I have a bloody long list too... This book, mercifully, is less than 200 pages. I've got "Origins of Totalitarianism" staring me in the face and god only knows how many hundreds of pages that one is. I'm scared to look.
The pithy phrase has been attributed to Johnathon Swift (of Gulliver's Travels). If you haven't read it, Gulliver's Travels is a political satire but also a children's story.
It's great to see you review an Eric Hoffer book. I used to read him a lot, but that was a long time ago, perhaps I should give it another go. The whole blue collar philosopher thing is right up my alley.
As best I can tell, the knowledge explosion is the primary disruptive social force. Those less educated folks left behind by the accelerating pace of change will often become vulnerable to hyper confident con men promising to make America great again etc.
AI is now starting to bring disruptive change to the white collar world as well. More to the point, AI will further accelerate the knowledge explosion, leading to more change, more disruption, more discontent and more true believers.
The foundation for all these changes is an out of date relationship with knowledge, which our society appears to have almost no ability to edit at this moment in time. So more true believers are likely to be a big part of our future.
Oh yeah, more true believers on the horizon for sure. As society trends towards more complexity, as you pointed out, more and more people will seek answers in simple ideologies/explanations. We won't be able to stop that from happening, but hopefully we can limit the amount of collateral damage that they're able to inflict.
A close family member and her family are a part of an independent evangelical church. This church demands strict obedience to certain rules and regulations.
One rule is that all “great sins” (infidelity, stealing, lying, etc.) are confessed in front of the whole congregation. The “Elders” then give punishment and a path back to the group. These type churches are becoming quite poplar now in all parts of the U.S.
My family members are not poor, nor rich. They have always been religious people, who, I am told, constantly pray for my lost soul. They are people, however, that need direction, purpose and meaning – from an outside source. Furthermore, they generally are not independent thinkers and abhor skeptics.
Though I have not read your suggested book, it seems to suggest these words are true in the case of my family members.
"To confess and repent is to slough off one’s individual distinctness and separateness, and salvation is found by losing oneself in the holy oneness of the congregation."
Needless to say, I have tried, with zero success, to bend or change their minds. I actually stopped as I felt I was strengthening their beliefs, not weakening them – as submitted by the author of your recommended tome.
I fear others in today's world are continuing down this path; religious right-wingers, far left Progressives, Trumpists, insane environmentalists, etc. If we all lived 200 years ago, there would be no time for such nonsense as we would be tilling the soil, minding our shops, guarding the seas or starving on the streets. But in today's world, we are bored, fat and without purpose and meaning.
Well thank you for sharing that story... Indeed I think it speaks to exactly what Eric Hoffer has described. Some people require a strong belief system to guide them through life. As per your example, religion has historically served that role. With the decline of religion the populace is left to look to other creeds and that's how we end up with this modern madness. Politics, among many other things, is the new religion.
You also make a good point about modern people having too much time on their hands. Not that I think we should all go back to 14 hour shifts on the farm or in the factory, but it would amazing if we found better ways to occupy our time.
It’s interesting, I am a trans woman, and I with some reluctance admit that there are definite correlations between the discussion in this book (I have not read the book) and the current “trans movement”. I’m reluctant to say this because for me it has been transformative and my life is much better for having transitioned.
My transition however did have opportunity costs. For example, I lost many clients in my business (I gained some too) not because I was providing bad service, but because of who I was. There are many people that take one look at me and assume that by being trans, I ascribe to a whole slate of beliefs. Everything from capitalism is evil, trans women are the same as biological women, to full term abortions. If they take the time to get to know me they will find that my positions on most things span both sides of the political spectrum and in my view are very nuanced.
Trans women (and men) are the not the same as biological women. Our experience are completely different both in adolescence and in adulthood. I feel that there is beauty in these differences and that we should embrace them rather push them away in a quest to be the same as every other woman. For one I have the unique ability (in my opinion) to relate to both sexes. The depth of my conversations is so much more compelling then it was before. My friendships and the way I emphasize with others have become so much deeper then before.
