Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity - And Why this Harms Everybody

This is one of four books I have read recently, all of which highlight the damage being done by the pernicious madness espoused and violently promoted by the so-called 'progressive' wing of left-leaning politics (for 'progressive', read 'authoritarian'). The other three are Douglas Murray's 'The Madness of crowds', Steven Pinker's 'Enlightenment Now', and Charles Murray's 'Human Diversity'.Of the four, this one by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay concentrates on delineating the origins and philosophical underpinning of the so called 'Woke' movement, as well and exposing its fatal flaws and extremely harmful effects. All four deserve to be read by those concerned about the directions being taken in Academia and the wider society in America, and only to a slightly lesser degree in Western Europe.If some of the earlier chapters here might have benefited from tighter editing, the rest of the book proceeds to an eloquent conclusion which could hardy be bettered. Let us hope it has the effect in deserves in the circles where it is most needed. For the rest of us, it provides riveting insights and cogent arguments against the current madness and for a return to classical liberalism.While the authors' liberal principles, quite reasonably, do not endorse the policies of (for example) Victor Orban, who would outlaw the teaching of Gender Studies, and similar topics which now proliferate in many Western Universities, I do think they could properly argue that no student should be required to take such courses, and demonstrate their fealty, as a condition of graduating, That such requirements are now common for all students in many American universities, and elsewhere, should - in my view - be outlawed immediately, and I am sorry that the authors did not address this issue.

I just graduated from college and this book explains the last four years of my life perfectly. Thanks to this book, I understand everything from why and how I was taught that Atticus Finch (the father and lawyer from "To Kill A Mockingbird") was a very bad man to why my female friends and I memorized where literally every single stall bathroom on campus was, to save ourselves from having to share with the smirking "people with prostates" and beards who would use our bathrooms after the "use whatever bathroom you feel comfortable in" policy was set (note: I didn't say they were trans; I doubt they were, but I don't know and since the only definition we're allowed to have is that they are if they say they are, neither do you).This book gives a detailed history of the movement to destroy liberal principles and replace them with Wokeness. It makes what is happening on our streets make sense. It explains the absurdity of things like the videos going around as I write this, of restaurant patrons being harassed by thugs screaming in their faces and demanding that they make a show of obedience and fealty to the mob.The authors are two of the trio who successfully published multiple academic papers in the various fields I'm referring to (the ones I had to take three mandatory courses in to get my degree)--the ones they call "grievance studies." They know their stuff to the point that they successfully won awards while posing as true believers in this religion.This book will get tons of 1 star reviews from academics who feel entitled to make up problems or write autoethnographies (that's literally personal essays where they spout how oppressed they feel by the racial dynamics of the staff at Starbucks and other inanities) and get taxpayer-funded jobs for life. Don't believe it. Read the book for yourself. Have the courage to examine thoughts you may not agree with and see if they hold up.

This book, along with Douglas Murrays's 'Madness of Crowds' helped me understand the toxic brew that is currently swilling around at our feet. The authors do a great job of breaking down the evolution of Critical Theory into it's main principles and sub-principles (as well as the divergences between it's most important proponents) in a way that is easily digestible. What I liked particularly was the feeling I got at the end of the book, that - once you have really seen the nuts and bolts of this ideology dismantled and ready for inspection - it all seems rather less daunting, not to mention combatable.

If you want to understand how the latest breed of Social Justice Activists can sincerely call a white man married to a black woman a racist you need to read and absorb this book. It is well researched and referenced so you can go to the source papers that inform these post-modern Theories to see for yourself. It is not a light read but well worth the effort. I am so grateful for the two authors for wading through this post-modern house-of-cards and proving that it is just that. All build on fantastic leaps in "logic" to go from theory to unquestionable "truth". Without this understanding the woke would have more traction in pedalling their obscure world-view. I further suggest that most SJ activists don't actually understand the Theories as much as the authors. If they did, perhaps they would realise they are being used and will be discarded when it suits.

As of writing, this is the best book on academic woke ideology out there. I am writing my Graphic Design dissertation about the impact Critical Social Justice Theory is having on Brand Activism, and this is such an invaluable resource.It explains in great detail how Post-modern Theory mutated into the Applied Post-modern Theory we see active in society today. As well as how different factions like Applied Critical Race Theory or Applied Postcolonial Theory attempt to achieve their goals.This is a must-read for anyone who wants to push back against the radical left.