Intellectuals, civilization, united states, intellectuels. Hofstadters urbane and occasionally ironic style, coupled with a lively, invigorating diction, makes antiintellectualism in american life a provocation and a delight. Richard hofstadter, who won a pulitzer prize in 1964 for his book,antiintellectualism in american life, describes how the vast underlying foundations of antielite, anti. For the ages for hofstadter, pictured here in 1946, antiintellectualism was an unavoidable part of a democratic society. Antiintellectualism in american lifeone of hofstadters best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a sizable hole in the house of.
Thanks to columbia universitys richard hofstadter we have at last a fresh, forceful, fluent look from the nether end at various aspects of antiintellectualism in america, past and present, and although it is selfstyled a fragmentary rather than a formal study, the work is farranging, artfully approached and filled with a spirited, sensibility, without pedantry or polemic. He received his first pulitzer for the age of reform in 1956. Publication date 1963 publisher new york alfred alfred a. Antiintellectualism in american life books you may like. Born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century. These are the sources and citations used to research anti intellectualism in american life. Thanks to columbia universitys richard hofstadter we have at last a fresh, forceful, fluent look from the nether end at various aspects of anti intellectualism in america, past and present, and although it is selfstyled a fragmentary rather than a formal study, the work is farranging, artfully approached and filled with a spirited, sensibility, without pedantry or polemic. Antiintellectualism in american life book by richard hofstadter. Buy a cheap copy of anti intellectualism in american life book by richard hofstadter.
Antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. The author shows how the extremely intellectual and cultured founders of the country were followed by an electorate and. Richard hofstadter project gutenberg selfpublishing. Antiintellectualism in american life by hofstadter, richard.
It traces periods of intellectual flourishing as well as the reactions against them, from the deeply intellectual founding fathers to the incoherent and incandescent antiintellectual aggression of the mccarthy era. His antiintellectualism in american life 1963, which won the 1964 pulitzer prize, presented his controversial thesis that the egalitarian, populist sentiments of jacksonian democracy, themes that have echoed recurrently through u. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing anti intellectualism in american life. Written with all the learning, wit, and sophistication that one has learnt to expect from professor hofstadter, this book brings together a mass of illuminating information about an aspect of american development which historians have not hitherto examined in any detail. His works include the age of reform, anti intellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition, and others. Hofstadter was awarded a second pulitzer prize for this work in the category of nonfiction in 1964. Antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the pulitzer prize in non fiction.
On the unpopularity of intellect the religion of the heart. Richard hofstadter was born in buffalo, new york, in 1916, to a jewish father, emil a. A measure of hofstadter s standing in literary and scholarly circles is the honors he received in 1964 for anti intellectualism in american life 1963pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, the ralph waldo emerson prize of phi beta kappa, and the sidney hillman prize award. Knopf collection universallibrary contributor universal digital library language english. His anti intellectualism in american life 1963, which won the 1964 pulitzer prize, presented his controversial thesis that the egalitarian, populist sentiments of jacksonian democracy, themes that have echoed recurrently through u. Buy anti intellectualism in american life new edition by hofstadter, richard isbn. Erich hartmann magnum photos a nti intellectualism in american life doesnt seem like a catchy title, but, more than 50 years on, it has demonstrated a peculiar staying power. Antiintellectualism in american life, by richard hofstadter henry. Antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter 19161970 is a classic work on the subject of american intellectuals and their critics. Richard hofstadter digitalpublicationdate 20030924 00. Anti intellectualis m in american life by richard hofstadter. Why this book has endured for four decades is not only because it still rings true, but also for hofstadter s ironclad reasoning.
Anti intellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. Antiintellectualism in american life the objective. Mencken might have called the booboisie has provided clear evidence that intellect and thoughtful. This personal book, called a critical inquiry in his first chapter 20, remains one of this esteemed american historians most famous titles. Antiintellectualism and the dumbing down of america. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. The two works now anthologized by the library of america, antiintellectualism in american life 1963 and the paranoid style in american. In this book, hofstadter set out to trace the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society. It is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. The chapter, titled the revolt against modernity, focuses on the struggle between fundamentalists and modernists in american protestantism in the first quarter of the 20th century, culminating in his telling in dayton, tennessee. In antiintellectualism in american life, hofstadter delineates the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society from a virtue to a vice. Antiintellectualism in american life is at once a sweeping history of hostile attitudes toward ideas in the united states and, by hofstadters own account, a deeply personal work of analysis, prompted by the atmosphere of fervent malice and humorless imbecility stirred up by mccarthyism.
Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfictionantiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. I have no desire to encourage the selfpity to which intellectuals are sometimes prone by suggesting that they have been vessels of pure virtue set down in babylon. Many people who say his election as president over adlai stevenson as antiintellectualism, but later changed their minds in retrospect. In so doing, he explores questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say.
Anti intellectualis m in american life internet archive. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of. The instabilities of a country in its infancy and adolescence made it fear critical activity which poised at least the risk of delegitimating a. Antiintellectualism in american life, the paranoid style in american politics, uncollected essays 19561965 loa. By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way americans understand the relationship between power and ideas in their national experience.
