Thinkers of the New Left

Thinkers of the New Left examines fourteen influential left-wing intellectuals through a conservative lens. Roger Scruton analyzes the writings and philosophies of figures like Michel Foucault, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Antonio Gramsci in individual essays. The book emerged from Scruton's experiences in communist Czechoslovakia, where he witnessed the practical effects of leftist ideology. Originally published as separate pieces in The Salisbury Review, these essays were compiled into a single volume in 1985. This critique presents a systematic examination of New Left thought and its impact on Western political discourse. Scruton traces the movement's intellectual roots to the French Revolution and documents its rise to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. The work stands as both a scholarly analysis and a personal statement on the role of left-wing thinking in shaping modern political consciousness. Through these collected essays, Scruton raises questions about the relationship between intellectual movements and their real-world consequences.

Most readers find the book offers detailed critiques of leftist intellectuals, though many note it takes an overtly hostile stance rather than a neutral analytical approach. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of complex philosophical concepts - Thorough examination of each thinker's key arguments - Strong command of source material - Structured chapter-by-chapter analysis Common criticisms: - Overly dismissive and mocking tone - Selective presentation of ideas to make subjects look worse - More focused on attacking than understanding - Limited engagement with thinkers' strongest arguments Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (16 ratings) One reader called it "brilliant takedowns of woolly thinking," while another described it as "more polemic than philosophy." Several reviews note the book was controversial upon release, with some bookstores refusing to stock it due to its confrontational approach.

The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom A critique of modern universities and intellectual culture that examines the impact of relativism and progressivism on higher education.

The Long March: How the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s Changed America by Roger Kimball An analysis of how radical leftist ideologies transformed American cultural and educational institutions during the 1960s.

Fools, Frauds and Firebrands: Thinkers of the New Left by Roger Scruton A follow-up examination of contemporary leftist intellectuals that expands upon the arguments presented in Thinkers of the New Left.

The Vision of the Anointed by Thomas Sowell A systematic examination of the thought patterns and assumptions that shape progressive intellectual approaches to social policy.

Explaining Postmodernism by Stephen Hicks A philosophical investigation of the development of postmodern thought and its relationship to leftist political movements.

🔹 The book's publication in 1985 led to significant professional consequences for Scruton, including reported blacklisting from several British universities and loss of academic opportunities. 🔹 Roger Scruton's inspiration for the book came from his visits to communist Czechoslovakia, where he secretly helped underground education networks during the Cold War. 🔹 The essays were first published individually in The Salisbury Review, a conservative journal that Scruton himself founded and edited from 1982 to 2001. 🔹 The 2015 revised edition "Fools, Frauds and Firebrands" added new chapters on modern thinkers like Slavoj Žižek and Eric Hobsbawm while removing others from the original. 🔹 One of the book's central arguments traces the intellectual lineage of modern leftist thought back to Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the French Revolution's concept of the "general will."