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Only a Voice

Essays
By George Scialabba
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4.09 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Only a Voice by George Scialabba explores the wide gulf between the promises of modern progress and the challenging realities of today. Through sharp literary criticism, Scialabba analyses influential public intellectuals such as Edward Said, D. H. Lawrence, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Ellen Willis, and Noam Chomsky, highlighting the importance of critical thought as essential to political engagement. The essays argue that in a world fraught with serious issues, writers and thinkers must choose to challenge the powers of state and capital rather than ignore them.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This collection is ideal for readers interested in literary criticism, political philosophy, and contemporary intellectual debates. It will appeal to those who value thoughtful essay writing and seek to deepen their understanding of cultural and political issues through incisive analysis.

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Essays on politics, power, and culture from one of America's most eminent critics

Essays on politics, power, and culture from one of America's most eminent critics

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In Only a Voice, George Scialabba examines the chasm between modernity's promise of progress and the sobering reality of our present day through studies of the most influential public intellectuals of our time. In Scialabba's hands, literary criticism becomes a powerful tool for expressing political passion and demonstrating the generative power of argument and an inquisitive mind.

Drawing together a diverse group of thinkers, artists, activists, and philosophers—including Edward Said, D. H. Lawrence, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Ellen Willis, and Noam Chomsky—Scialabba tours western intellectual history to find that no matter the stakes, critical thought remains a necessary precondition for politics.

Every writer, Scialabba writes, faces the choice of whether "to tilt at the state and capital or ignore them"—and the world now is too dire not to choose the former.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Only a Voice for its rigorous and independent criticism, with Ryan Ruby of The Millions calling Scialabba a 'critic's critic' who finds insight even from those he disagrees with. Sam Adler-Bell of Commonweal lauds the author's evident joy in fine prose and the emotional loyalty he inspires. Daniel Lazare of Arts Fuse finds the book full of provocative arguments that invite readers to engage actively. The New York Times notes Scialabba as a celebrated critic and essayist.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781804292006

Publisher: Verso Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 15 August 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verso Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 494g

Pages: 336

Collections

Arts & Culture Biography & Memoir George Scialabba History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction

About the Author

George Scialabba is an award-winning critic and essayist whose writing has appeared in the Nation, Dissent, Bookforum, Raritan, n+1, and the Boston Review, among many others. He is a contributing editor of The Baffler and the author of five previous essay collections and a memoir, How to Be Depressed.

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