Modern Philosophy - General & Miscellaneous, Christianity - General & Miscellaneous, Future Studies & Forecasting - General & Miscellaneous, Civilization - General & Miscellaneous

Grasping for the Wind

Name: Grasping for the Wind
Author: John W. Whitehead
ISBN: 9780310232742

by John W. Whitehead

Write a review

Overview

Grasping for the Wind is an incisive and powerful analysis of 20th century Western civilization: what historical and cultural forces have shaped it and where it is headed. From Rembrandt, to the French Revolution, to Marilyn Monroe, to Martin Luther King, to the Beatles, to Stanley Kubrick, to MTV, to the Internet and beyond, lawyer and social commentator John Whitehead reveals the threads of influence that weave this present age.

Here, from one of the most controversial and outspoken thinkers in today's public arena, is a brilliant, broad-ranging explication of 20th century culture: its building blocks, its notable landmarks, and its far-reaching influence. Grasping for the Wind is essential reading for all who seek to better understand the questions that continue to haunt our civilization, and for anyone interested in popular culture and its development.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Library Journal

How did our society get to where it is, and where is it heading? These are the questions investigated in this excellent book. Whitehead is a civil liberties attorney, founder and editor of the magazine Gadfly and producer of the award-winning video series with the same title as this book. His near-encyclopedic knowledge of history, literature, art, and science allows him to explore the significance of almost every major person and movement from the 1700s until today, from Voltaire, Hobbes, and Rousseau to MTV, Generation X, and Forrest Gump. Our society has arrived at the point where-technology and science, from computers to cloning, raise many questions about what it means to be human. Whitehead is not in the business of answering these questions although he does point the way but of making sure that we understand the issues. He achieves his goal superbly. Highly recommended. John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.