📖 Overview
John Ralston Saul is a Canadian philosopher, novelist and essayist who emerged as a prominent public intellectual in the late 20th century. His work focuses on the intersection of power, democracy, corporatism and citizenship in modern society.
The author gained international recognition through works like Voltaire's Bastards (1992) and The Unconscious Civilization (1995), which critique the dominance of technocratic rationalism in Western societies. His writing frequently examines how specialized knowledge and corporate influence have impacted democratic institutions.
As President of PEN International from 2009-2015, Saul advocated for freedom of expression and writers' rights worldwide. His novels, including The Birds of Prey (1977) and The Paradise Eater (1988), often explore themes of political intrigue and moral complexity.
Saul has received numerous honors including the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-fiction and being named a Companion of the Order of Canada. His books have been translated into over 20 languages and his ideas on democracy, globalization and Indigenous rights continue to influence political discourse.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Saul's detailed analysis of power structures and corporatism's effects on democracy. His writing presents complex ideas about social systems and bureaucracy, with many citing Voltaire's Bastards and The Unconscious Civilization as thought-provoking critiques of modern society.
What readers liked:
- Deep historical context and research
- Clear connections between past and present power dynamics
- Challenges to conventional thinking about democracy
- Analysis of corporate influence on governance
What readers disliked:
- Dense, academic writing style
- Repetitive arguments across multiple books
- Long, meandering passages
- Some readers find his tone condescending
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- Voltaire's Bastards: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings)
- The Unconscious Civilization: 4.1/5 (900+ ratings)
- On Equilibrium: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Voltaire's Bastards: 4.2/5
- The Unconscious Civilization: 4.3/5
Common reader comment: "Makes you think differently about systems we take for granted, but requires patience to get through."
📚 Books by John Ralston Saul
Voltaire's Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West (1992)
An examination of how rationalism and technocratic thinking came to dominate Western societies and their institutions.
The Doubter's Companion: A Dictionary of Aggressive Common Sense (1994) A collection of alphabetically arranged essays questioning conventional wisdom on topics from democracy to economics.
The Unconscious Civilization (1995) An analysis of how corporatism has undermined democracy and individual consciousness in modern society.
Reflections of a Siamese Twin: Canada at the End of the Twentieth Century (1997) An exploration of Canadian identity and the unique characteristics of Canadian society and politics.
On Equilibrium (2001) A discussion of six human qualities - common sense, ethics, imagination, intuition, memory, and reason - and their role in human society.
The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World (2005) An analysis of the rise and decline of economic globalization as the dominant ideology of the late 20th century.
A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada (2008) An examination of Canada's development as a Métis civilization influenced by Aboriginal ideas and European traditions.
Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin (2010) A biographical study of two 19th-century Canadian political reformers who helped establish responsible government.
The Comeback (2014) An examination of the political, legal, and social renaissance of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
The Doubter's Companion: A Dictionary of Aggressive Common Sense (1994) A collection of alphabetically arranged essays questioning conventional wisdom on topics from democracy to economics.
The Unconscious Civilization (1995) An analysis of how corporatism has undermined democracy and individual consciousness in modern society.
Reflections of a Siamese Twin: Canada at the End of the Twentieth Century (1997) An exploration of Canadian identity and the unique characteristics of Canadian society and politics.
On Equilibrium (2001) A discussion of six human qualities - common sense, ethics, imagination, intuition, memory, and reason - and their role in human society.
The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World (2005) An analysis of the rise and decline of economic globalization as the dominant ideology of the late 20th century.
A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada (2008) An examination of Canada's development as a Métis civilization influenced by Aboriginal ideas and European traditions.
Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin (2010) A biographical study of two 19th-century Canadian political reformers who helped establish responsible government.
The Comeback (2014) An examination of the political, legal, and social renaissance of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
👥 Similar authors
Noam Chomsky analyzes power structures and the role of media in shaping public consciousness, similar to Saul's examination of corporatism and democracy. His work combines linguistic theory with political critique to expose systemic issues in modern society.
Christopher Lasch focuses on the cultural contradictions of capitalism and the erosion of democracy through corporate influence. His analysis of narcissism in modern society complements Saul's critique of rationalism and technocratic elites.
Neil Postman examines how technology and media reshape human consciousness and social institutions. His critique of technopoly and the surrender of culture to technology parallels Saul's concerns about reason divorced from ethics.
Lewis Mumford writes about the relationship between technology, urban development, and human civilization. His analysis of mechanization and the megamachine connects with Saul's critique of systems that prioritize efficiency over human values.
Hannah Arendt explores totalitarianism, power, and the nature of political action in modern society. Her examination of bureaucracy and the banality of evil relates to Saul's analysis of how systems can subvert human agency and moral judgment.
Christopher Lasch focuses on the cultural contradictions of capitalism and the erosion of democracy through corporate influence. His analysis of narcissism in modern society complements Saul's critique of rationalism and technocratic elites.
Neil Postman examines how technology and media reshape human consciousness and social institutions. His critique of technopoly and the surrender of culture to technology parallels Saul's concerns about reason divorced from ethics.
Lewis Mumford writes about the relationship between technology, urban development, and human civilization. His analysis of mechanization and the megamachine connects with Saul's critique of systems that prioritize efficiency over human values.
Hannah Arendt explores totalitarianism, power, and the nature of political action in modern society. Her examination of bureaucracy and the banality of evil relates to Saul's analysis of how systems can subvert human agency and moral judgment.