Title
Voltaire'S Bastards: The Dictatorship Of Reason In The West
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
In A Wideranging, Provocative Anatomy Of Modern Society And Its Origins, Novelist And Historian John Ralston Saul Explores The Reason For Our Deepening Sense Of Crisis And Confusion. Throughout The Western World We Talk Endlessly Of Individual Freedom, Yet Saul Shows That There Has Never Before Been Such Pressure For Conformity. Our Business Leaders Describe Themselves As Capitalists, Yet Most Are Corporate Employees And Financial Speculators. We Are Obsessed With Competition, Yet The Single Largest Item Of International Trade Is A Subsidized Market In Armaments. We Call Our Governments Democracies, Yet Few Of Us Participate In Politics. We Complain About Invasive Government, Yet Our Legal, Educational, Financial, Social, Cultural And Legislative Systems Are Breaking Down.While Most Observers View These Problems Separately, Saul Demonstrates That They Are Largely Manifestations Of Our Blind Faith In The Value Of Reason. Over The Last 400 Years, Our Rational Elites Have Gradually Instituted Reforms In Every Phase Of Social Life. But Saul Shows That They Have Also Been Responsible For Most Of The Difficulties And Violence Of The Same Period. This Paradox Arises From A Simple Truth Which Our Elites Deny: Far From Being A Moral Force, Reason Is No More Than An Administrative Method. Their Denial Has Helped To Turn The Modern West Into A Vast, Incomprehensible, Directionless Machine, Run By Processminded Experts Voltaire'S Bastards Whose Cult Of Scientific Management Is Bereft Of Both Sense And Morality. Whether In Politics, Art, Business, The Military, Entertainment, Science, Finance, Academia Or Journalism, These Experts Share The Same Outlook And Methods. The Result, Saul Maintains, Is A Civilization Of Immense Technological Power Whose Peoples Increasingly Dwell In A World Of Illusion.Already Known To Millions Of Readers As The Author Of Novels Which Portray The Overwhelming Effects Of This Power On The Modern Individual By Weaving Together International Finance, The Oil And Arms Business, Guerrilla Warfare, Drug Traffic, And The World Of Art, Here Saul Lays Aside The Mask Of Fiction To Speak In His Own Voice. Only By Withdrawing From Our Addiction To Solutions, He Argues, Reclaiming The Citizens' Right To Question And Participate In Public Life, And Recovering A Common Sense Capacity For Intelligent Panic, Can We Find A Way Out Of Our Permanent Crisis.
By changing our most important processes and
products, we have already made a big leap forward. This ranges from the
increased use of more sustainable fibers to the use of more
environmentally friendly printing processes to the development of
efficient waste management in our value chain.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We ship your order within 2–3 business days for USA deliveries and 5–8 business days for international shipments. Once your package has been dispatched from our warehouse, you'll receive an email confirmation with a tracking number, allowing you to track the status of your delivery.
Returns
To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We ship your order within 2–3 business days for USA deliveries and 5–8 business days for international shipments. Once your package has been dispatched from our warehouse, you'll receive an email confirmation with a tracking number, allowing you to track the status of your delivery.
Returns
To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
Secure Payment
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
We accept payments with :
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Paypal, Shopify Payments, Shop Pay and more.
Secure Payment
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
We accept payments with :
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Paypal, Shopify Payments, Shop Pay and more.
Related Products
You may also like
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main theme of 'Voltaire's Bastards'? A: 'Voltaire's Bastards' explores the paradox of reason in modern society, illustrating how the reliance on rationality has led to conformity and societal crises.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Voltaire's Bastards'? A: The author is John Ralston Saul, a Canadian novelist and historian known for his critical analysis of modern society.
- Q: When was 'Voltaire's Bastards' published? A: 'Voltaire's Bastards' was published on September 14, 1992.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: The book is available in hardcover binding, which provides durability and a premium feel.
- Q: How many pages are in 'Voltaire's Bastards'? A: 'Voltaire's Bastards' contains 450 pages, offering an in-depth examination of its themes.
- Q: What are some key issues addressed in the book? A: The book addresses issues such as the pressure for conformity, the failures of democratic systems, and the consequences of blind faith in reason.
- Q: Is this book suitable for academic study? A: Yes, 'Voltaire's Bastards' is suitable for academic study, particularly in fields like sociology, political science, and philosophy.
- Q: What is the significance of the title 'Voltaire's Bastards'? A: The title refers to the notion that those who claim to uphold reason often perpetuate systems that lack moral direction, leading to societal dysfunction.
- Q: Can this book be used as a reference for understanding modern crises? A: Yes, it provides valuable insights into the origins and manifestations of various modern crises, making it a useful reference.
- Q: What is the edition of this book? A: 'Voltaire's Bastards' is released as a First Edition, which may be of interest to collectors and bibliophiles.