Ok, he's not dead yet, but Jurgen Habermas nonetheless seems to have been resurrected lately. His critique of Foucault in The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere should earn him a spot among "The Prophets," as well as his thoughts on "Representational" culture and his insistence that the cultural and social practices we associate with The Enlightenment are relevant, vital, and an unfinished "work in project."
I would strongly suggest profiling Michael Crichton, who wrote extensively on the hazards of politized science. He gave a lecture to Caltech called "Aliens Cause Global Warming" which rather than being serious about arguing its title, about politized science. I have attached a transcript https://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/Crichton2003.pdf
Might add Hannah Arendt, forget the full title On Totalitarianism, remember reading that in college, its lessons are still true and a warning for the future.
Eric Hoffer had seen on TV a number of times. He always impressed me with his simple worded answers and the depths they plumbed. Vaguely remember Marshal McLuhan, he didn’t strike me as deeply.
Others, like Bayard Rustain were new, the example set by Adam Clayton Powell did not surprise me, remember him as the congressman from Bimini.
It was a fine collection,am sure some would have preferred more or different choices, feel sure the ones you chose best represent The Free Press.
This has been a wonderful series. There are so many more prophets to add to your list if you continue, but I would be remiss if I did not include my late father-in-law, who suggested marrying his daughter would be the best thing that ever happened to me. A visionary, he was. I miss you, George. And yes, we are doing great.
One prophet worth mentioning is Ted Kaczynski. Although his methods were obviously horrible and he was too extreme in some ways, his thoughts were brilliant and highly predictive of our situation today. In summary he felt, back in the mid 1990s, that technology would steal from us many of the features that make us human and that make us happy and satisfied with our lives and that it would become self-propagating - like an unstoppable train speeding faster and faster down a steeper and steeper hill. His analysis of what is important to humans and social dynamics, including revolutionary movements, are insightful and well worth reading.
Mostly leftists. I stopped listening to leftists in 1984. I have absolutely no use for any leftist and there is nothing of value to learn from leftists. Leftism is an ideological dead end.
My only real criticism is that this series was too short! I was hoping to read about, say, Leo Strauss, Christopher Lasch, Camille Paglia, Cormac McCarthy, James Stockdale, Robert Nozick, and Jared Diamond.
But in this day and age, I’ll take what I can get. What you published was wonderful. Thank you!
Martin Gurri. I know Bari has interviewed him and talked about his book, but Revolt of the Public was so keen on the way the internet/social media would end up splintering society and weakening institutions. He predicted the kind of wide-spread, perpetual turbulence we see in society today. Definitely belongs on this list in my humble opinion
Nope. Never. There is nothing to tone down in my approach.
Quite the opposite.
Political freedom is the single greatest achievement of mankind and "toning down" my vitriolic attacks against its outspoken enemies is not only a bad idea, but it is an immoral one.
I simply don't agree. Ugly rudeness and profanity absolutely have their place when discussing and describing those who are so obviously ugly, rude and profane. The people on my list push a horrendous agenda that must be resisted. There is no reason to afford them any quarter at all.
Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, is my suggestion. Sorry I can't find a way to put the title in italics.
The Free Press is the best thing I have ever subscribed to. Intelligence, wit, perspective - A+ for all. I get positively giddy when I see TGIF in my inbox. The Prophet Series was amazing (and a little spooky). Some people’s minds are such beautiful mysteries. I lean moderate/conservative but truly feel you present all sides. Thank you for what you do. Your work is so important.
Ok, he's not dead yet, but Jurgen Habermas nonetheless seems to have been resurrected lately. His critique of Foucault in The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere should earn him a spot among "The Prophets," as well as his thoughts on "Representational" culture and his insistence that the cultural and social practices we associate with The Enlightenment are relevant, vital, and an unfinished "work in project."
I would strongly suggest profiling Michael Crichton, who wrote extensively on the hazards of politized science. He gave a lecture to Caltech called "Aliens Cause Global Warming" which rather than being serious about arguing its title, about politized science. I have attached a transcript https://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/Crichton2003.pdf
Might add Hannah Arendt, forget the full title On Totalitarianism, remember reading that in college, its lessons are still true and a warning for the future.
