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Giants and Dwarfs: Essays, 1960-1990
A volume of wide-ranging essays deals with contemporary politics, modern thinkers, and today's universities, and examines works by Plato, Shakespeare, Swift, and Rousseau
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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About the author
Allan Bloom
39 books198 followersAllan David Bloom was an American philosopher, essayist and academic. Bloom championed the idea of 'Great Books' education, as did his mentor Leo Strauss. Bloom became famous for his criticism of contemporary American higher education, with his views being expressed in his bestselling 1987 book, The Closing of the American Mind.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 19, 2013
The controversy over Allan Bloom is somewhat curious. But at root, I think many were offended by the tone of his essays and his unremitting sarcasm.
Nussbaum argues that he is not a philosopher. And her comment feels pejorative. But I agree, I don't think Bloom was a philosopher. He was a brilliant academic who recognized genius (in particular Aristotle, Plato, Rosseau) and wanted our feeble minds to understand their greatness. He argues for a stripped-down reading of their work (free of modern philosophic baggage like historicism and fad philosophy -- I'm looking at you positivism). Instead, he argues, we must engage Machiavelli as if he were a contemporary, and answer those questions in earnest. And that means learning Italian, so get to it.
Bloom's assignment (he was a professor after all) is immersion in the great books by reading and understanding each and every word. He finds absolute truth in those works. We can truly understand human nature by studying Plato and engaging it as a contemporary work.
And now if you'll forgive me, I'm off to the library for a copy of Renaissance Italian for Dummies.
Nussbaum argues that he is not a philosopher. And her comment feels pejorative. But I agree, I don't think Bloom was a philosopher. He was a brilliant academic who recognized genius (in particular Aristotle, Plato, Rosseau) and wanted our feeble minds to understand their greatness. He argues for a stripped-down reading of their work (free of modern philosophic baggage like historicism and fad philosophy -- I'm looking at you positivism). Instead, he argues, we must engage Machiavelli as if he were a contemporary, and answer those questions in earnest. And that means learning Italian, so get to it.
Bloom's assignment (he was a professor after all) is immersion in the great books by reading and understanding each and every word. He finds absolute truth in those works. We can truly understand human nature by studying Plato and engaging it as a contemporary work.
And now if you'll forgive me, I'm off to the library for a copy of Renaissance Italian for Dummies.
July 9, 2011
I was never a fan of Bloom, but there are lovely essays here--- esp. the pieces on Leo Strauss, Raymond Aron, and Alexander Kojeve. Fine, fine writing and perceptive essays on three men whose work is very much worth reading.
August 19, 2012
Primarily interesting for those who want to know more of the eccentric creature Allan Bloom was. Interesting are his essays on Kojeve, Strauss, and Aron. And his praise of FDR as greatest American leader of the twentieth century.
August 13, 2015
Whether or not you agree with Bloom's ideas and interpretations of the great thinkers, you have to admit, he's a great writer.
April 16, 2025
Allan Bloom’s Giants and Dwarfs: Essays 1960–1990 (Simon & Schuster, 1990) is a provocative and penetrating collection of twenty-six essays written over three decades by one of the most influential American political philosophers and cultural critics of the late twentieth century. Known for his controversial The Closing of the American Mind (1987), Bloom here offers a broader, more nuanced articulation of his intellectual commitments, concerns, and ambitions. This volume showcases the depth of Bloom’s engagement with classical political philosophy, modern intellectual life, and the tension between tradition and modernity.
Bloom’s title, Giants and Dwarfs, encapsulates a central theme of the book: the modern intellectual’s diminished stature in comparison to the great thinkers of the Western canon. In Bloom’s view, contemporary academics and intellectuals have lost the capacity to engage with the “giants”—Plato, Rousseau, Nietzsche, and others—on equal or even reverent terms. The consequence is a decline in both the quality of thought and the moral seriousness of modern public discourse. Bloom repeatedly calls for a return to classical rationalism and for a deeper engagement with the philosophical foundations of political life.
One of the major strengths of this collection is Bloom’s ability to traverse a wide array of subjects with philosophical rigor and literary elegance. The essays range from close readings of Plato, Rousseau, and Shakespeare to trenchant critiques of modern culture, education, and politics. Bloom’s interpretive essays—such as those on The Republic, Emile, and The Merchant of Venice—are marked by a careful hermeneutic method rooted in Leo Strauss’s emphasis on esoteric writing and philosophical pedagogy. His analyses not only illuminate the texts themselves but also serve as indictments of the superficial readings common in contemporary academia.
In essays such as “Western Civ” and “The Study of Texts,” Bloom expresses concern over the erosion of liberal education and the transformation of the university from a space of philosophical inquiry into a site of ideological conflict and relativism. His critique of the modern university system is not merely nostalgic but is grounded in a coherent philosophical anthropology that emphasizes the formation of the soul through exposure to enduring questions and great books. He is particularly critical of the politicization of literature and philosophy, warning that such trends disfigure both the content and purpose of higher education.
