The Tyranny of Guilt: An Essay on Western Masochism

Description

This is just the kind of book I like to read coming out of Europe. It is critical of the Intellectual Class of the continent and critical of America as well. Both the US and the EU need to work together in the world today and that means compromise. The US needs to cool its heals but keep its conviction and passion. Europe needs to stop sulking and second guessing and do something. Bruckner says as much in this book.

It is a fairly easy read not requiring the reader to have a background in philosophy or theory to follow his message. It is a bit Franco-centric but he is French and his original audience was the French, so that is easily excusable-- and if you can't stand that you can just skip one of those middle chapters and not miss too much.

Though I don't agree with him completely, I agree more often than I don't. I also am quite fond of some of the intellectuals that he criticizes-- especially Derrida--, but I have always seemed to like their theory and philosophy much more than their politics. Their politics seem to be a bit detached from reality and idealistic (or, if you want to be unflattering about it: wimpy and indecisive when it comes to actual actions and specific circumstances) and this is what Bruckner points out.