of the practical, specific, and well-described suggestions he makes, people who have the desire to improve their communication skills will definitely improve.  Too often, I found during my teaching career, people believe they already communication well (if not well enough).  It is those same people who would/will find little need for this book, let along any book on communication.

Maxwell writes about the basic essentials of effective communication.  It is the foundation or cornerstone of effectiveness, and in today’s world where messages and information (along with the characteristics of effectiveness and accuracy) are absolutely necessary, and where being an effective leader is a given, this book offers surprising, rewarding, practical information for anyone interested in improving his or her communication skills.

Maxwell says it well: “If you are responsible for leading people or communicating with others, it is especially vital for you to find ways to recharge” (p. 91).  This book can be a vital aid in your re-charging.
  
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Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II

by Edgar E. Willis


Book Review by Marlene C. Francis.


 
Edgar E. Willis has written an excellent memoir about his experience in World War II.  Called Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform (what a great title!), the book describes Edgar’s years and adventures in “the strange new world” of the U.S. Navy.  Edgar was a flight director on the battle cruiser Alaska which saw service in the Pacific, including the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  The book has chapters on those battles as well as stories about officer indoctrination and training, shore duty, standing watch, disciplining sailors, and dealing with apparently irrational navy rules and regulations.  This memoir does more than just describe what happened; it includes personal detail and Edgar’s own judgments.  For example, he describes and names the good captain who was as considerate of the crew as he was an effective leader, and the bad captain whose arbitrary decisions made life miserable for the sailors and who himself couldn’t even steer the ship straight (he was promoted to rear admiral and left the ship, to the relief of the crew).  Whether you know the author or not, you will hear his voice through his stories, some funny, some sad, all full of rich detail about navy life as experienced by an “unreconstructed civilian.”

I loved reading this book, and I am sure it will be enjoyed by anyone who served in the military during wartime, students of America’s role in World War II, and those interested in U.S. history.  High school and college students will appreciate the personal stories that bring alive some critical years of our country’s history.  The book is available on Amazon.com, and if you want more information about the book or about Dr. Willis, you can visit his website at edgarewillis.com.

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These books are available from Amazon.com: Everyone communicates, few connect: What the most effective people do differently.  Civilian in an ill-fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II.

The Waxman report: How congress really works

Book Club... And Then Some!

The Waxman report: How congress really works  
     

by Henry Waxman (with Joshua Green)



Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Waxman’s introduction to his book, which chronicles the April 14, 1994, hearings on the American tobacco industry and tobacco’s dangers (provided in detail in Chapter 9, “The Tobacco Wars”) gives but a hint—albeit a valuable one—about what is to come in his book and how stories like this one can effectively hold the reader’s attention.

Waxman (and Green’s) prose is described accurately by one of his reviewers as “swift and penetrating, and a pleasure.”

Although this book is a political autobiography, it is not the usual kind.  This one, instead, explains the five different laws Waxman worked on (HIV/AIDS and the Ryan White Act, the Orphan Drug Act, the Clean Air Act, Nutrition Labeling and Dietary Supplements, and Pesticides and Food), and the two major oversight investigations of which he was part (the tobacco wars and steroids and major league baseball).  This focus allows Waxman not only to highlight some of the most important health and safety issues of the past 30 years, but to clearly and vividly explain the give and take (horse trading) that goes on in Congress, the obstinate and immovable personalities that are always present, and some of the legislative tricks necessary to get legislation passed.

There is drama, as well as corruption and cynicism.  There is legislative craftsmanship, too, and no matter your political persuasion, here is a template for anyone who has a true interest in making the government serve the people, making the laws of Americans better, and making government—and its elected officials—take responsibility for their actions.

Waxman’s book is highly informative, insightful, interesting, well-written, and a true pleasure to read. 

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This book is available from Amazon.com: The Waxman report: How congress really works