Richard hofstadter s famous anti intellectualism in american life, his tenth book, earned him the pulitzer prize in nonfiction 1964. Yes, anti intellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, but it gives off an aura of dense, scholarly writing, its now fifty years out of date, and the title suggests more of a selfdefensive justification than a deep investigation. Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter download bok. Hofstadter then studied philosophy and history at the university at buffalo, from 1933, under the diplomatic. Like many intellectuals, hofstadter was disturbed by the general disdain for eggheads, haunted by joseph mccarthys. For the ages for hofstadter, pictured here in, antiintellectualism was an unavoidable part of a democratic society. Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter. Buy antiintellectualism in american life new edition by hofstadter, richard isbn. Now, almost in my dotage i have listened to verners excellent reading of hofstadter and realized that his observations about the state of anti intellectualism are, if anything, more cogent today. Antiintellectualism in american life is at once a sweeping history of hostile attitudes toward ideas in the united states and, by hofstadter s own account, a deeply personal work of analysis, prompted by the atmosphere of fervent malice and humorless imbecility stirred up by mccarthyism. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. In so doing, he explores questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of education altered that purpose and reshaped its form. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter.
Other articles where antiintellectualism in american life is discussed. Long ago richard hofstadter wrote a classic study, anti intellectualism in american life, in which he described the hostility entitled to the life of the mind as deeply rooted in american society. Antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Hofstadters characterization of eisenhower has some kind of low brow antiintellectual is not accurate. In anti intellectualism in american life 1963 the historian richard hofstadter said that anti intellectualism is a socialclass response, by the middleclass mob, against the privileges of the political elites.
Richard hofstadter and americas new wave of antiintellectualism. May 20, 2011 antiintellectualism in american life, by richard hofstadter. Antiintellectualism in american life, by richard hofstadter. A measure of hofstadters standing in literary and scholarly circles is the honors he received in 1964 for antiintellectualism in american life 1963pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, the ralph waldo emerson prize of phi beta kappa, and the sidney hillman prize award. Antiintellectualism in american life, 1963 and the paranoid style in american politics, 1965 describe the provincialism in american society, warning it contains much antiintellectual fear of the cosmopolitan city, presented as wicked by the xenophobic and antisemitic populists of the 1890s. Yes, antiintellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, but it gives off an aura of dense, scholarly writing, its now fifty years out of date, and the title suggests more of a selfdefensive justification than a deep investigation. Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Jan 04, 2012 born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century. There has been a long tradition of antiintellectualism in america, unlike most other western countries. Antiintellectualism in american life audiobook by richard.
Richard hofstadter quotes author of antiintellectualism in. Richard hofstadters famous antiintellectualism in american life, his tenth book, earned him the pulitzer prize in nonfiction 1964. Hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life 1964 is a work of impressive scholarship that remains extremely and sometimes depressingly relevant today. What richard hofstadter got wrong the new republic. Richard hofstadter, antiintellectualism in american life. Richard hofstadter speaking at ucla 1181968 duration. Richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life and the paranoid style in american politics are two essential works that lay bare the worrying trends of irrationalism, demagoguery, destructive populism, and conspiratorial thinking that have long influenced american politics and culture.
Jul 12, 2017 antiintellectualism in american lifeone of hofstadters best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a sizable hole in the house of. Anti intellectualism in american life, 1963 and the paranoid style in american politics, 1965 describe the provincialism in american society, warning it contains much anti intellectual fear of the cosmopolitan city, presented as wicked by the xenophobic and anti semitic populists of the 1890s. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the. Mar 22, 2018 richard hofstadter antiintellectualism in american life. Richard hofstadter s remarkable anti intellectualism in american life reflects the cold warpostmccarthy era, yet still echoes powerfully today. Richard hofstadters remarkable antiintellectualism in american life reflects the cold warpostmccarthy era, yet still echoes powerfully today. Claussen, dane s 2004, antiintellectualism in american media, new york. Jan 04, 2012 anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in non fiction. This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on monday, may 4, 2020. Antiintellectualism in american life work by hofstadter. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing antiintellectualism in american life.
Richard hofstadter antiintellectualism in american life. Long ago richard hofstadter wrote a classic study, antiintellectualism in american life, in which he described the hostility entitled to the life of the mind as deeply rooted in american society. I have listened to verners excellent reading of hofstadter and. This 1963 work is the classical study of the subject, followed by many more recent ones. Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Why this book has endured for four decades is not only because it still rings true, but also for hofstadters ironclad reasoning. Hofstadter addresses antievolutionism primarily in chapter 5 of antiintellectualism in american life. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say something about what the intellectual is, and can be, as a force in a democratic society. Written with all the learning, wit, and sophistication that one has learnt to. Hofstadter wrote antiintellectualism in american life after observing, with dismay and disgust, how the republican party, much of the media, and many americans insulted and mocked adlai stevenson as an egghead throughout the 1950s when the former governor of illinois, ran for president. Imagine you are touring americanot its landscapes or buildings, but its intellect and soul. But laniel has repeatedly mentioned that its one of the best nonfiction.
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