نویسندگان چه فایده‌ای دارند؟: ۴۴ نویسنده نظرات خود را به اشتراک می‌گذارند

What Good Are Intellectuals was originally published in Paris as the 1998 edition of an annual series entitled The Rules of the Game: Literature, Philosophy, Art, and Politics, under the direction of Bernard Henri-L?©vy. The first half of the book offers essays by and about Paul Bowles, Marc Lambron, Michel Onfray, Gilles Hertzog, Wietske Venema, C?©cile Guilbert, Yann Moix and William Styron.In an intimate dialogue with some of the world's best minds, 44 of the world's most respected authors reflect on life, death and meaning through of essays, interviews and responses to the question, "What good are intellectuals?" Essays include remarks by Wietske Venema on the eve of his suicide, and excerpts from Marc Lambron's journal detailing cultural pre-occupations in Paris from Egyptomania to astrology and gender issues. In the second half of the book writers from around the world ponder the role of the intellectual in society, whether a thinker and writer has specific responsibilities and what those might be, what effect such a person can hope to achieve and at what cost.Compelling, stimulating ideas are presented in individual segments; this is a book that can be put down and picked up again like a conversation with a lifelong friend.Paul Bowles is asked about Camus's observation that American writers were the only writers in the world who don t feel the need to be intellectuals as well."That s funny," he says."Do you agree with that definition?""Yes, yes, I do, because the Americans aren t capable of becoming intellectuals..." Nothing comfortable here!They talk about drug use, death, anti-European sentiment in Algeria, and other conflicts, leading to Bowles' proposition that a monthly newspaper would be more than sufficient to keep abreast of what's important."This monthly, that would spare us all the details, what would it be? A summary of major events? What would be the ideal newspaper?""You read the newspaper to find out who is winning the war. There s always a war going on, and you have to keep track of it." Finally, he observes: "If you are aware that life is absurd, you can tolerate it, because that which is absurd is tolerable." March 1997: One year after the massacre of Saint-Pierre-of-Charennes and the death of 16 cult members of the Order of the Solar Temple, in Saint-Casimir, Canada, five other members of the order rejoin their brothers in death. In San Jose, California, 39 members of the Gates of Paradise follow their guru in death to reach the Hale Bopp Comet that was to take them to a faraway planet. Not all cults manifest in such a dramatic way, but many achieve their goals subtly and incrementally. As with drug addiction, the phenomenon of cults hits all social strata and plants its roots in the deepest core of the individual. Mental manipulation uses the most up-to-date techniques of communication, marketing and persuasion, and requires a complex organization. Jean-Marie Abgrall, psychiatrist, criminologist, expert witness to the French Court of Appeals, and member of the Inter-Ministry Committee on Cults, is one of the experts most frequently consulted by the European judicial and legislative processes. The fruit of 15 years of research, his book delivers the first methodical analysis of the sectarian phenomenon, decoding the mental manipulation on behalf of mystified observers as well as victims. To describe this psychopathology and the means to resist it, the author applies the framework of criminology and medico-legal psychiatry. He feels that cults, whose brainwashing essentially equates to enslavement, should be subject to criminal law. "Some cults resort to severe methods to subjugate and re-indoctrinate rebellious initiates (sleep deprivation, starvation, daily public confessions), some use sexual entrapment or drugs, [but] most cults ... use subtle techniques." Jean-Marie Abgrall details the mechanisms by which cults attract, ensnare and brainwash new members. The book discusses types of people most vulnerable to cult recruitment; in fact, it gives you everything you'd need to know, if you want to start a cult of your own! Not all cults manifest so dramatically; many weave their spells quietly and patiently. Like drug addiction, the cult phenomenon hits all social strata and plants its roots in the deepest core of the individual. Cults use state-of-the art techniques to manipulate their followers, and develop complex organizations to expand and grow. Cult members are led to dissolve their individual selves into the group, to become emotionally dependent on the guru, to espouse a certain doctrine and gradually to cut themselves off from normal life 44 Writers Share Their ThoughtsWhat Good Are Intellectuals was originally published in Paris as the 1998 edition of an annual series entitled The Rules of the Game: Literature, Philosophy, Art, and Politics, under the direction of Bernard Henri-L?©vy. The first half of the book offers essays by and about Paul Bowles, Marc Lambron, Michel Onfray, Gilles Hertzog, Wietske Venema, C?©cile Guilbert, Yann Moix and William Styron.In an intimate dialogue with some of the world's best minds, 44 of the world's most respected authors reflect on life, death and meaning through of essays, interviews and responses to the question, "What good are intellectuals?" Essays include remarks by Wietske Venema on the eve of his suicide, and excerpts from Marc Lambron's journal detailing cultural pre-occupations in Paris from Egyptomania to astrology and gender issues. In the second half of the book writers from around the world ponder the role of the intellectual in society, whether a thinker and writer has specific responsibilities and what those might be, what effect such a person can hope to achieve and at what cost.Compelling, stimulating ideas are presented in individual segments; this is a book that can be put down and picked up again like a conversation with a lifelong friend.Paul Bowles is asked about Camus's observation that American writers were the only writers in the world who don t feel the need to be intellectuals as well."That s funny," he says."Do you agree with that definition?""Yes, yes, I do, because the Americans aren t capable of becoming intellectuals..." Nothing comfortable here!They talk about drug use, death, anti-European sentiment in Algeria, and other conflicts, leading to Bowles' proposition that a monthly newspaper would be more than sufficient to keep abreast of what's important."This monthly, that would spare us all the details, what would it be? A summary of major events? What would be the ideal newspaper?""You read the newspaper to find out who is winning

