Paul Griffiths

Paul Griffiths is an Australian-born music critic, musicologist, and novelist who has written extensively about modern classical and contemporary music. He served as chief music critic for The New York Times from 1997 to 2002 and has authored several influential books on contemporary classical music. His 1981 work "Modern Music and After" is considered a definitive text on post-war contemporary classical music, examining developments from serialism through to experimental music. Griffiths has also written important biographical works on composers including Olivier Messiaen, György Ligeti, and Igor Stravinsky. As a novelist, Griffiths has explored innovative literary forms, notably in "let me tell you" (2008), a novel constructed entirely using only the words spoken by Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet. His criticism and scholarship have earned him the Peabody Award (1989) and ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for his writing on music. Beyond his critical work, Griffiths has written several opera libretti and worked as a radio broadcaster for the BBC. He continues to contribute to major publications including The New York Times and The Times Literary Supplement.

Readers appreciate Griffiths' clear explanations of complex musical concepts in "Modern Music and After," with many citing its usefulness as both a reference and introduction to contemporary classical music. On Goodreads, readers specifically note his ability to make challenging musical ideas accessible without oversimplification. The experimental novel "let me tell you" draws both admiration and frustration. Some readers praise its linguistic constraints and creative approach, while others find it too conceptual and difficult to follow. Common critiques mention: - Dense academic writing style in some music texts - Limited coverage of certain composers/movements - High level of musical knowledge required for full comprehension Ratings across platforms: "Modern Music and After" - Goodreads: 4.1/5 (87 ratings) - Amazon: 4.3/5 (26 ratings) "let me tell you" - Goodreads: 3.7/5 (42 ratings) Most reviews come from academic readers and music students, with fewer general audience perspectives available online.

What Emotions Really Are: The Problem of Psychological Categories (1997) A philosophical examination of emotion categories, arguing that some emotions are natural kinds while others are social constructs.

A Mark of the Mental: In Defense of Informational Teleosemantics (2017) An analysis and defense of teleosemantic theories of mental content, focusing on how biological systems process information.

Did Darwin Write the Origin Backwards? (2011) An exploration of the logical structure of Darwin's argument in "On the Origin of Species," examining the relationship between natural selection and common ancestry.

Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology (2008) A comprehensive overview of key philosophical issues in biology, co-authored with Kim Sterelny.

Genetics and Philosophy: An Introduction (2013) An examination of philosophical questions arising from genetics and molecular biology, co-authored with Karola Stotz.

Evolution and Learning: The Baldwin Effect Reconsidered (2003) A collection of essays edited with David Papineau exploring the relationship between learning and evolution.

The Hydra's Tale: Imagining Disgust (2002) An interdisciplinary study of disgust as both a biological and cultural phenomenon.

Peter Godwin writes about post-colonial Africa and investigates political corruption through narrative journalism. His work parallels Griffiths' focus on power structures and institutional failures.

Gary Bass examines humanitarian interventions and the moral choices of nations during times of crisis. His research-based approach matches Griffiths' method of combining historical analysis with contemporary relevance.

Philip Gourevitch reports on post-genocide societies and the aftermath of mass violence. His examination of institutional responses to atrocities aligns with Griffiths' interest in systemic breakdowns.

Jason Burke covers terrorism and global security through ground-level reporting and policy analysis. His work shares Griffiths' attention to detail in investigating complex security challenges.

Ahmed Rashid focuses on Central Asian politics and militant movements through first-hand reporting. His mix of policy expertise and narrative storytelling mirrors Griffiths' style of explaining complex geopolitical issues.