Idk I may just be rambling here... anyway, thanks for the article. It was a stimulating read.
Thanks for the comment, it was interesting to read. I think the thorny issue here is that for every "true" trans person like yourself, where this was the real answer that your soul deeply needed, there are many other people for whom transitioning is not the answer.
Maybe the person in question would be gay, or a happy effeminate man/masculine woman, or the person (often young) is just confused and would grow out of that phase. And instead of recognizing these realities, we're trying to convince all these people who feel "something is wrong" that transitioning to the opposite sex will solve their problems. Spoiler alert, it won't. Being a woman is hard. Being a man is hard. Life is just hard sometimes, there are no easy answers.
At any rate, thanks for being a reader here and willing to listen to a view that might be different from your own. Glad to have you aboard 👋
I found your comment here very interesting and moving. You sound like a pretty enlightened person to me. “Beauty in these differences,” that’s a good phrase!
I suspect we would not agree on everything, but there is much wisdom here. I’m a leftist but I’m convinced that many on my side are dedicated to being part of a group rather than to principle and reason. And I find myself frustrated by their lack of interest in even attempting to persuade anyone of anything. If you don’t agree with them, you must be an asshole.
You might be surprised by how much we agree on... I think the problem is that the left has moved so far left in the last ~5 years, that anyone who hasn't jumped on that bandwagon looks (very) conservative by comparison.
For me, the Covid narratives truly brought to light for me how what's supposed to happen is that you just follow the team, no questions asked. Just try to raise a point of contention and you're mocked as MAGA extremist or whatever. Suppressing dissent and valid criticisms is not good for our society, or our hope of improving our conditions.
I’m with you on that. I feel like a person ought to be able to say, ok, we don’t agree on that. But in some cases, we have crucial things in common.
I think it takes a different sort of intelligence to appreciate other people even when they’re different from you. I’d rather deal with a person who’s ok with me being myself, even if we differ on some things. And I’ve felt the drafty intolerance of others from right and left both, for sure. It’s a certain kind of person, I think, who just needs everyone to be like them. I don’t crave that the way a lot of people do.
Me neither my friend, me neither... Some people need to be with others who think like them. They have little tolerance for dissent. I am rarely friends with these types, too stifling.
I'm sure we would get along great, were we ever to meet.
Karl, well said. I am a conservative (of the Libertarian bent) …the ability to disagree maturely with little-to-no ill intent immediately ascribed to “the other side” has nearly been lost. It can be regained again but only one person at a time (IMO) with patience, understanding, compassion and firm resolve to have your flippin’ facts straight. Not your bloody emotions …but actual real-world facts. Argue those versus personalities or group-think-buckets of humans and we will eventually rid ourselves (one by one) of this selfish …dare I say insane(?)… knee jerk emotionalism dominating our communication/society today.
Just wanted to give you a quick pat on the back for being a part of mature crowd.
I appreciate it very much, thanks! I like your point about facts vs. emotion. This is where I differ from trans activists, a major sticking point with me and progressives. I’m enthusiastic about trans people living the lives they want to live, and they’re always welcome at my house and in my life. But I’m not entirely convinced on some of the activist philosophy, and I AM convinced that policy regarding young people ought to understood as a complex and thorny issue, rather than one where even a slight disagreement means I need to be called out as transphobic.
I don’t see the wisdom of that, although the emotion behind it is understandable. I just don’t think public policy should be based on emotion.
Incredible piece of writing. Just bought the book. Explains the reactions of the post Covid West perfectly.
Thanks Raijiv, I'm happy that you liked the review and I think you'll love the book.
It’s on the list... bloody long list like, but it’s on it.
I have a bloody long list too... This book, mercifully, is less than 200 pages. I've got "Origins of Totalitarianism" staring me in the face and god only knows how many hundreds of pages that one is. I'm scared to look.
