In a fiercely provocative book that will generate debate for years to come, Bernstein shows how multicultural orthodoxy has created a highly lucrative bureaucracy, even as it shortchanged the very people it is meant to benefit. "Graceful and lucid. . . . reading the book is arguably a civic duty."--Boston Globe.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
New York Times correspondent Bernstein contends that the original liberal agenda behind multiculturalism has been replaced by an orthodoxy that is dangerous to free speech and obsessed with victimization.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Careful to credit the good intentions that began the multiculturalist movement, New York Times reporter Bernstein (From the Center of the Earth, LJ 3/15/82) uses his journalistic skills admirably to describe the slippage of the idea into an increasingly intimidating and intolerant orthodoxy. Clearly drawn personalities and backgrounds enliven his account of disputes in school districts, colleges, and newspapers around the country. Bernstein argues that the movement's sense of moral invincibility functions as an unquenchable power base, its newly entrenched ideologs often demanding mandatory sensitivity training and diversity coursework that tend toward political indoctrination and effectively stifling dissent. He faults the movement's insistence on group affiliation and victimhood as the primary source of individual identity while refusing to acknowledge genuine advances. Striving to be fair-minded throughout, Bernstein creates no demons or angels in this persuasive, well-written defense of the notions of assimilation and commonality against the veneration of division and bitterness. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.
Patrick Dunn, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Patrick Dunn, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Brave Expose of a Scary Trend,
By
This review is from: Dictatorship of Virtue: How the Battle over Multiculturalism Is Reshaping Our Schools, Our Country, and Our Lives (Paperback)
Some will dismiss this book as "right wing extremism," but much of what left wing extremists tiresomely brand with that distinction is in fact mainstream conservatism, common sense moderation, and a great deal of old fashioned liberalism. In fact, a few of the brave souls cited by Bernstein for their unpopularly heroic stands against multi-cultural mumbo-jumbo have impeccably liberal resumes. Bernstein himself is not someone who falls into the ultra right wing category. A former journalist for publications not known as sympathetic to conservatives," he occasionally mentions that he favors multi-culturalism but obviously worries about what happens when it is taken to the extreme levels he documents as being the norm in many educational institutions from grammar schools up through colleges. Bernstein offers a broad summary on the diversity craze that has engulfed much of academia, government, and corporate America. Through the examples he cites, he astutely reveals one of the fads' practitioners' most punitive pursuits--their unabashed willingness to smear anyone who merely questions any segment of this shaky doctrine. Proponents of this brainwashing technique never catch the irony that they are squashing all diverse opinions in favor of one tolerable mindset. That this is all done in the name of tolerance and diversity would be amusing were the stakes not so high. The book's highlight and one of the most significant assaults on the diversity warfare is the detailed effort against New York City's planned rainbow curriculum close to a decade ago. An uncoordinated effort of multi-racial voices valiantly fought and successfully defeated the city's wacky plan to teach alternate sexual practices beginning with books like "Heather has two Mommies" in kindergarten.
22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Remains a seminal text in American intellectual history,
This review is from: Dictatorship of Virtue: How the Battle over Multiculturalism Is Reshaping Our Schools, Our Country, and Our Lives (Paperback)
Contrary to what one reviewer here claims, Richard Bernstein's analysis of political correctness is trenchant and scrupulously fair to all concerned. What may be especially disconcerting for the ideologically-committed leftist reader is that Bernstein's critique comes not from a right-wing mindset, but from a traditional liberal, pragmatic point of view. What Bernstein nails so accurately is how utterly anti-intellectual political correctness is. He also takes some of his examples from outside the academy, something sure to rile PC cultists who know full well how ridiculous their views are when exposed to the daylight outside a college classroom. History teachers should pair this book up with Richard Hofstadter's "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" for a lively discussion of how American culture acts instinctively to repress original thought.
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long, but very engaging,
By Dave Huber (Delaware, United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dictatorship of Virtue: How the Battle over Multiculturalism Is Reshaping Our Schools, Our Country, and Our Lives (Paperback)
Richard Bernstein, as he self-professed at a small lecture of his I attended a few years ago, is no conservative. Indeed, his politics are almost the exact opposite. That's what this book all the more an eye-opener -- a devastating critique of radical multiculturalism by a liberal. Bernstein travels the country examining the topic, and his writing style keeps you focused on his journey. As a teacher, I found the story of Brookline, Mass. quite interesting; indeed, I have encountered similar aspects of that vignette around my own district, unfortunately.
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