Unruly Voices

"Examining such social and existential issues as the role of luck in accumulating political or other power and the way that “desirable objects” reinforce a sense of “class superiority,” Kingwell ranges far and wide. He cites not only to such philosophers as Plato, Heidegger, and Rawls, but also to such writers as Melville and literary critics such as Northrop Frye, not to mention such cinematic cult classics as Beyond the Valley of the Dolls ... he is a perceptive and imaginative social critic."—Publishers Weekly

"This broad-minded collection of essays carries its own anecdote. As Kingwell writes in his introduction, it is philosophy, along with poetry and art, that has the extraordinary power to 'expand our ethical imaginations.' A robust democracy will need both ground rules for civil discourse and citizens with imagination enough to understand the stakes of the game."—The Rumpus

"Unruly Voices has insightful things to say about the corrupting influence of money on public discourse, including reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial 2010 Citizens United ruling, which granted corporations the same right as people to free speech ... The scourge of incivility might not be new, but it is more pervasive. And, as Kingwell warns, the cost to coherent debate is great."—National Post (Canada)

PRAISE FOR MARK KINGWELL

"Illuminates on almost every page."—The Los Angeles Times

"An original approach to where we are as a civilization."—The Washington Post

"The writing is elegant, often poetic. It appeals to the thoughtful reader who thrives on insights into the way humans interact."—The Globe & Mail

"Smoothly splicing together personal narrative, philosophical inquiry and historical analysis, frequent Harper's contributor [Mark] Kingwell ... wears his learning lightly."—Publishers' Weekly

"Examining such social and existential issues as the role of luck in accumulating political or other power and the way that “desirable objects” reinforce a sense of “class superiority,” Kingwell ranges far and wide. He cites not only to such philosophers as Plato, Heidegger, and Rawls, but also to such writers as Melville and literary critics such as Northrop Frye, not to mention such cinematic cult classics as Beyond the Valley of the Dolls ... he is a perceptive and imaginative social critic."—Publishers Weekly

"This broad-minded collection of essays carries its own anecdote. As Kingwell writes in his introduction, it is philosophy, along with poetry and art, that has the extraordinary power to 'expand our ethical imaginations.' A robust democracy will need both ground rules for civil discourse and citizens with imagination enough to understand the stakes of the game."—The Rumpus

"Unruly Voices has insightful things to say about the corrupting influence of money on public discourse, including reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial 2010 Citizens United ruling, which granted corporations the same right as people to free speech ... The scourge of incivility might not be new, but it is more pervasive. And, as Kingwell warns, the cost to coherent debate is great."—National Post (Canada)

PRAISE FOR MARK KINGWELL

"Illuminates on almost every page."—The Los Angeles Times

"An original approach to where we are as a civilization."—The Washington Post

"The writing is elegant, often poetic. It appeals to the thoughtful reader who thrives on insights into the way humans interact."—The Globe & Mail

"Smoothly splicing together personal narrative, philosophical inquiry and historical analysis, frequent Harper's contributor [Mark] Kingwell ... wears his learning lightly."—Publishers' Weekly