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Men of Ideas: A Sociologist's View

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Lewis A. Coser takes readers from the coffeehouses of 18th-century London to the mass-culture industries of today in search of a definition for the intellectual.

Describing the settings where intellectuals thrive and exploring the nature and contributions of various well-known groups, he discusses the various roles intellectuals play in society and why they matter.

374 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1965

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Lewis A. Coser

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Profile Image for Timeo Williams.
258 reviews9 followers
April 6, 2018
Highly enjoyed this book. It was written a while back, but still remains relevant.
The book begins with defining an intellectual. The author eventually comes to a conclusion, as describing him/her as, "having a childlike playfulness/curiosity for ideas." So, I guess intellectual curiosity is whats most needed.

A short history of how intellectual curiosity spread, and the lives of intellectuals.

- Major takeaway: Establishing a "coffeehouse" in the 21st century, where ideas are not judged, but thought through with intellectual openness, would be ideal. Yes, many people would say the internet will suffice, but I think discussions face to face would be ideal.
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