tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post7861541173503291334..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: A Thousand Small Sanities by Adam GopnikBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47949655462113991422019-10-26T23:02:02.474-04:002019-10-26T23:02:02.474-04:00Hi Rachel - The book is not that comprehensive. It...Hi Rachel - The book is not that comprehensive. It seems to concentrate on a limited number of people and events. It is more of the author’s musings about liberalism. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5579012623553763302019-10-26T18:01:05.865-04:002019-10-26T18:01:05.865-04:00This book would be long, indeed if it included eve...This book would be long, indeed if it included everything to be wished for. �� I actually haven't heard of this one, even though I like to watch for books like this. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Rachelhttp://hibernatorslibrary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15993039267726244582019-10-21T17:31:11.586-04:002019-10-21T17:31:11.586-04:00Thanks Stefanie. Thanks Stefanie. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-24935442954326520082019-10-21T15:49:54.256-04:002019-10-21T15:49:54.256-04:00Sounds like an interesting book. Enjoyed your revi...Sounds like an interesting book. Enjoyed your review as always.Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943596258182968212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30680576495298992972019-10-16T06:57:24.957-04:002019-10-16T06:57:24.957-04:00Thanks Baili- I am interested in non Western sourc...Thanks Baili- I am interested in non Western sources for these things. Perhaps I will dig into this a bit in the future. I know that you are interested in these topics so I think that you would get a lot out of this book. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-76601636581118413762019-10-16T01:59:27.325-04:002019-10-16T01:59:27.325-04:00one of the most powerful and amazing review i read...one of the most powerful and amazing review i read ever dear Brain !<br />special thanks for such detailed sharing of your wonderful thoughts <br />i so enjoyed each bit of it and felt quite fulfilled at the end <br /><br />i will definitely read this book sooner or later i will for sure because it includes topics i want to know about <br />you presented it sublimely and this is why i could know how greatly it is written <br /><br />your insightful opinion that writer must have shared his thoughts part of the set of thoughts that was result of influence of other eastern societies is very important <br /><br />i am so glad i have privilege to read your blog my friend ! <br />remarkable job you are doing here :)bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28408311099321310222019-10-14T16:38:23.528-04:002019-10-14T16:38:23.528-04:00Hi Susan - It is unfortunate that the term liberal...Hi Susan - It is unfortunate that the term liberalism has taken on so many meanings. We kind of just need to say universal liberalism now to be understood when talking about it in this context.<br /><br /> I need to check out Gopnik’s other books. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82700740473209073012019-10-14T15:47:13.546-04:002019-10-14T15:47:13.546-04:00I'm glad you explained & explored the vari...I'm glad you explained & explored the various meanings of liberal & liberalism ... some of the varieties of the terms seem endless. Even the Liberal Party in Canada is quite different than the U.S. version etc. Adam Gopnik seems to write an array of books -- and I'm quite fascinated on how it all began and the Enlightenment period. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32685410721424706602019-10-13T20:48:07.827-04:002019-10-13T20:48:07.827-04:00I will just add that support for impeachment, as w...I will just add that support for impeachment, as well as anti - Trumpism in general, is not really a left or right issue. As Kathy pointed out abound, some of The most reasoned and persuasive arguments for impeachment, and anti Trumpism in general, is coming from the Never Trump conservatives. These folks adhere to universal liberal values. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-75972245365200427282019-10-13T20:26:17.873-04:002019-10-13T20:26:17.873-04:00
Hi CBR - There are various groups on the left. “T...<br />Hi CBR - There are various groups on the left. “This current leftists” is a big, broad term and includes a lot of people. have written about what I call the postmodern left. They do often support censorship and other anti - democratic policies. <br /><br />I do not believe that they or any other radicals have taken over the Democratic Party. On the censorship issue, the postmodernists are pushing that, most left liberals, including myself oppose it. Likewise most left liberals, including most of the democratic establishment support democracy and freedom of religion. <br /><br />I support abolishing the Electoral College. It is undemocratic and it has allowed a minority to place an authoritarian movement, Trumpism, into power. Trumpism, like Marxism and left - postmodernism, is opposed to universal liberal values. <br /><br />There are few real socialists among main stream Democrats. Sadly, the members of GOP tend to call everything that they disagree with socialism.<br /><br />I have heard almost no one who wants to overturn the outcome of the election. Impeachment is a constitutional remedy. Trump has committed numerous impeachable offenses. Another President would have been long ago removed from office. