What do you think?
Rate this book
Enemies of Society
Paul Johnson has many times over proved himself a master in the handling of complex and far-flung materials in support of a thesis; he has never shown this mastery more brilliantly than in this important book about the enemies (witting or unwitting) of the democratic society of the West. The book is an all-out attack on what the author brilliantly characterizes as "the fascist left" in every conceivable field; not simply politics, but education, philosophy, economics, the arts and sciences.
He begins his analysis with a grand historical survey of Western economic development since classical times, and shows how this process was related to political and cultural factors. He then examines the various stresses to which Western society is being subjected in the 1970s, and the fears of a real breakdown. How serious is the threat? His answer is: first, know your enemies. One by one he examines the philosophies and strategies of those who, unwittingly or not, threaten Western democracy, such as Marx and Freud and their myriad followers whose theories have built-in mechanisms to meet and absorb criticism.
This is an audacious and unfashionable book, which challenges the conventional, liberal wisdom on a number of key points; its forcefully expressed arguments are not to be ignored.
He begins his analysis with a grand historical survey of Western economic development since classical times, and shows how this process was related to political and cultural factors. He then examines the various stresses to which Western society is being subjected in the 1970s, and the fears of a real breakdown. How serious is the threat? His answer is: first, know your enemies. One by one he examines the philosophies and strategies of those who, unwittingly or not, threaten Western democracy, such as Marx and Freud and their myriad followers whose theories have built-in mechanisms to meet and absorb criticism.
This is an audacious and unfashionable book, which challenges the conventional, liberal wisdom on a number of key points; its forcefully expressed arguments are not to be ignored.
278 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
2 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Paul Johnson
135 books842 followersPaul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author. He was educated at Stonyhurst School in Clitheroe, Lancashire and Magdalen College, Oxford, and first came to prominence in the 1950s as a journalist writing for, and later editing, the New Statesman magazine. He has also written for leading newspapers and magazines in Britain, the US and Europe.
Paul Johnson has published over 40 books including A History of Christianity (1979), A History of the English People (1987), Intellectuals (1988), The Birth of the Modern: World Society, 1815—1830 (1991), Modern Times: A History of the World from the 1920s to the Year 2000 (1999), A History of the American People (2000), A History of the Jews (2001) and Art: A New History (2003) as well as biographies of Elizabeth I (1974), Napoleon (2002), George Washington (2005) and Pope John Paul II (1982).
Paul Johnson has published over 40 books including A History of Christianity (1979), A History of the English People (1987), Intellectuals (1988), The Birth of the Modern: World Society, 1815—1830 (1991), Modern Times: A History of the World from the 1920s to the Year 2000 (1999), A History of the American People (2000), A History of the Jews (2001) and Art: A New History (2003) as well as biographies of Elizabeth I (1974), Napoleon (2002), George Washington (2005) and Pope John Paul II (1982).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 8, 2012
This book is about how hard it was for Western society to achieve economic liftoff and how we could (and often do) slide backwards when we set aside the essential ideas that allowed us to break free in the first place.
In the early chapters, Johnson lays out the thesis that the world had the basic tools to begin growing economically for thousands of years before material wealth was actually achieved. For thousands of years, each generation trudged along just like the one before it. There was little innovation or rise in living standards until certain ideas took hold. Then, humans began to get it and accumulate knowledge and better practices. Finally, life spans began to grow and human life began to have more enjoyment.
What were these precious ideas? They are complex and explained in detail in Johnson's book, but they are not mysterious or unknown. Equality before the law, for example, is a darn good idea if you want to attract investors. The right to profit from one's labor is a grand idea if you want people to work hard. Recognizing that some ideas are better than others is a great idea if you want an ordered society where well meaning hard working people can accumulate enough wealth to cultivate the finer things of life.
Chaos, in contrast, is easy. One simply encourages people do whatever they want at the expense of the successful.
A society of wealth and knowledge is not an accident and can be overwhelmed by barbaric forces. The world is awash in such forces and anyone who cares to see civilization protected might get this book and learn a bit of how our systems and practices came about in the first place. Our good lives are built on the trial and error of our forebears, and this book lays out their struggle.
Review provided by T. Roush
In the early chapters, Johnson lays out the thesis that the world had the basic tools to begin growing economically for thousands of years before material wealth was actually achieved. For thousands of years, each generation trudged along just like the one before it. There was little innovation or rise in living standards until certain ideas took hold. Then, humans began to get it and accumulate knowledge and better practices. Finally, life spans began to grow and human life began to have more enjoyment.
