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The Closing of the American Mind

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The Closing of the American Mind

By: Allan Bloom
Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
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About this listen

 In one of the most important books of our time, Allan Bloom, a professor of social thought at the University of Chicago and a noted translator of Plato and Rousseau, argues that the social and political crisis of 20th-century America is really an intellectual crisis. Bloom cites everything from the universities' lack of purpose to the students' lack of learning, from the jargon of liberation to the supplanting of reason by so-called creativity. Furthermore, he shows how American democracy has unwittingly played host to vulgarized Continental ideas of nihilism and despair, of relativism disguised as tolerance, while demonstrating that the collective mind of the American university is closed to the very principles of spiritual heritage that gave rise to the university in the first place.(P)1992 by Blackstone Audiobooks; ©1987 by Alan Bloom Politics & Government

Critic Reviews

"With clarity, gravity, and grace, Bloom makes a convincing case for the improbable proposition that reading old books about the permanent questions could help to reestablish reason and restore the soul." (Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard University)
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Would you try another book written by Allan Bloom or narrated by Christopher Hurt?

Maybe. It would depend on the title.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I found it fascinating to hear a commentator with such a large view explain the impulses and movements that have made a direct contribution to the world in which we live. I didn't make it to the end - it's a long book, and it became just a bit tedious around the middle. I found I kept losing concentration. I might go back to it a bit later.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

I doubt you could make it a film. Maybe a documentary. Yes, I would - it might make it easier to follow - the filmmaker could do all the hard work.

A powerful statement

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Gives a thorough exposition of the decline in Western thought across the Twentieth Century. Essential reading.

Heavy going at times but important.

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Firstly let me say the actual book version of this is probably one of the most highlighted I have on kindle. Alan bloom has a lot to say and unlike his contemporary conservative cohorts he can really express himself, and draws deeply from history and philosophy to make his points. He decries moral relativism and postmodernism that’s have taken over the University and in that analysis he seems largely correct.

However. This is a terrible audiobook. The narration is monotonous, and dry. The only thing going for it was the accurate rendition of French in it. The whole tone of the narrator is one of excoriation, when I’m sure that wasn’t the intent of Bloom.

But more than that, there is a slight, about 2 second, echo on the recording which leads to you rehearing everything the narrator is saying. It is this that made this book pass the point of unbareability for me. I will be returning it.

Great content, terrible narration.

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