First published 2020
Stanley Kurtz examines how a clash at Stanford University over thirty years ago sparked America's current political divisions. He challenges the academic claim that Western Civilization is merely a World War I government invention designed to motivate soldiers. Kurtz argues that scholars use this deconstructionist theory to support relativist thinking while simultaneously making absolute moral judgments about racism and bigotry. He uncovers the work of forgotten historians who once taught Americans about their Western heritage and connects this lost tradition to questions of American exceptionalism. The book critiques deconstructionist, multiculturalist, postmodern, and intersectional approaches while proposing an alternative path forward. Kurtz contends that Western civilization remains real and vital, encompassing all American students including minorities. He suggests that returning to the great books and recovering this lost historical understanding could heal the nation's divisions.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, academic, cultural-studies, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-debate, historical-revisionism
Setting: Stanford University, United States
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
154 pages · Paperback · National Association of Scholars