Anti-Intellectualism in American Life

By: Richard Hofstadter

Narrated by: Adam Verner

Winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize in Non-Fiction.

This book throws light on many features of the American character. 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.

©1963 Richard Hofstadter (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"As Mr. Hofstadter unfolds the fascinating story, it is no crude battle of eggheads and fatheads. It is a rich, complex, shifting picture of the life of the mind in a society dominated by the ideal of practical success." (Robert Peel, Christian Science Monitor)

A Very Thought Provoking Work With Much Historical Information

I was extremely happy to have come across this work. It is a treatise on American Intellectualism and the difficulties encountered by intellectuals. The book is slightly dated, authored in the 1960s, but as I will explain, makes a great first volume of two volumes. The narration is clear and very well done. However the subject matter is somewhat deep and there are many references to individuals and works the merit further study.

I came across this work after reading “The Age of American Unreason” by Susan Jacoby. If I had to do it over again I would have read her work as Volume 2 as it is of more recent vintage. Both merit thought and further study. Thank You.

Very Well Written

I love the way this book is laid out. Extremely well organized and reads very easy.

Rediscovery

This book was a cornerstone of my intellectual development; hearing it here on Audible was like getting reacquainted with an old friend. Of course, the book isn't perfect; Hofstadter did wander a bit, and the Conclusion seems to be an effort to make a grand final statement. Still, it was wonderful to hear this book narrated, and narrated so well. Kudos to all involved.

A must-read, especially for immigrants

I live in the US for 20 years. This book finally explained some strange differences to my native Germany that I could never clearly understand or define. Highly recommended!!

excellent narration and content

This book clearly exposes American society in its moments of anti-intellectual bias and outright hostility. I learned more than I bargained for and, equally, more than I expected! Highly recommended!

Fifty years later, still valid today

Soon after graduation from Columbia I had the opportunity to read this seminal work which helped me better understand my sense of alienation from US society, following the McCarthy era and the Eisenhower years. Now, almost in my dotage I have listened to Verner's excellent reading of Hofstadter and realized that his observations about the state of anti-intellectualism are, if anything, more cogent today. Trump's election broadly supported by what H.L.Mencken might have called the " Booboisie" has provided clear evidence that intellect and thoughtful intelligence continue to be held in disregard.
Of course, the irony is that only readers who see themselves as intellectuals will want to obtain copies of this fine audiobook.

David Evan Glasser

Wanders a bit

Not as good as the title would suggest. I was impatient towards the end. Did not care for narrator.

Has held up well

This book has held up remarkably well. That it, it is of both historical and contemporary relevance. This I attribute to the author’s wisdom: his ability to see in the vivid particulars of history the universal tendencies of not only the human heart but American society and society more broadly.

Difficult to understand but worth it.

I have thought for many years, perhaps even a decade, that America is a nation of anti-intellectuals. From my time in high school, social gatherings, corporate life, and throughout undergrad, it seemed like Americans were fervently against using their mind to think, reason, and learn about the world. However, it isn't the fault of the people. The fault is in our nations early religious foundations, cookie cutter public education, and our inherent desire to focus on what is practical, as opposed to practicality and theoretical.

It is an understatement to say that this book is difficult to read. The style is ancient compared to how we read and write today, the material is dry, incredibly verbose, and sometimes a bit of a rant. However, I think that this is a good book for those that are seriously interested in why our country is lacking in intellectual curiosity and spirit. For those with a similar viewpoint to mine, this book's message will not surprise you, but the theories and ideas behind the message will enlighten you.

History Again Repeats Itself

This book, which was originally an exploration of the history of trends in American thinking, could have been written today Only the names of the principal actors would need to adjusted. It helps to give an explanation of current trends in polical movements. We may be alarmed by the divisions in current American society, but this book can help explain the history of these trends. The current chaos is nothing new in America. It has its roots in American history and has become a continuing problem which surfaces repeatedly in American society. Some names have changed but the basic trends remain the same. This book could well help explain the divisions we are seeing in politics and current American thought.