As I mentioned before, I have been reading Al Gore’s new book, Assault on Reason, and I am really enjoying it. Gore is erudite and makes his points, not with hallow rhetoric, but with reasoned analysis, supported by evidence gathered from diverse fields of study including neuroscience and psychology. He frames the discussion using abundant and well-chosen quotes from such luminaries as Thomas Paine, John Stuart Mill, and many others. It is, in fact, the type of book that I love to read. It is passionate and Gore definitely has a particular point of view (one that I don’t completely agree with on all points), but it is not a simple polemic.
I hope to have some more detailed analysis of the book’s content as I continue reading. But, I suggest that anyone out there concerned about America’s future and dismayed by the anti-intellectualism that seems to have become dominant during this new century check out the book. It is well worth a read, even if you don’t agree with Gore’s conclusions. I think you’ll at least find in it a refreshing example of how political discourse and debate could be in this country, but sadly isn’t.
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I’m gonna need to borrow that book sometime. Hopefully I won’t find it to be too dry and boring. The topic interests me, but I’m not sure how I’ll respond to the equivalent of a written lecture. Non-fiction scares me.
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