Customer Reviews

Nobility of Spirit: A Forgotten Ideal

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This slim volume stands as the most stirring redoubt against the ascendant forces of know-nothingness that I've come across in a long time. A full-throated, unapologetic defense of the virtues of Western Civ - in which "elite" is not and never should be a dirty word - this inspiring exploration of high art and high ideals is divided into three sections: The first looks at the life of Riemen's great hero Thomas Mann as a model for the examined life. The second imagines a series of conversations from turning points in European intellectual history, populated with the likes of Socrates, Nietzsche and others. The final section, "Be Brave," is nothing less than an exhortation to dig deep, especially in times of risk. The notion of nobility of the spirit might strike some modern ears as quaint but it seems more desperately necessary than ever before, and there are worse ways to read the accessible Nobility of Spirit than as a crash refresher in the Great Thinkers, free of academic jargon and cant. As a meditation on what is at stake when the pursuit of high ideals is elbowed aside by the pursuit of fleeting material gain, however, Nobility of Spirit might well be the most prescient book I've yet read on what's at stake in the current election cycle and in the developing global situation. Agree or disagree with Riemen's profound, ambitious and high-minded plea, you will be thinking about his words for a long time.

Rob Riemen informs us that "there is no civilization without prosperity and security." And, on the same page, [46] he declares that a civilized society is one in which no violence is needed to bring about political change. Obviously, then, civilization as we know it is in profoundly serious peril. Riemen discusses the horror of 9/11, but the global economic crisis occurred after the publication of his book, "Nobility of Spirit, a Forgotten Ideal." Now the prosperity and security of civilization are both under ferocious siege.

Regarding 9/11, too many of those who would call themselves intellectuals "... legitimize what should never be legitimized: mass murder. Intellectuals who subordinate the distinction between good and evil to their political ideology." Riemen points out that this has kind of value-impoverished intellectualism has historically paved the way to religious and political totalitarianism. Nazism, the Taliban, Communism, virtually all fundamentalism flourished when evil was sanctioned because it was committed in the name of good. Riemen quotes Camus three separate times with the same conversational lament about the failure of intellectuals: "Don't you think we are all responsible for the lack of values? And if we, who come from Nietzschean thought, nihilism, or historical materialism, were to openly declare that we were wrong, that moral values do exist, and from now on we will do all that is necessary to establish and clarify them, don't you think this will offer the beginnings of some hope?" [pp 57, 69, and 75] Riemen calls this conversation unforgettable, "because it expresses the essence of what civilization is, how it can be lost, what the task of intellectuals is, and what their betrayal means." Indeed, this is the theme of his book.

How then can the humanist philosophy be expanded to better address the threat to civilization and safeguard human dignity? Riemen, quoting Mann, suggests " ... through a new humanism - a religious humanism that respects the impenetrable human secret, does not deny the human tragedy or human's demonic depths; that acknowledges that the truth can be know only through our consciences, as the absolute standard to which we must aspire ... " The values to which we must aspire are repeated several time throughout the book: truth, beauty and goodness, the classic triad of Socrates and Plato. Riemen describes these MetaValues as "transcendental values that encircle the enigma of human existence like cherubs in the lost paradise." He quotes Goethe: "Freedom lies not in refusing to acknowledge anything above us, but rather in revering something above us." Reimen's new religious humanism boldly defies the arbitrary logic-tight barriers between humanism, a system of thought that is based on the values, characteristics, and behavior that are believed to be best in human beings, and the mysterious wellspring in the human psyche from whence springs all that is good, true and beautiful. Not exactly fare for the pulpit, but a bravely expanded humanism that perhaps could enrich rather than challenge a personal religious belief in a higher power.

An incredible book that continues the philosophical line of Mann, Goethe, Spinoza, and Socrates. It is a real intellectual inspiration. The subject is food for thought, and most of it is already there.I strongly recommend it.

