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Ideas are Weapons: The History and Uses of Ideas
Book by Lerner, Max
- GenresHistory
585 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Max Lerner
98 books10 followersMaxwell "Max" Alan Lerner was an American journalist and educator known for his controversial syndicated column. Lerner earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1923. He studied law there, but transferred to Washington University in St. Louis for an M.A. in 1925. He earned a doctorate from the Brookings Institution in 1927.
After completing his education Lerner found employment as both an educator and as a journalist. He began work as an editor, first for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences from 1927 until 1932, then The Nation from 1936 until 1938 and PM from 1943 until 1948. During these years Lerner taught at Sarah Lawrence College, the Wellesley Summer Institute, Harvard University, and Williams College. In 1949 Lerner started writing a column for the New York Post, which he wrote until just before his death in 1992.
After completing his education Lerner found employment as both an educator and as a journalist. He began work as an editor, first for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences from 1927 until 1932, then The Nation from 1936 until 1938 and PM from 1943 until 1948. During these years Lerner taught at Sarah Lawrence College, the Wellesley Summer Institute, Harvard University, and Williams College. In 1949 Lerner started writing a column for the New York Post, which he wrote until just before his death in 1992.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 25, 2011
This collection of essays took some discipline to read but the effort was well worth it. When I first started it, I had to force myself to read each sentence carefully and to check the preceise meanings of the words used, but soon found the reading much easier, with a growing appreciation for Lerner's mastery of the the English language and his ability to precisely communicate complex ideas. What a contrast to our televised public discourse today of catch phrases and buzz words!
All the essays were written by Lerner in the 1930s - some with this book in mind and some especially for this book. The publication of the book in 1939 marks a critical point in our history. Lerner covers the large social ideas of the preceding century - both international and domestic - and follows them through the rise of the American empire, the Great War, and the world economic collapse. His analyses, however, were also fearfully aware of what was threatening in Europe. His definition and explanation of fascism was perhaps the clearest I've ever read.
As a result, the author was able to perform the most complete review of the early 20th century before the distorting effects of the horrible war that would start a short time later.
All the essays were written by Lerner in the 1930s - some with this book in mind and some especially for this book. The publication of the book in 1939 marks a critical point in our history. Lerner covers the large social ideas of the preceding century - both international and domestic - and follows them through the rise of the American empire, the Great War, and the world economic collapse. His analyses, however, were also fearfully aware of what was threatening in Europe. His definition and explanation of fascism was perhaps the clearest I've ever read.
As a result, the author was able to perform the most complete review of the early 20th century before the distorting effects of the horrible war that would start a short time later.
Displaying 1 of 1 review