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Informed Common Sense: The Journals of Albert Jay Nock
This volume is a combination of two of Albert Jay Nock's previously published, now out-of-print journals, one covering a year and a half in the early 1930s and a period in 1934 and 1935. There journals are a treasure trove of Nock's charming, pithy, and always pleasantly good-natured observations of places he travels, politics, social life, human nature, and anything else he happens to notice - from a hen on the road to the villainous faces of politicians.
- GenresPolitics
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
About the author
Albert Jay Nock
65 books75 followersAmerican libertarian author, Georgist, social critic of the early and middle 20th century, outspoken opponent of the New Deal.
He served as a inspiration for the modern libertarian and Conservative movements.
He was one of the first Americans to self-identify as "libertarian"
http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ckank/Ful...
He served as a inspiration for the modern libertarian and Conservative movements.
He was one of the first Americans to self-identify as "libertarian"
http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ckank/Ful...
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 14, 2014
In the past year I have become a big fan of Albert Jay Nock, having read four of books beginning with Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, and was excited when I saw a new edition of his journals has been published. For some reason I have always been fascinated with the early 20th century, especially the 1930s, and this book gives a day-by-day view of world events both in America and Europe from 1932 to 1935 through the eyes of an extremely sharp observer. I recognized the precursors to some of the material he used in his later books.
Being journals this book has no set pattern except the natural ebb and flow of Mr. Nock's consciousness. And yet each entry holds at least one extremely well-phrased thought, idea, amusing anecdote, or pointed observation. He discusses everything he thinks worth mentioning: politics, movies, theater, opera, music (talkies!), nature, places he visits from Antwerp to Orlando, newfangled inventions, and interesting people, both friends and enemies. He greatly admires H.L. Mencken and decidedly does not admire Franklin Roosevelt.
I love the jolt of recognizing parallel after parallel with our own times. When the historical observations are mixed with apt literary references and and descriptions of normal human and animal life of the period, it just makes for a delightful reading experience. For example:
"The Administration is evidently feeling some adverse pressure as the the election comes on, and is evidently trying to be as good as possible; Roosevelt is ladling out brimstone and treacle over the radio like Mrs. Squeers...." October 2, 1934
I started by listening the audio book version narrated by Richard G. Sigler, but the amusing quotes were coming so fast and thick I ended up paying another $9.99 to download the Kindle version. I cannot think of a better way to spend $9.99. I found Mr. Sigler's voice pleasant but a bit sing-songy.
Albert Jay Nock is one of my literary muses. I think it is his outlook on life that is so inspirational to me because he offers an approach to living sanely in an insane world.
Being journals this book has no set pattern except the natural ebb and flow of Mr. Nock's consciousness. And yet each entry holds at least one extremely well-phrased thought, idea, amusing anecdote, or pointed observation. He discusses everything he thinks worth mentioning: politics, movies, theater, opera, music (talkies!), nature, places he visits from Antwerp to Orlando, newfangled inventions, and interesting people, both friends and enemies. He greatly admires H.L. Mencken and decidedly does not admire Franklin Roosevelt.
I love the jolt of recognizing parallel after parallel with our own times. When the historical observations are mixed with apt literary references and and descriptions of normal human and animal life of the period, it just makes for a delightful reading experience. For example:
"The Administration is evidently feeling some adverse pressure as the the election comes on, and is evidently trying to be as good as possible; Roosevelt is ladling out brimstone and treacle over the radio like Mrs. Squeers...." October 2, 1934
I started by listening the audio book version narrated by Richard G. Sigler, but the amusing quotes were coming so fast and thick I ended up paying another $9.99 to download the Kindle version. I cannot think of a better way to spend $9.99. I found Mr. Sigler's voice pleasant but a bit sing-songy.
Albert Jay Nock is one of my literary muses. I think it is his outlook on life that is so inspirational to me because he offers an approach to living sanely in an insane world.
Displaying 1 of 1 review