The Children’s Story

By: James Clavell

Narrated by: Keith David

“What does ‘allegiance’ mean?” the New Teacher asked, hand over her heart.

In this classic and chilling tale about an elementary school classroom in post-war occupied America, James Clavell brings to light the vulnerability of children and the power educators have to shape and change young minds. Originally written in the Cold War era, Clavell’s extraordinary and enduringly relevant allegory on the impressionability of the human mind is still read in schools around the globe today, and is a call to every person to keep questioning and keep learning.

©1963, 1981 James Clavell (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Truly unsettling

Decades later, this short novelette remains an increasingly more relevant story from JC even in the media blitz to get people to watch the new Hulu Asian Saga.

Very Timely

This story is short but strong and I highly recommend it. Especially in places that are banning books and narrowing the history taught in schools.

Scary tale of brainwashing by a pretty face

Scary tale of how easy it is for propaganda delivered by a pretty face to brainwash people to abandon their values, especially those who've never carefully examined why they believe certain "core values and beliefs." We see this today with how easily Trump conned the Republican party to complete destroy its "principles" from a few decades ago.

Reagan/Bush Republicans believed dictators like Putin are our enemies, Russia was a dangerous communist menace, law and order matter, that being fiscally conservative is good, that the Constitution, democracy, and free elections are crucial and matter, that church and state should stay separate, etc. Trump Republicans trashed all these "conservative values" and believe the complete opposite now.

Why? Because people tend to blindly accept "core beliefs" with no question, analysis, or understanding. Most are intellectually lazy. We tend to say "democracy and freedom" matter but don't really understand or show any curiosity at what any of this means.

That makes us prey to demagogues and clever con artists, like the pretty teacher in this book, to use Socratic arguments to shift our "core beliefs" 180 degrees by the end of the day.

One point I strongly disagreed with in this story was how Clavell used her attack on religion as an example of her deceitful manipulation. Since religion itself is the biggest con in human history, with no evidence for any of its claims, some of her Socratic arguments against prayer, etc. are valid. But not supplanting the idea of God with the nameless Leader she uses. So it's valid to attack religion, but not valid to install your country's leader as a new God.

I loved James Clavell's "Shogun" and urge you all to read it! I loved immersing myself in his 17th century world of feudal Japan.

a message that is coming true today

short story with worthwhile warning regarding influencing young minds, guard their thoughts and don't be swayed

Everyone Should Read/Listen

This book is more relevant now than ever. Short, sweet and yo the point. Highly recommended.

Wow. Great little story

Poignant little story about a classroom being subverted. It would truly be very easy, as it has proven over the years.