Lasch: The True & Only Heaven: Progress & Its Critics (cloth): Progress and Its Critics - Hardcover

Lasch, Christopher

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0393029166 ISBN 13: 9780393029161

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Co., 1991

Synopsis

Can we continue to believe in progress? In this sobering analysis of the Western human condition, Christopher Lasch seeks the answer in a history of the struggle between two ideas: one is the idea of progress - an idea driven by the conviction that human desire is insatiable and requires ever larger production forces. Opposing this materialist view is the idea that condemns a boundless appetite for more and better goods and distrusts "improvements" that only feed desire. Tracing the opposition to the idea of progress from Rousseau through Montesquieu to Carlyle, Max Weber and G.D.H. Cole, Lasch finds much that is desirable in a turn toward moral conservatism, toward a lower-middle-class culture that egalitarianism, workmanship, loyalty and recognizes the danger of resentment of the material goods of others. We must recover these ideals in order to recover "the true and only heaven"

About this title

Review:

Christopher Lasch has written a great book about the most important things. As a major contribution to public discourse, The True and Only Heaven will be at the center of discussion for years to come. --Robert Bellah, coauthor of Habits of the Heart"

An extraordinary book by one of our wisest social and political observers. Lasch's brilliant analysis of our secular dreams and hopes, our blind spots and foolishness, ought to help us all figure out what we believe and where we are headed.--Robert Coles

The battle that has been going on for the past two decades among historians and philosophers, nothing less than a struggle to define the historical nature of America's political soul, has been joined by Christopher Lasch. His provocative and learned book offers fresh perspectives on many topics and illuminates the relevance of Christian and classical thinkers for our troubled era.--John Patrick Diggins

Powerful and moving. . . . A magisterial synthesis.--Michael Stern

A profound and intellectually honest work of breathtaking historical scope that could easily set the terms of political debate in a post-cold-war world in which the ideologies of right and left seem totally exhausted. . . . A cleareyed study of our usable past.

From the Back Cover:

'An extraordinary book by one of our wisest social and political observers, Lasch's brilliant analysis of our secular dreams and hopes, our blind spots and foolishness, ought to help us all figure out what we believe and where we are headed as this century comes to an end.'--Robert Coles

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Co.
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0393029166
• ISBN 13: 9780393029161
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 592