First, with the internet it’s nearly impossible to be “cancelled” today. When I hear the phrase “cancel culture,” my immediate impulse is to roll my eyes. But first, I need to address something that is front-and-center in today’s political discourse (especially on the Right) and which lurks in the background of this book. I’ll explain what makes Brooks’ arguments against Harris and Peterson so compelling shortly. Brooks has a wry sense of humor that shines throughout – he comes off as highly knowledgeable but who you could still engage with in a conversation without feeling like a fool. In fact, one of the reasons you should read this book is that it’s so well-written, even funny at times. Prominent figures like Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson are eviscerated, while others get off relatively easy as mere “dishonorable mentions.” But Brooks never comes off as sanctimonious or cruel, even when dealing with easy targets. Michael Brooks’ Against the Web: A Cosmopolitan Answer to the New Right is powerful, insightful, and devastatingly thorough in its takedown of the reactionary “intellectuals” who thrive online today.
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