Mark Anderson reviewed The Modern Mind by Peter Watson
Review of 'The Modern Mind' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This compendium of modern thought and intellectual achievement is a remarkably breezy read, given that it could just as easily have been a dry and nauseating regurgitation of lists and names. Watson strings a tight narrative out of the history of modern man, providing a compelling perspective of the evolution in arts, sciences, and providing both caution and hope for future human achievement. Watson delves not only into humanity's heights of innovation, but also the stark and abject failures of modern culture, such as the Holocaust and the continuing racism in the United States.
The only section that draws my criticism is the Epilogue, which I could have done without. It is heavy-handed and is the only part where Watson allows his opinion and interpretation to run out of the bounds of restraint. It also makes the book feel even more dated than it needs to, given his foreboding speculation …
This compendium of modern thought and intellectual achievement is a remarkably breezy read, given that it could just as easily have been a dry and nauseating regurgitation of lists and names. Watson strings a tight narrative out of the history of modern man, providing a compelling perspective of the evolution in arts, sciences, and providing both caution and hope for future human achievement. Watson delves not only into humanity's heights of innovation, but also the stark and abject failures of modern culture, such as the Holocaust and the continuing racism in the United States.
The only section that draws my criticism is the Epilogue, which I could have done without. It is heavy-handed and is the only part where Watson allows his opinion and interpretation to run out of the bounds of restraint. It also makes the book feel even more dated than it needs to, given his foreboding speculation about post-modernism, which by now seems passé.
All in all, I enjoyed this book, and am considering purchasing it for future reference purposes. It brought home to me just how embedded our current thought is in historical discourse. Keeping this history of the evolution of human thought fresh in mind is useful in looking at current debates and articulating a progressive vision for the future.
