In yesterday's Washington Post Book World section, Ken Pollack reviewed a group of World War II books. Here's part of what he said about one of them:
The great surprise of the season in World War II books is Deborah Dash Moore's wonderful GI Jews: How World War II Changed a Generation (Belknap/Harvard, $25.95). Moore is a professor, the book is an academic study of how one small segment of the American population dealt with the war, it was published by an academic press and the endnotes are nearly a fifth as long as the story itself -- none of which promises an enjoyable read. But it is an enjoyable read. Moore, a Vassar professor, writes well and knows how to tell a story -- sins that some faculty committee will no doubt punish her for someday.
Yes, and it isn't only fine writing and storytelling that can upset many academics. Just ask Harvard's President, Lawrence Summers.
2 comments:
Well, of course, it will be hard for the liberal academic kangaroo court to punish someone for writing about Jews, but the sin of clarity!
Well, I never!
Dear Anon,
I'll bet you know that saying what you mean can really upset the academic PC crowd if what you mean endorses America's Creed of equal opportunity though hard work, etc.
I hope you continue to visit.
John
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