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-54500329713993215552019-10-13T19:38:54.061-04:002019-10-13T19:38:54.061-04:00I agree that "liberalism is really neither ri...I agree that "liberalism is really neither right or left on the political spectrum." I used to be a liberal before I walked away. (Now I'm an independent conservative.) "Liberals" are not who I'm seeing getting the attention these days. Radical leftists have taken over liberals and Democrats. <br /><br />You write that liberalism "is the belief in tenants such as democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, secular government, science, racial and gender equality, capitalism, globalism and more." However, the current leftists are not interested in democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, or capitalism. They want to change the Constitution (such as the Electoral College) and overturn the 2016 election; they are pushing socialist ideals; they want to censor conservatives, and they want to censor Christians,CBRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13544486135998059134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34083294137540080252019-10-13T16:32:19.539-04:002019-10-13T16:32:19.539-04:00Hi Marion - I think it is OK to have the right and...Hi Marion - I think it is OK to have the right and the left disagreeing. What is key is that they both adhere to universal liberal values.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-6537654658167688072019-10-13T14:55:23.830-04:002019-10-13T14:55:23.830-04:00This sounds really fascinating. I spent the bette...This sounds really fascinating. I spent the better part of a college history course on the liberalism of the 18th/19th centuries, and would love to read more about it. I'm a bit skeptical we can ever get back to a more central/universal position in the U.S., since it seems like conflict is more profitable (financially, politically) than compromise for both sides. Marian Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115916138435761469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36992984017205314382019-10-12T21:53:32.332-04:002019-10-12T21:53:32.332-04:00Thanks Jane. People do throw the word around care...Thanks Jane. People do throw the word around carelessly. With that, I think that left liberalism has a fairly distinct meaning. It is just a different thing from universal liberalism. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55680980496587394622019-10-12T21:50:56.709-04:002019-10-12T21:50:56.709-04:00Hi Suko - Universal liberalism is probably liked b...Hi Suko - Universal liberalism is probably liked by the majority of people out there. I would also like to read more about it. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-18000462911045629472019-10-12T21:38:16.325-04:002019-10-12T21:38:16.325-04:00I like Adam Gopnik and I think I would appreciate ...I like Adam Gopnik and I think I would appreciate this book, although you did such a great review, I think that I got the gist of the book :)<br /><br />It’s interesting to really examine a topic like liberalism because it is weighed down by so much baggage, good and bad, and people use the word as a label without having a firm sense of what it really means.<br /><br />Good review.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64268158843071100462019-10-12T21:27:00.845-04:002019-10-12T21:27:00.845-04:00Brian Joseph,
I had not heard of this book before...Brian Joseph,<br /><br />I had not heard of this book before. I like the definition of liberalism that you state,"the belief in tenants such as democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, secular government, science, racial and gender equality, capitalism, globalism and more". Your thoughtful review has made me interested in reading more about this "rhinoceros". Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47192169475258069022019-10-12T08:24:26.212-04:002019-10-12T08:24:26.212-04:00
Hi Sharon- People do Indeed hijack words. People’...<br />Hi Sharon- People do Indeed hijack words. People’s opponents do also tend to try to label folks with incorrect words. I also think that sometimes words or labels change for more innocent reasons. I think that you would get a lot out of this book.<br /><br />Have a great weekend! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64269046337252410792019-10-11T21:27:06.832-04:002019-10-11T21:27:06.832-04:00HI Brian. I think I would have to read the book t...HI Brian. I think I would have to read the book to better understand what he means by liberalism. I often have noticed that certain groups will hijack terms to apply to themselves, even though they actually don't fulfill the meaning of the terms. <br /><br />For example people who call themselves liberals and then want to impose a governmental system that would rob people of basic liberties.<br /><br />People who call themselves Christians but their words, actions and beliefs contradict the basic tenets of Christianity.<br /><br />Once again you've given me something to think about.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38768026511540753812019-10-11T11:11:26.006-04:002019-10-11T11:11:26.006-04:00Hi Hila - I agree, the principals of liberalism ar...Hi Hila - I agree, the principals of liberalism are vitally important. There are also terribly illiberal trends coming out of both the right and the left. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-88314866969000839542019-10-11T11:07:14.652-04:002019-10-11T11:07:14.652-04:00Thanks for stopping by Haddock. I love the cover t...Thanks for stopping by Haddock. I love the cover too. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51092036245225658952019-10-11T11:06:14.179-04:002019-10-11T11:06:14.179-04:00PS - I must give Powers a try. PS - I must give Powers a try. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89379424729628902932019-10-11T11:05:38.671-04:002019-10-11T11:05:38.671-04:00Thanks James. There is so much muddling going on. ...Thanks James. There is so much muddling going on. That is one reason I like the term left liberal. Thanks for recommendation, I might give Barnett a try. I also need to read others like Mills. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-4270842476644044142019-10-11T11:01:56.711-04:002019-10-11T11:01:56.711-04:00Thanks Judy - I think that many politicians, inclu...Thanks Judy - I think that many politicians, including Pelosi are universal liberals. That includes politicians on the left and the right. Pelosi is also, obviously a left liberal. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-8252874121839317062019-10-11T10:59:09.609-04:002019-10-11T10:59:09.609-04:00Hi Stephen - I think that the concept of personal ...Hi Stephen - I think that the concept of personal freedom is part of liberalism. Thus, I think that it is fair to say that trends that enhanced personal freedom helped promote liberalism. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com