The pithy phrase has been attributed to Johnathon Swift (of Gulliver's Travels). If you haven't read it, Gulliver's Travels is a political satire but also a children's story.
Ahhh interesting. Ty for the attribution. I've heard of Gulliver's Travels but never read it. I'll throw it on the list.
It's great to see you review an Eric Hoffer book. I used to read him a lot, but that was a long time ago, perhaps I should give it another go. The whole blue collar philosopher thing is right up my alley.
As best I can tell, the knowledge explosion is the primary disruptive social force. Those less educated folks left behind by the accelerating pace of change will often become vulnerable to hyper confident con men promising to make America great again etc.
AI is now starting to bring disruptive change to the white collar world as well. More to the point, AI will further accelerate the knowledge explosion, leading to more change, more disruption, more discontent and more true believers.
The foundation for all these changes is an out of date relationship with knowledge, which our society appears to have almost no ability to edit at this moment in time. So more true believers are likely to be a big part of our future.
Oh yeah, more true believers on the horizon for sure. As society trends towards more complexity, as you pointed out, more and more people will seek answers in simple ideologies/explanations. We won't be able to stop that from happening, but hopefully we can limit the amount of collateral damage that they're able to inflict.
My guess, we keep pushing forward as fast as possible until we hit some kind of calamity wall. Pain is our greatest teacher. That, and surfing. :-)
Great piece, really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Jon, glad you liked it 🤙
A close family member and her family are a part of an independent evangelical church. This church demands strict obedience to certain rules and regulations.
One rule is that all “great sins” (infidelity, stealing, lying, etc.) are confessed in front of the whole congregation. The “Elders” then give punishment and a path back to the group. These type churches are becoming quite poplar now in all parts of the U.S.
My family members are not poor, nor rich. They have always been religious people, who, I am told, constantly pray for my lost soul. They are people, however, that need direction, purpose and meaning – from an outside source. Furthermore, they generally are not independent thinkers and abhor skeptics.
Though I have not read your suggested book, it seems to suggest these words are true in the case of my family members.
"To confess and repent is to slough off one’s individual distinctness and separateness, and salvation is found by losing oneself in the holy oneness of the congregation."
Needless to say, I have tried, with zero success, to bend or change their minds. I actually stopped as I felt I was strengthening their beliefs, not weakening them – as submitted by the author of your recommended tome.
I fear others in today's world are continuing down this path; religious right-wingers, far left Progressives, Trumpists, insane environmentalists, etc. If we all lived 200 years ago, there would be no time for such nonsense as we would be tilling the soil, minding our shops, guarding the seas or starving on the streets. But in today's world, we are bored, fat and without purpose and meaning.
Thank you for an insightful piece.
Well thank you for sharing that story... Indeed I think it speaks to exactly what Eric Hoffer has described. Some people require a strong belief system to guide them through life. As per your example, religion has historically served that role. With the decline of religion the populace is left to look to other creeds and that's how we end up with this modern madness. Politics, among many other things, is the new religion.
You also make a good point about modern people having too much time on their hands. Not that I think we should all go back to 14 hour shifts on the farm or in the factory, but it would amazing if we found better ways to occupy our time.
A well written and interesting review. Thank you.
It’s interesting, I am a trans woman, and I with some reluctance admit that there are definite correlations between the discussion in this book (I have not read the book) and the current “trans movement”. I’m reluctant to say this because for me it has been transformative and my life is much better for having transitioned.
My transition however did have opportunity costs. For example, I lost many clients in my business (I gained some too) not because I was providing bad service, but because of who I was. There are many people that take one look at me and assume that by being trans, I ascribe to a whole slate of beliefs. Everything from capitalism is evil, trans women are the same as biological women, to full term abortions. If they take the time to get to know me they will find that my positions on most things span both sides of the political spectrum and in my view are very nuanced.
