The Challenge of Things

May 18, 2015
Every contentious issue you can think of—nationalism, religion, abortion, drugs, wave-particle duality—gets an interesting, bite-size rehash in this collection of essays. British philosophy prof Grayling (The God Argument) amasses short opinion pieces and book reviews he wrote for magazines and newspapers, and the result is a grab-bag of topical articles, historical ruminations, and ideological obsessions. His general perspective is mildly left-wing on economics and government, libertarian on social issues such as drugs and prostitution, cantankerously atheistic (“without brainwashing of the young religion would wither and die of its own absurdity”), and dyed-in-the-wool green (“the world is so utterly drunk that it has become insane—lusting for the ghastly poison”). Grayling’s opinions on current affairs are energetic and colorfully phrased, but, as when he denounces short-selling in the market and voices his worries about China’s rise, not always convincing. More substantial are philosophical ruminations that consider the promise and pitfalls of brain imaging in the study of the mind; the link between science and artistic creativity; the bizarre concepts of quantum mechanics; and the tectonic shifts in civic outlook charted in ancient Greek drama. Grayling is an elegant and erudite writer, and though these pieces are too quickly tossed off to convert everyone, they make for an engaging browse. Agent: Felicity Bryan, Felicity Bryan Agency.

August 1, 2015

Grayling (philosophy & master of the college, New Coll. of the Humanities, London; Toward the Light of Liberty) has collected a number of short essays that range widely over philosophy, politics, European and Asian history, the history of science, and literature. Grayling unifies the pieces around a strong defense of liberal values, meaning by these not so much a particular political program but rather a commitment to freedom and reason. The author sees such ideals as threatened by religion, of which he is a determined opponent. Another enemy is postmodernism; he sees it is an obscurantist denial of rationality. Having dispatched his rivals in the book's first part, Grayling turns in the second to praise of views that are in accord with his own. His luminous writings on Ronald Dworkin and H.G. Wells are especially well done. VERDICT Not everyone will find Grayling's humanist views palatable, but he writes with great clarity and vigor. He is a genuine "public intellectual" of the sort about whom he writes. The book will be of interest to any educated general reader and compares favorably with Christopher Hitchens, arguably.--David Gordon, Bowling Green State Univ., OH

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October 1, 2015
A new collection of essays from Grayling (Philosophy/New Coll. of the Humanities, London; The God Argument: The Case Against Religion and for Humanism, 2014, etc.), whose distinguished record of accomplishments in the humanities and public service is recognized internationally. The author organizes this thought-provoking collection of essays]most of them a concise three to four pages]into two sections. The first, "Destructions and Deconstructions," deals with the problems of the contemporary world, including guns, religion, education, climate change, human rights issues, and global financial crisis. The second, "Constructions and Creations," which is more philosophically programmatic in its orientation, takes up such themes as the public intellectual, the relationship between science and democracy ("the growth of science and the growth of liberal democracy were not merely contemporaneous, but causally connected"), and "Making the World a Better Place." Grayling will no doubt offend conservative American readers with "The Prophetess," a discussion of the "tough and tyrannical" Ayn Rand. "The microcosm of the Randian cult," he writes, "was a reprise of every historical example of actual or would-be revolutions that have devoured their own." Grayling will also provoke religious fundamentalists with "The Advantages of Atheist Political Leaders," in which he writes, "atheist leaders are not going to think they are getting messages from Beyond telling them to go to war. They will not cloak themselves in supernaturalistic justifications, as Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush came perilously close to doing when later talking about the decision to invade Iraq in 2002." However, he'll likely find plenty of support for his examinations of Chinese and Russian irredentism. Grayling takes a philosophical and ethical approach to human action, which can be at odds with the importance Americans accord to ideological beliefs. Nonetheless, the contrasts he draws between religious and scientific worldviews and practices, as well as his discussions of the role of the public intellectual, are undoubtedly stimulating. A spirited collection of provocative pathways.

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September 1, 2015
Grayling's latest collection of essays explores a wide array of personal and political topics, much akin to his 2010 compilation Thinking of Answers. Musings on such subjects as The Care and Maintenance of Friends, The Advantages of Atheist Political Leaders, and The Killing of Osama Bin Laden are brought together by the disciplined reasoning Grayling brings to his writing. His arguments are as consistently humanistic, progressive, and anti-religious as his subject matter is varied. One recurring theme among the more than 60 short pieces is how the events of WWI laid the groundwork for much of today's terror-fueled conflict between Western and Middle Eastern nations. Grayling rebukes the U.S. and European democracies for continuing to be historically shortsighted, arguing, for example, that giving Bin Laden due process and refusing to seek retribution would have been the more logical and humane course of action. Grayling is not a meditative philosopher, but readers looking for strongly held positions, well and provocatively argued, will find what they seek is these always thought-provoking essays.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)