Most Interesting Books of 2006
Our Culture, What's Left of It
The Mandarins and the Masses
by Theodore Dalrymple
published by Ivan R. Dee
This collection of 26 essays explores diverse themes in culture, politics, and the arts. Not flawless — his essay on Woolf misses the mark by a mile — yet every page contains something provocative, and worth debating. The clear language, subtle arguments, and headstrong opinions remind me of Orwell, Huxley, and Vidal. A paperback edition of the book is due in April 2007.
— Michael Pastore