Trans women (and men) are the not the same as biological women. Our experience are completely different both in adolescence and in adulthood. I feel that there is beauty in these differences and that we should embrace them rather push them away in a quest to be the same as every other woman. For one I have the unique ability (in my opinion) to relate to both sexes. The depth of my conversations is so much more compelling then it was before. My friendships and the way I emphasize with others have become so much deeper then before.
Idk I may just be rambling here... anyway, thanks for the article. It was a stimulating read.
Thanks for the comment, it was interesting to read. I think the thorny issue here is that for every "true" trans person like yourself, where this was the real answer that your soul deeply needed, there are many other people for whom transitioning is not the answer.
Maybe the person in question would be gay, or a happy effeminate man/masculine woman, or the person (often young) is just confused and would grow out of that phase. And instead of recognizing these realities, we're trying to convince all these people who feel "something is wrong" that transitioning to the opposite sex will solve their problems. Spoiler alert, it won't. Being a woman is hard. Being a man is hard. Life is just hard sometimes, there are no easy answers.
At any rate, thanks for being a reader here and willing to listen to a view that might be different from your own. Glad to have you aboard 👋
I found your comment here very interesting and moving. You sound like a pretty enlightened person to me. “Beauty in these differences,” that’s a good phrase!
I suspect we would not agree on everything, but there is much wisdom here. I’m a leftist but I’m convinced that many on my side are dedicated to being part of a group rather than to principle and reason. And I find myself frustrated by their lack of interest in even attempting to persuade anyone of anything. If you don’t agree with them, you must be an asshole.
You might be surprised by how much we agree on... I think the problem is that the left has moved so far left in the last ~5 years, that anyone who hasn't jumped on that bandwagon looks (very) conservative by comparison.
For me, the Covid narratives truly brought to light for me how what's supposed to happen is that you just follow the team, no questions asked. Just try to raise a point of contention and you're mocked as MAGA extremist or whatever. Suppressing dissent and valid criticisms is not good for our society, or our hope of improving our conditions.
I’m with you on that. I feel like a person ought to be able to say, ok, we don’t agree on that. But in some cases, we have crucial things in common.
I think it takes a different sort of intelligence to appreciate other people even when they’re different from you. I’d rather deal with a person who’s ok with me being myself, even if we differ on some things. And I’ve felt the drafty intolerance of others from right and left both, for sure. It’s a certain kind of person, I think, who just needs everyone to be like them. I don’t crave that the way a lot of people do.
Me neither my friend, me neither... Some people need to be with others who think like them. They have little tolerance for dissent. I am rarely friends with these types, too stifling.
I'm sure we would get along great, were we ever to meet.
I believe you are correct! Ok, now I need to go have some coffee.
Karl, well said. I am a conservative (of the Libertarian bent) …the ability to disagree maturely with little-to-no ill intent immediately ascribed to “the other side” has nearly been lost. It can be regained again but only one person at a time (IMO) with patience, understanding, compassion and firm resolve to have your flippin’ facts straight. Not your bloody emotions …but actual real-world facts. Argue those versus personalities or group-think-buckets of humans and we will eventually rid ourselves (one by one) of this selfish …dare I say insane(?)… knee jerk emotionalism dominating our communication/society today.
Just wanted to give you a quick pat on the back for being a part of mature crowd.
Emotion is the new reality. If a person feels something it must be real!
That seems to be just about the status quo now and it's bloody annoying. Emotion is not a good way to run a country.
I appreciate it very much, thanks! I like your point about facts vs. emotion. This is where I differ from trans activists, a major sticking point with me and progressives. I’m enthusiastic about trans people living the lives they want to live, and they’re always welcome at my house and in my life. But I’m not entirely convinced on some of the activist philosophy, and I AM convinced that policy regarding young people ought to understood as a complex and thorny issue, rather than one where even a slight disagreement means I need to be called out as transphobic.
I don’t see the wisdom of that, although the emotion behind it is understandable. I just don’t think public policy should be based on emotion.