The Lost Massey Lectures: Recovered Classics from Five Great Thinkers

by John Kenneth Galbraith, Paul Goodman, Jane Jacobs

The CBC Massey Lectures, an annual broadcasting fixture for more than 45 years and Canada’s preeminent public lecture series, featured some of the finest talks by some of the greatest minds of modern times. In this extraordinary collection, major thinkers offer passionate polemics on the major issues of the 20th century. Here are King on race and prejudice; Galbraith on economics and poverty; Jacobs on Canadian cities and Quebec separatism; Goodman on the moral ambiguity of America; Brandt on international peace; Kierans on globalism and the nation-state; and much more. Their words not only have considerable historical significance but also remain hugely relevant to the problems we face today. At last, a selection of these “lost” lectures is available to a world so hungry for, and yet in such short supply of, innovative ideas. The Lost Massey Lectures includes an introduction by veteran CBC producer Bernie Lucht.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Philosophy, Essays, Canada

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2007

About the author

John Kenneth Galbraith was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism and democratic socialism. His books on economic topics were bestsellers in the 1950s and 1960s. A prolific author, he produced four dozen books & over a 1000 articles on many subjects. Among his most famous works was his economics trilogy: American Capitalism (1952), The Affluent Society (1958) & The New Industrial State (1967). He taught at Harvard University for many years. He was active in politics, serving in the administrations of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson. He served as US Ambassador to India under John F. Kennedy.

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice: one in 1946 from President Truman, and another in 2000 from President Clinton. He was also awarded the Order of Canada in 1997, and in 2001, the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, for strengthening ties between India and the USA.

Reviews

[Christina Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Conscience for Change,” Martin Luther King’s 1967 Massey Lecture is a real gem, made more poignant by the reality of his death, not four months after the final lecture, a Christmas Eve sermon. I come back to what I love about listening to these early Massey Lectures and it’s about setting time and place and gaining a better understanding of who we were, how we thought, and what drove us to work towards social change. The Post-War period was an incredible time of positive social change for so many. In North America in particular, the economy boomed, the standard of living increased and social institutions and systems were established and strengthened. Listening to King’s talks, it establishes the paradox of growth and progress in the face of continued racial discrimination, the paradox of America fighting in Vietnam on the basis of defending democracy while denying it to its own citizens. The demons and ghosts of the past still haunt American electoral systems today, with voting, the most basic tenet of democracy being denied to so many for the paltriest of reasons. King’s message of non-violent protest, of perseverance in the face of oppression are galvanising and encouraging for a whole new generation of people not satisfied while the rights of minorities are threatened or denied.

[Readsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only the advice of Paul Goodman and Dr Martin Luther King, how different the world might be. It is hard to read such good advice and knowledge of issues back in the 60's and find so little change.
A worthy read in these times.

[Ken Dachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-thought arguments and critical thinking I trust can still be found in today's world.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dated but brilliant regardless

[Nick Enchev · Rating 4 out of 5]

good selection of lectures, definitely enjoyed this book