The Nobility of Spirit will profoundly resonate with the 21st century reader who struggles to find and protect human dignity that is the mark of a great civilization. The author makes a very interesting case that this search and struggle is one that is recurs throughout history. While often the subject of Socrates, this battle waged on through the 20th century and is exemplified in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in America. In these historical contexts, Riemen's extremely substantive essay seeks to tie a series of human conversations to the theme of Socratic bravery. Most memorable and pertinent are the works of Thomas Mann and the heroic example of Leone Ginzburg. In doing so, Riemen brilliantly stages his premise that the 21st century is in need of intellectual integrity and intellectual bravery, in the Socratic sense, in order to preserve and protect human dignity. A dignity exemplified by individual freedom to aspire towards the truth. Citing Thomas Mann's belief that this freedom is the absolute standard by which human dignity is measured, he believes that a democracy is the best social order to protect it. He believes however, that a democracy must have its own aristocracy, a nobility, not determined by birthright, but by a nobility of spirit. That is, an intellectual spirit willing to recognize and protect this freedom. A nobility of intellectuals that possess the integrity to stand up and protect human dignity in its quest for the truth that is continually at odds with politicized minds, communism, fascism, nihilism, fundamentalist terrorism, and hypocricy, that attacks western civilization and democracy. Rieman berates intellectuals who "legitimize what never should be legitimized" and who "subordinate the distinction between good and evil to the dogmas of their political ideology". Reimen believes that the lack of intellectual integrity and enormous betrayal of the nobility of spirit by the intellectual has its roots in their need for power, their bad faith which discredits human values, and the immense influence of the scientific paradigm. He calls for a renewed sense of morality which transcends politics and holds what is good and what is virtuous above all else as the standard bearer of human civilization. Hats off to Mr. Riemen for his absolutely timely and pertinent work. Absolutely brilliant. A priceless gift worthy of great attention.

'The Nobility of Spirit: A Forgotten Ideal' is an exceptionally timely book, particularly given the urgent challenges our society faces. The author Rob Riemen provides the reader with a mirror of the deepest issue facing our society, namely that of our inability to frame an overarching purpose to our consumer-driven, media-distracted, instant-gratification society.

Using the wisdom of humanity's greatest philosophers and humanists (Mann, Goethe, Spinoza, Plato, et al.), Riemen reaches across time to build a solid case for us to think about what makes human existence unique. Riemen's premise, that in order to build a `new society' - and this is only loosely defined by Riemen - we must seek and live a `nobility of spirit' that acknowledges and embraces an existence beyond our temporal earthly presence. He rightly points out that human happiness is a metaphysical and religious question, not a social problem. This, read from a US perspective, where solutions to issues such as economic meltdowns, environmental degradation, human security, etc. are almost always polarized in terms of political dogma, is a powerful indictment.

According to Riemen, without the pursuit of an overarching eternal purpose, we risk becoming a society ruled by nihilism, condemned to a cult of worthlessness. In our haste for easy-to-describe solutions to societal problems and challenges, our society retreats to the easy and simple, and more often then not, we individually abdicate our ability to seek a truth that is personally substantive and thoughtful. We exchange the uncertain quest for the meaningfulness of life for an easier to understand goal, that of `happiness.' Once we do this, any number of surrogates such as political movements, nationalism, materialism, etc. can distract us from seeking a greater meaningfulness for ourselves and our societies. Riemen highlights a number of examples throughout history where such abdication has resulted in tragic consequences. He adroitly names the fear and uncertainty that grips our society today. Our collective fears, be they economic, environmental, or political, have their roots in this avoidance of the existential uncertainty of life.

Riemen, rather courageously, perilously skirts the frameworks of religion without falling over the edge. He keeps his work well-focused on humanist philosophical thought and rarely, if ever, ventures into the emotional siren calls that are often prevalent in works that call for a greater spiritual awareness. He calmly and methodically builds a case that the unanswerable transcendental questions of our existence - and the never ending pursuit of those answers -- makes us unique.