Eric Hoffer had seen on TV a number of times. He always impressed me with his simple worded answers and the depths they plumbed. Vaguely remember Marshal McLuhan, he didn’t strike me as deeply.
Others, like Bayard Rustain were new, the example set by Adam Clayton Powell did not surprise me, remember him as the congressman from Bimini.
It was a fine collection,am sure some would have preferred more or different choices, feel sure the ones you chose best represent The Free Press.
Keep the good work going.
This has been a wonderful series. There are so many more prophets to add to your list if you continue, but I would be remiss if I did not include my late father-in-law, who suggested marrying his daughter would be the best thing that ever happened to me. A visionary, he was. I miss you, George. And yes, we are doing great.
As other have said. Some of those prophets featured I have read; others are now on the list to be read.
My recommendation: The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek. A continuous best seller since its publication in 1944.
Thank you, really did enjoy this series.
One prophet worth mentioning is Ted Kaczynski. Although his methods were obviously horrible and he was too extreme in some ways, his thoughts were brilliant and highly predictive of our situation today. In summary he felt, back in the mid 1990s, that technology would steal from us many of the features that make us human and that make us happy and satisfied with our lives and that it would become self-propagating - like an unstoppable train speeding faster and faster down a steeper and steeper hill. His analysis of what is important to humans and social dynamics, including revolutionary movements, are insightful and well worth reading.
William Strauss & Neil Howe… ‘Generational Theory’ I.e. reoccurring generational American/Western personas & The 4th Turning
Mostly leftists. I stopped listening to leftists in 1984. I have absolutely no use for any leftist and there is nothing of value to learn from leftists. Leftism is an ideological dead end.
My only real criticism is that this series was too short! I was hoping to read about, say, Leo Strauss, Christopher Lasch, Camille Paglia, Cormac McCarthy, James Stockdale, Robert Nozick, and Jared Diamond.
But in this day and age, I’ll take what I can get. What you published was wonderful. Thank you!
Agreed! I would love to see them continue the series with an article on Leo Strauss.
Martin Gurri. I know Bari has interviewed him and talked about his book, but Revolt of the Public was so keen on the way the internet/social media would end up splintering society and weakening institutions. He predicted the kind of wide-spread, perpetual turbulence we see in society today. Definitely belongs on this list in my humble opinion
I think you should try a new series called "insufferable cows". You could write "deep" essays exploring the intellectual contributions of:
That Markle bitch.
That Merkle idiot who fucked the Germans by letting in two million strangers into her house...
That Barrymore moron.
Those Kardashian idiots.
That insufferable pig Oprah Winfrey.
Barack Obama's crass, opportunistic wife of no account.
Hillary Cunton.
Pretty much any women who consistently vote Democrat like mindless drones.
Mindless drones.
KK'Kamala
Abortion, abortion, abortion! Yay! More and more abortion! Abortion party! Abortion pinatas! Yay!
I recommend toning it down, bud. Ugliness isn't a virtue, despite your anger.
Nope. Never. There is nothing to tone down in my approach.
Quite the opposite.
Political freedom is the single greatest achievement of mankind and "toning down" my vitriolic attacks against its outspoken enemies is not only a bad idea, but it is an immoral one.
You are wrong.
Ugly rudeness and profanity aren't good tools.
I simply don't agree. Ugly rudeness and profanity absolutely have their place when discussing and describing those who are so obviously ugly, rude and profane. The people on my list push a horrendous agenda that must be resisted. There is no reason to afford them any quarter at all.
David Mamet, The Secret Knowledge, The Wicked Son
George Gilder, The Israel Test
Theodore Herzl, Altneuland
Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, is my suggestion. Sorry I can't find a way to put the title in italics.
The Free Press is the best thing I have ever subscribed to. Intelligence, wit, perspective - A+ for all. I get positively giddy when I see TGIF in my inbox. The Prophet Series was amazing (and a little spooky). Some people’s minds are such beautiful mysteries. I lean moderate/conservative but truly feel you present all sides. Thank you for what you do. Your work is so important.