The Retreat of Reason by Anthony Browne

Having read only 10 pages of this 121 page pamphlet The Retreat of Reason, by Anthony Browne, I am already able to say that this book is likely to follow The End of Faith in my estimation as the second most important book of our age. Indeed I would go so far as to say that this book summarises and articulates well many of the things I have said on this site, and if there is a book I would like to have written myself,
this is it.

The Retreat of Reason is very well written, in a calm, rational and eloquent tone, and is certainly insightful, but it isn’t, so far, an especially profound book – it isn’t Principia Mathematica. It is simply stating facts – but they are facts that usually dare not speak their name – and that is the point.

The book addresses what is essentially a modern manifestation of fascism (one which is all the more reprehensible for the way it poses as the opposite). One which subverts free speech, truth and even free thought and threatens the very fabric and future of our society. It addresses the insidious march of political correctness. Interestingly, criticism of political correctness is, itself, outlawed by political correctness (the mechanism is self-protecting). This book ignores all that and proceeds to analyse and expose the problem in all its guises with uncompromising truth, concern and accuracy.

I will not quote from the book, because virtually everything I have so far read is worth quoting, but I will strongly recommend it to anybody who cares about the state of their society, and I look forward to reading this one too afterwards.