A distinctive feature of Giants and Dwarfs is Bloom’s unapologetic elitism, which may alienate some readers but is internally consistent with his broader intellectual framework. He believes that democracy’s tendency toward mediocrity must be checked by the guidance of philosophically serious elites who have engaged deeply with the tradition. Yet Bloom is not an enemy of democracy per se; rather, he advocates for a “philosophic democracy” that acknowledges the necessary tension between the philosopher and the city.
Despite its many strengths, the collection is not without its limitations. Bloom’s Straussian method, while powerful, can sometimes lead to overinterpretation or speculative assertions that are difficult to verify. Moreover, his cultural criticism occasionally veers toward sweeping generalization, particularly in his treatments of contemporary art, music, and youth culture. These moments reveal more about Bloom’s personal sensibilities than about the phenomena he critiques.
Nevertheless, Giants and Dwarfs remains an invaluable contribution to the landscape of American intellectual thought. It offers a compelling defense of classical liberal education and serves as a reminder of the moral and philosophical seriousness that once characterized the humanities. For scholars of political philosophy, education, or cultural criticism, Bloom’s essays offer both a rich source of insight and a challenge to complacency. The collection is not merely a retrospective but a call to intellectual renewal rooted in the enduring questions of human existence.
GPT
Bloom’s title, Giants and Dwarfs, encapsulates a central theme of the book: the modern intellectual’s diminished stature in comparison to the great thinkers of the Western canon. In Bloom’s view, contemporary academics and intellectuals have lost the capacity to engage with the “giants”—Plato, Rousseau, Nietzsche, and others—on equal or even reverent terms. The consequence is a decline in both the quality of thought and the moral seriousness of modern public discourse. Bloom repeatedly calls for a return to classical rationalism and for a deeper engagement with the philosophical foundations of political life.
One of the major strengths of this collection is Bloom’s ability to traverse a wide array of subjects with philosophical rigor and literary elegance. The essays range from close readings of Plato, Rousseau, and Shakespeare to trenchant critiques of modern culture, education, and politics. Bloom’s interpretive essays—such as those on The Republic, Emile, and The Merchant of Venice—are marked by a careful hermeneutic method rooted in Leo Strauss’s emphasis on esoteric writing and philosophical pedagogy. His analyses not only illuminate the texts themselves but also serve as indictments of the superficial readings common in contemporary academia.
In essays such as “Western Civ” and “The Study of Texts,” Bloom expresses concern over the erosion of liberal education and the transformation of the university from a space of philosophical inquiry into a site of ideological conflict and relativism. His critique of the modern university system is not merely nostalgic but is grounded in a coherent philosophical anthropology that emphasizes the formation of the soul through exposure to enduring questions and great books. He is particularly critical of the politicization of literature and philosophy, warning that such trends disfigure both the content and purpose of higher education.
A distinctive feature of Giants and Dwarfs is Bloom’s unapologetic elitism, which may alienate some readers but is internally consistent with his broader intellectual framework. He believes that democracy’s tendency toward mediocrity must be checked by the guidance of philosophically serious elites who have engaged deeply with the tradition. Yet Bloom is not an enemy of democracy per se; rather, he advocates for a “philosophic democracy” that acknowledges the necessary tension between the philosopher and the city.
Despite its many strengths, the collection is not without its limitations. Bloom’s Straussian method, while powerful, can sometimes lead to overinterpretation or speculative assertions that are difficult to verify. Moreover, his cultural criticism occasionally veers toward sweeping generalization, particularly in his treatments of contemporary art, music, and youth culture. These moments reveal more about Bloom’s personal sensibilities than about the phenomena he critiques.
Nevertheless, Giants and Dwarfs remains an invaluable contribution to the landscape of American intellectual thought. It offers a compelling defense of classical liberal education and serves as a reminder of the moral and philosophical seriousness that once characterized the humanities. For scholars of political philosophy, education, or cultural criticism, Bloom’s essays offer both a rich source of insight and a challenge to complacency. The collection is not merely a retrospective but a call to intellectual renewal rooted in the enduring questions of human existence.
GPT
December 22, 2021
An amazing collection of essays. Bloom is both a very witty writer but also one who pierces straight through when need be. Every essay, even on works I had no read, contained insight which I think will point me forward. It is in this respect, as to where we must go, that Bloom seemed very concerned. We’re in a very bad spot, definitely worse than when he was still alive. What must be done and how one should live are pertinent question, and Bloom thought that the tradition answered those questions. I, for one, am convinced. But how to convince others is beyond me.
December 3, 2023
perhaps curmudgeonly, bloom deplores the state of liberal democracy and its universities. he seems particularly exercised by “radical egalitarianism,” and how nobody cares about all his favorite books (by plato, aristotle, hobbes, rousseau, and leo strauss). also he hates john rawls.
April 6, 2018
Brilliant insightful analysis of contemporary culture.
June 17, 2017
布魯姆的書還差一本就讀完了，再接再厲！
November 13, 2020
“‘我们都是矮子，但是我们站在巨人的肩膀上’。这谦卑的姿态，表达了太多的自我满足。”阅读Allan Bloom总是令人觉得酣畅淋漓又充满愉悦。
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews