For Common Things: Irony, Trust, and Commitment in America Today

by Jedediah Purdy

Book Overview

Jedediah Purdy calls For Common Things his letter of love for the world's possibilities. Indeed, these pages--which garnered a flurry of attention among readers and in the media--constitute a passionate and persuasive testament to the value of political, social, and community reengagement. Drawing on a wide range of literary and cultural influences--from the writings of Montaigne and Thoreau to the recent popularity of empty entertainment and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375706917
• ISBN13: 9780375706912
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Defensive attacks are proof of quality

One has to wonder what the motivation behind critisims of this book, posted here, such as, "If you want the Truth, listen to Rush Limbaugh--the voice of America. Purdy is the voice of the liberal elite" , " I'm sick of Socialist slime like Purdy", "pious, over-privileged brat" , "Rousseau was an idiot. " , and "An Elitist Diatribe." I enjoyed the book very much, for many of the reasons listed by reviewers elsewhere, and felt somewhat validated by the intense negative reviews. I couldn't help thinking it was driven by an ignorant, anti-"Ivy league," bitterness against someone who, God-forbid, went to Harvard and Yale. One reviewer said as much, listing as a complaint against the author, simply "Jedediah has lived in dorms at Harvard and Yale." Read the book. I made me a better person. What more can I say.

Like it or not, you'll see more of this name.

I'm a bit puzzled here. I've read forty reviews of this thoughtful and penetrating thesis and I can't recall a single insightful comment, not even from the pundits at Kirkus and Booklist. I DO know this: Purdy went to HARVARD. He's from WEST VIRGINIA. He's YOUNG, God forbid. And, more importantly, he's ferociously intelligent and sincere.This book is not a biography, so why are so many of you concerned about it? I've a suspicion that many people feel so threatened by Jed's formidable bio that they become defensive immediately. Here's a hint: Read this book for what it says. If the only thing you can remember about it after finishing is that Jed went to Harvard, you need to learn to read past the jacket blurbs. Here's another hint: erudition, social concern, and curiosity are all good things.

a plea for balance

It's hard to believe that people fault the author for his naivete; this is missing the point by a wide margin. It's easy to describe the whole package of (often questionable) ideas as naive, but they are stated as naive, could not be anything but, why is that bad? Of course a young person with naive ideas has something valuable to contribute, of course. It is harder (though much more useful) to argue with his logic, no one I have talked to does. Good reasoning and a book-length essay are not wisdom, but it's pretty lucid and provocative at a time where so few people are hopeful or earnest about the power of ideas. It's a tug in the opposite direction, an attempt to restore some balance in a very knowing, tired, media-driven world. I don't really agree with the things he says much of the time, but I don't hear a lot of people with the courage to take it on, either. Go Jedediah go.

Loved it!

As a father of three, this book gave me hope for the future as I read its beautiful prose and optimistic perspectives. In an age where many people spend there days trying to best each other with even grander stories of bureaucratic incompetences and societal injusticies, Mr. Purdy brought me above that depressing cynical morass for at least a few hours of inner peace and hope. Kudos to Mr. Purdy for bringing the brighter sides of life to the spotlight.

Well Worth the Time

Purdy issues a challenge to work for the public good that is going to leave many uneasy and even hostile. He calls for courage in an age of ego, and that will make the comfortable uncomfortable. He does this with an extraordinarily lucid style and a modesty of manner that is as becoming as it is effective. Does he solve the problems of the world? No. But he does articulate several of them with painful precision and he makes us think. Those are no small accomplishments. Much has been made of the author's age. I have thirty years on him and I finished the book with some old insights reinforced and some new and useful insights provided. There are few books by authors of any age that accomplish those tasks. The focus on age is an easy way to avoid the challenge he issues, but it does nothing to diminish his arguments. Read the book. It will refresh you.