Enter The Audacity to Win Book Club Discussion Contest

Watch David Plouffe discuss The Audacity to Win on "Meet the Press"

David Plouffe not only led the effort that put Barack Obama in the White House, but he also changed the face of politics forever and reenergized the idea of democracy itself. The Audacity to Win is his story of that groundbreaking achievement, taking readers inside the remarkable campaign that led to the election of the first African American president.

For two years Plouffe worked side by side with Obama, charting the course of the campaign. His is the ultimate insider’s tale, revealing both the strategies that delivered Obama to office and how the candidate and campaign handled moments of great challenge and opportunity. Moving from the deliberations about whether to run at all, through the epic primary battle with Hillary Clinton and the general election against John McCain, Plouffe showcases the high-wire gamesmanship that fascinated pundits and the drama and intrigue that captivated a nation.

The Audacity to Win chronicles the arrival of a new moment in American life at the convergence of digital technology and grassroots organization, and the exciting possibilities revealed by a campaign that in many ways functioned as a $1 billion start-up with laser-like focus and discipline. In this extraordinary book, David Plouffe unfolds one of the most important political stories of our time, one whose lessons are not limited to politics, but reach to the greatest heights of what we dream about for our country and ourselves.

Watch a Video

The architect of the Obama campaign reveals how it all happened-- and how it will revolutionize our politics David Plouffe not only led the effort that put Barack Obama in the White House, but he also changed the face of politics forever and reenergized the idea of democracy itself. The Audacity to Win is his story of that groundbreaking achievement, taking readers inside the remarkable campaign that led to the election of the first African American president. For two years Plouffe worked side by side with Obama, charting the course of the campaign. His is the ultimate insider's tale, revealing both the strategies that delivered Obama to office and how the candidate and campaign handled moments of great challenge and opportunity. Moving from the deliberations about whether to run at all, through the epic primary battle with Hillary Clinton and the general election against John McCain, Plouffe showcases the high-wire gamesmanship that fascinated pundits and the drama and intrigue that captivated a nation. The Audacity to Win chronicles the arrival of a new moment in American life at the convergence of digital technology and grassroots organization, and the exciting possibilities revealed by a campaign that in many ways functioned as a $1 billion start-up with laser-like focus and discipline. In this extraordinary book, David Plouffe unfolds one of the most important political stories of our time, one whose lessons are not limited to politics, but reach to the greatest heights of what we dream about for our country and ourselves What Good Are Intellectuals?......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 11 Paul Bowles. Tangiers, For Example......Page 13 Marc Lambron. In Passing......Page 39 Michel Onfray. Preaching the Decline of the West......Page 77 Gilles Hertzog. Farewell, Captain......Page 89 Wietske Venema. Chronicle of a Publicized Suicide......Page 95 Cécile Guilbert. Appreciating Godard......Page 103 Yann Moix. Personal Messages......Page 115 William Styron. Position......Page 143 The Survey: What good are intellectuals?......Page 167 David Albahari......Page 171 Tahar Ben Jelloun......Page 173 Rachid Boudjedra......Page 177 André Brink......Page 180 Hans Christoph Buch......Page 186 Guillermo Cabrera Infante......Page 192 Édouard El-Kharrât......Page 194 Péter Esterházy......Page 199 Nadine Gordimer......Page 200 Juan Goytisolo......Page 202 David Grossman......Page 204 Yoram Kaniuk......Page 205 Ivan Klíma......Page 208 Aïcha Lemsine......Page 209 Antonio Lobo Antunes......Page 223 Claudio Magris......Page 226 Naguib Mahfouz......Page 229 Eduardo Manet......Page 232 Pierre Mertens......Page 235 Arthur Miller......Page 236 Czeslaw Milosz......Page 238 Joyce Carol Oates......Page 246 Cynthia Ozick......Page 247 Orhan Pamuk......Page 248 Octavio Paz......Page 250 Victor Pelevine......Page 252 Salman Rushdie......Page 254 Fernando Savater......Page 256 Peter Schneider......Page 257 Philippe Sollers......Page 259 Susan Sontag......Page 260 Mario Vargas Llosa......Page 264 William Styron......Page 265 A. B. Yehoshua......Page 266 An intimate dialogue with some of the world's best minds, in the form of essays, interviews and responses to the oft-asked question, "What good are intellectuals?" 44 of the world's most respected authors reflect on life, death and meaning.Essays include remarks by Wietske Venema, on the eve of his suicide, recorded by Rosalie van Breemen, and excerpts from Marc Lambron's journal, detailing life in Paris from Egyptomania to astrology and lesbianism. The forty-fourth president's campaign manager reveals the strategies that he credits with Obama's successful primary and general elections, explaining how a combination of technology and grassroots organization is revolutionizing politics