A Thousand Small Sanities
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![]() First edition | |
Author | Adam Gopnik |
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Language | English |
Subject | Political science, Liberalism |
Genre | Non-fiction |
Set in | Politics of 2019 |
Publisher | Basic Books |
Publication date | May 14, 2019 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type | Print, CD, E-book |
Pages | 249 or 272 |
ISBN | 9781541699359 |
OCLC | 1051137376 |
A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism is a non-fiction book about liberalism by Adam Gopnik.[1] It was published by Basic Books on May 14, 2019.
About the book
[edit]The book explores concepts surrounding liberalism, humanism, and conservatism. The main theme of the book is that liberalism and liberals are under attack, not just from the right, but also from the left.
Another theme is that liberalism is historically and presently more than "political centrism or the idea of free markets" and thus is an overarching concern for "positive, inclusive changes at all social and political levels." Iglesias, Gabino (May 15, 2019). "...A Lesson In Understanding Liberalism". National Public Radio. Retrieved August 28, 2019.</ref>
Besides covering the roots of liberalism's and conservatism's past, historical persons are discussed, who are deemed liberal in the present and who were not deemed liberals in their own time. Gopnik avoids emphasizing connections to 17th and 18th century philosophers as well as the founders who were the original conduits for bringing a democratic system into existence during the modern age. Rather, he covers such persons as Harriet Taylor, Frederick Douglass, Emma Goldman, Bayard Rustin, George Eliot, and E. D. Morel, along with others.[2]
Pragmatism
[edit]Another theme is engaging in the extremes of the far-left can lead to, for example, "the attempt to define liberty for everyone"—which, according to Gopnik, has historically resulted in totalitarian regimes. Incremental, inclusive, liberalism is the preferred method.[2][3] Judged apolitical in tenor, the book may steer Democrats away from 2020-era progressive policies and toward a liberalism that is "sensible, skeptical, cautious, reformist, and moderate—a path to political safety" between the extremes of the left and the right. The book does not define this as a political outlook, rather it is about maintaining a practical demeanor or "temperament".[4]
Gopnik believes he has successfully clarified the definition of "liberalism".[4]
Reviews
[edit]David A. Bell, responding to maintaining a practical demeanor or temperament, says: [4]
...it has always been an illusion. Achieving the goals of egalitarianism and toleration...always has required a clearheaded analysis of the prevailing political, social, and economic circumstances [and] the creation of a practical program based on this analysis. Temperament matters, but...privileging temperament over concrete analysis is especially dangerous, because it encourages self-defined moderate liberals to set themselves up in opposition to the supposedly extreme and immoderate leftists who are, in fact, offering the most incisive analyses of the country’s problems and the most ambitious programs to overcome them. Centrist liberals do not, at present, have comparable analyses or programs to offer...
References
[edit]- ^ "Buy A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism Book Online at Low Prices in India | A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in". www.amazon.in. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ a b Frum, David (May 14, 2019). "In Defense of Liberalism". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ Sessions, David (May 6, 2019). "The Emptiness of Adam Gopnik's Liberalism". The New Republic. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c Bell, David A. (June 12, 2019). "Lost Bearings: Adam Gopnik and the search for a 21st-century liberalism". The Nation. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
External links
[edit]- A Thousand Small Sanities. Publisher's website. August 2019.