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Sincerity: How a Moral Ideal Born Five Hundred Years Ago Inspired Religious Wars, Modern Art, Hipster Chic, and the Curious Notion That We All Have Something to Say (No Matter How Dull)
by
R. Jay Magill Jr. (Goodreads Author)
People have long been duped by “straight-talking” politicians, confessional talk-show hosts, and fake-earnest
advertisers. As sincerity has become suspect, the upright and honest have taken
refuge in irony. Yet our struggle for authenticity in back-to-the-woods movements,
folksy songwriting, and a craving for plainspoken presidential candidates
betrays our...more
advertisers. As sincerity has become suspect, the upright and honest have taken
refuge in irony. Yet our struggle for authenticity in back-to-the-woods movements,
folksy songwriting, and a craving for plainspoken presidential candidates
betrays our...more
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
July 16th 2012
by W. W. Norton & Company
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This is a great primer on the history of Western values, culture and religion. The concept of the true self, the confessional and the super individualism has a source the author tells us and it is deeply embedded in our history.
An amazing read, here's an example: "Weak people cannot be sincere," wrote the aristocynic La Rochefoucauld. He was right - as he was about nearly everything else. Insincerity, while not intrinsically bad, exhibits an avoidance of confronting others and ourselves with un...more
An amazing read, here's an example: "Weak people cannot be sincere," wrote the aristocynic La Rochefoucauld. He was right - as he was about nearly everything else. Insincerity, while not intrinsically bad, exhibits an avoidance of confronting others and ourselves with un...more
Shortly after the invention of sincerity in the (literal) flames of Reformation, our friendly ferret Niccolo pointed out that it is best to seem sincere and then do what you need to do. Magill follows this cultural tension through the creation of the honnête homme, the subsequent use of sincerity to critique court culture, the Romantic obsession with the sublime, Nietzsche's ubermench's license to be a sincere asshole, and leads us to America's demented fixation on both the fundamental right to...more
Not quite as focused as it could have been. He mentioned a couple times that sincerity, aunthenticity, and honesty don't necessarily mean the same thing but there were at least a few points where I felt like he was using them interchangeably. Still, it was an interesting book! It's kitchen-sink non-fiction; you find one concept and then use it as an excuse to go wandering about different interesting bits of history. I liked it! 3.5 stars
This was an interesting read, but as other reviewers mentioned, it seemed a bit unfocused. I did find the topic engrossing and I liked that the chapters progressed in chronological order ( I hate when books that are following an idea or movement through history jump around). Recommended if you are at all interested in the subject of sincerity and how it has evolved over time, and if it still exists. I don't really agree with the last phase of the book regarding modern hipsters and the supposed d...more
This is an historical perspective of the conflicts between sincerity and insincerity. It gives the reader an opportunity to follow the cultural conflicts through religion, philosophy, salesmanship, music and art. It is an easy read in plain language with a lot of humor thrown into the mix. Well worth the effort.
The good:
This book introduced me to unfamiliar history and art. It piqued my curiosity and taught me plenty.
The bad:
The tone is inconsistent and the thesis confusing. He regularly distinguishes concepts that he later conflates. Sometimes his claims seemed unsupported by his evidence.
This book introduced me to unfamiliar history and art. It piqued my curiosity and taught me plenty.
The bad:
The tone is inconsistent and the thesis confusing. He regularly distinguishes concepts that he later conflates. Sometimes his claims seemed unsupported by his evidence.
For one thing... I found the claim that sincerity was an idea originating 500 years ago to be laughably ignorant of the medieval period and earlier. Weak grasp of history.
Really a fascinating look at morality in Europe and America from the 1500’s on. Got a touch unfocused at times, but the detours were entertaining nonetheless.
The first English-speaking person to use the word "sincere" in its modern context was burned at the stake. There's got to be some sort of moral to draw from that.
A delightful guide through 500 years of a moral ideal. Fascinating. I won't forget it.
A little rambling, but overall good. I will have to come back to look at the hipster appendix for my play.
Stellar, of course.
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R. Jay Magill, Jr. is an independent scholar living in Berlin, where he works as a writer, editor, translator, and a host of a radio program on NPR Worldwide. He is the author of Chic Ironic Bitterness, published in 2007, and Sincerity: How A Moral Ideal Born Five Hundred Years Ago Inspired Religious Wars, Modern Art, Hipster Chic, and the Curious Notion that We ALL Have Something to Say (No Matte...more
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