The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations - Softcover

Lasch, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0393307387 ISBN 13: 9780393307382

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 1991

Synopsis

When The Culture of Narcissism was first published, it was clear that Christopher Lasch had identified something important: what was happening to American society in the wake of the decline of the family over the last century.

The book quickly became a bestseller. This edition includes a new afterword, "The Culture of Narcissism Revisited."

About this title

About the Author:

Christopher Lasch (1932–1994), professor of history at the University of Rochester, wrote, among many other works, The True and Only Heaven: Progress and Its Critics and the best-selling Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy.

Review:

“Lasch took in a remarkable range of contemporary experience, making many observations that, if anything, ring more true today. . . . [Readers] may want to seek solace in Lasch’s illuminations.”
- Lee Siegel, The New York Times

“Never has the case against narcissism been made with such an all-embracing sweep. . . . [Lasch] has brilliantly performed the first job of a social critic by prompting us to look at our reflection―shorn of vanity.”
- Valerie Lloyd, Newsweek

“Brilliantly on target [and] idiosyncratically compelling.”
- Alan Wolfe, New Republic

“This is the big intellectual book of the season, the one for everyone to feel guilty about not reading.”
- Henry Allen, Washington Post

“Formidable intellectual grasp and the kind of moral conviction rarely found in contemporary, value-neutral history and sociology. . . . Lasch is on to something quite real.”
- Time

“His vigorous appraisal of contemporary American life is to be admired as much for the perspicacity of his observations as for the contancy of this argument and the scope of his supporting references. . . . Few write with his penetration, intelligence, and historical expertise.”
- Kirkus Reviews

“Christopher Lasch has gone to the heart of our culture. The insights into personality and its social context are stunning. This is a courageous, important book.”
- Michael Rogin, University of California, Berkeley

“Cultural history at its best. . . . Provokes, startles, and keeps the reader arguing with himself as well as with the writer. . . . A book of fundamental importance.”
- Bruce Mazlish, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0393307387
• ISBN 13: 9780393307382
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304