What were these precious ideas? They are complex and explained in detail in Johnson's book, but they are not mysterious or unknown. Equality before the law, for example, is a darn good idea if you want to attract investors. The right to profit from one's labor is a grand idea if you want people to work hard. Recognizing that some ideas are better than others is a great idea if you want an ordered society where well meaning hard working people can accumulate enough wealth to cultivate the finer things of life.
Chaos, in contrast, is easy. One simply encourages people do whatever they want at the expense of the successful.
A society of wealth and knowledge is not an accident and can be overwhelmed by barbaric forces. The world is awash in such forces and anyone who cares to see civilization protected might get this book and learn a bit of how our systems and practices came about in the first place. Our good lives are built on the trial and error of our forebears, and this book lays out their struggle.
Review provided by T. Roush
April 17, 2015
De-a lungul volumului Johnson trece prin toate perioadele istorice importante și vine cu exemple de progres, dar și de dușmani care au stat în calea acestuia, fie că e vorba despre politici dezastruoase, economie proastă, tiranie sau proastă organizare. Un capitol interesant și util pentru înțelegerea societății de azi este cel dedicat apariției capitalismului. El face o istorie a capitalismului, explică când și de ce apărut, ce probleme a întâmpinat și cum se pot păstra în continuare ideile care au dus la înflorirea unor țări precum Anglia, Franța sau America. Și argumentele lui sunt susținute de date, cifre, fapte, nu vorbește în van precum unii sociologi pe care îi acuză de manipularea datelor pentru a da rezultatele care le convin. Dar vă las pe voi să vedeți cu cine se mai „ceartă” Paul Johnson în această carte polemică și necesară, zic eu, pentru înțelegerea lumii moderne.
de la sursă: Paul Johnson – Dușmanii societății – SemneBune http://semnebune.ro/2015/paul-johnson...
de la sursă: Paul Johnson – Dușmanii societății – SemneBune http://semnebune.ro/2015/paul-johnson...
May 24, 2024
Není to varování, spíš suché konstatování, že každá společnost si sama kope hrob. Bylo to tak vždycky a není důvod se domnívat, že ta naše společnost je jiná, natožpak třeba lepší. O tom, že kopání už začalo svědčí i tento odstavec z knihy:
Slovo “elitář” dnes samozřejmě patří k nenávistným výrazům ze slovníku vulgárního marxismu. Vládní tlak na univerzity ve Francii, Británii i jinde, aby se staly “lidovějšími” a “věcnějšími”, se nepochybně shoduje s marxistickým cílem zničit tradiční univerzitu jako nezávislé ohnisko svobody a vtáhnout ji do systému státně plánovaného školství. Finanční krizi po ropném šoku v roce 1973 marxisté uvítali.
Užitečné čtení.
Slovo “elitář” dnes samozřejmě patří k nenávistným výrazům ze slovníku vulgárního marxismu. Vládní tlak na univerzity ve Francii, Británii i jinde, aby se staly “lidovějšími” a “věcnějšími”, se nepochybně shoduje s marxistickým cílem zničit tradiční univerzitu jako nezávislé ohnisko svobody a vtáhnout ji do systému státně plánovaného školství. Finanční krizi po ropném šoku v roce 1973 marxisté uvítali.
Užitečné čtení.
October 5, 2024
Johnson first lays out what made civilizational growth possible in culture and economics in the past, and in the second half, lays out who and what is threatening civilization.
Even though this book was writtten in the seventies, he points out almost exactly the thinkers and principles that have been inherited by those who are threatening the west fifty years later. I think the true test of an intellectual is how they respond to the big questions of their time, and Johnson here nailed it, going through art, religion, economics, philosopy, and politics with an impressive breadth and sharpness. Notes were taken.
Even though this book was writtten in the seventies, he points out almost exactly the thinkers and principles that have been inherited by those who are threatening the west fifty years later. I think the true test of an intellectual is how they respond to the big questions of their time, and Johnson here nailed it, going through art, religion, economics, philosopy, and politics with an impressive breadth and sharpness. Notes were taken.
January 18, 2022
Cartea aceasta ar trebui sa fie citita de oricine pretuieste ce a mai ramas din cultura occidentala asaltata in mod sistematic de noi idei, modele si tipare comportamentale care se indeparteaza mult prea mult de adevar in sensul lui absolut.
Adevarul, justitia si libertatea trebuie pretuite si aparate cu orice pret iar dusmanii societatii trebuie inlaturati.
Adevarul, justitia si libertatea trebuie pretuite si aparate cu orice pret iar dusmanii societatii trebuie inlaturati.
January 18, 2022
Johnson identifies the malign forces of the left and their attack on the middle class, culture, moral values, reason, truth, art and freedom.
November 29, 2015
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews