How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered The World
January 23rd, 2005
Just finished reading How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World: a short history of modern delusions by Francis Wheen. Excellent stuff - he laments the falling-out-of-favor that liberal, enlightenment virtues like reason and inquiry have had since the sixties, and the foggy mysticism that has taken root in its stead.
Post-modernism’s relativist stance is skewered several times. (This part is especially entertaining, since post-modernism practically parodies itself) Modern economic “miracles” like Enron, the dot-com bubble and economic cults (like the IMF and Thatcherism) are dissected and revealed for the madnesses they are. But pleasantly, he has just as much contempt for modern feminists, leftists and “radicals” as he does for the Islamic fundamentalists, medievalists and religious conservatives.
On a related note, I see in today’s paper that Jon Stewart’s America is doing well. Stewart’s Daily Show won an award for achievement in news!? Comedy show wins news award? Truly these are strange days. (and someone in the news isn’t doing their job)
Entry Filed under: Books
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