It would be fascinating to watch Riemen debate his work with current political and religious leaders, to see how they would respond to the allegation that they might be distracting people from doing the thinking needed to actually improve their condition. His thoughts raise tensions that are equally insightful, disturbing and hopeful.

It is a well presented piece of work that would be a welcome addition to a thinking person's library. A highly recommended book.

When I read, I'm looking to be affected. Moved. Transported. Not only in the context of the time that I'm actually reading, but also in the sense of having my perceptions shifted. Or, if I'm already aligned with what the author's presenting, reminded of my beliefs, my perspective, have them delineated.

When it's fiction and this happens, there's the element of 'the wonders of creation', how mastery of this form can truly 'inspire'. When it's non-fiction and it happens, it's a different sort of impact I feel; less 'creative', more relating to the fabric of my life as lived.

'Nobility of Spirit' is both fiction and non-fiction (to my eyes, anyway), and so offers up a double-dollop of powerful reading.

I only chanced upon this book when I was ordering (you'll love this) 'Voluntary Simplicity' by Duane Elgin and 'Dangerously Funny; The Uncensored Story of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' by David Bianculli (for my brother). It wasn't a title I was familiar with, but I guess it called to me.

There were times when I wasn't sure I could answer the call. Times when I wasn't sure I was 'getting' what Mr. Riemen was offering in this slim tome of an offering. But I persevered, mostly because I was so charmed by his Prelude. Though he deals with some weighty concepts, his touch is almost always light; my smallish brain appreciated this.

There are so many rewards in this book, I'm not sure where to begin. For those who are open to messages that go beyond what's carried in MSM, for those whose minds and spirits are hungry for sustenance of the 'non-processed' kind, and for those who crave truth beyond the superficialities of materialism and entitlement, 'Nobility' offers up an abundance of gems. Often I found myself in the middle of a passage, unaware that the author had stripped away everything but the pure essence of his thrust at that moment, leaving me quite struck by the ease of the section's telling. (This despite a very 'formal' translation, stiff, at times a bit too scholarly.)

I suppose there's powerful synchronicity going on in my world presently, because the themes here are matched by the themes in 'Voluntary Simplicity' and some of the 'civic activism' I've been engaging in this year. Moreover, as I was taking my time through the book, I found myself perusing news items in an entirely different way, sifting with different priorities, extracting slants and angles I might not have prior to reading 'Nobility'. The parallels between today and points in time centuries passed that Mr. Riemen presents were perhaps the most jarring for me; 'You're telling me that we've been here before...?'

While requesting no indulgence on the reader's part at all, it does make demands...ones befitting a book dealing with what it deals with so gracefully: truth, beauty, compassion, virtue...nobility. These are not flinty concepts deserving cursory attention, and so the book's demands must be honoured. Otherwise I can imagine its reading being one of annoyance. Steady concentration. Patience. A willingness to consider and weigh. Indeed, I took reading this book to be a noble task in itself.

I learned a lot reading 'Nobility of Spirit'. Most of all, above the historical facts and philosophiocal references I'd previously been oblivious to, I learned more about how I see Life, how I feel I fit into the scheme of things. No small feat, and yet not surprising, given where Mr. Riemen takes us.

"Every poet knows that the gift of the gods is not fire, but language. "Man dwells poetically on this earth," Hölderlin wrote. Language is the essence of being human. We can think, thanks to language, for thought exists only by the grace of words. Our experiences and emotions are molded by language. It is language that allows us to name and know the world. We ourselves are known by language, through prayer, confession, poetry. Language gives us a world that reaches beyond the reality of the moment, to a past (there was...) and a future (there shall be...). It is through language that eternity has a space and that the dead continue to speak. "Defunctus adhac loquitur" (Hebrews 11:4) Thanks to language, there is meaning, there is truth.

Personal rating: 9/10

Seldom has a book captivated me as much as this one. Much needed reading for our times. I can highly recommend.