Ten Ways To Destroy The Imagination Of Your Child (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
The advice given was well done, though not wholly original. However, the conceit of it being written as instructions for destroying imagination really made no sense and didn't work. Most of each chapter was spent with the narrator recalling something wonderful and imagination in stilling from his childhood, then at the end he would tell the reader to have none of that if we want to crush children's imaginations. He seemed to be wanting to recreate the feel of the Screwtape Letters, but forgot to provide a motive for his narrator. Although he makes salient points, Esolen's satirical conceit quickly wears thin. His frequent references to great works and ideas are not synthesized into new conclusions, but read merely as self aggrandizing. It didn't help my opinion of the book that I picked up Chesterton's "Orthodoxy" immediately afterward. Where Esolen can only preach to the choir, Chesterton is more than capable of changing minds. For reference, chapter titles: 1) Why truth is your enemy, and the benefits of the vague2) Never leave children to themselves3) Keep children away from machines and machinists4) Replace the fairy tale with political cliches and fads5) Cast aspersions upon the heroic and patriotic6) Cut all heroes down to size7) Reduce all talk of love to narcissism and sex8) Level distinctions between man and woman9) Distract the child with the shallow and unreal10) Deny the transcendent
What do You think about Ten Ways To Destroy The Imagination Of Your Child (2010)?
In the style of Screwtape Letters- with an edge. So beautifully written and lots to reflect on.
—missmessmaker
I wish I could give this book more stars! So so good, and very well written.
—emzi
Great, with lots of keen insights. Now, time to go outside.
—kk2709
A fabulous and wonderfully interesting social criticism.
—shyela
