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How to Destroy Western Civilization and Other Ideas from the Cultural Abyss
Best-selling author Peter Kreeft presents a series of brilliant essays about many of the issues that increasingly divide our Western civilization and culture. He states that "these essays are not new proposals or solutions to today's problems. They are old. They have been tried, and have worked. They have made people happy and good. That is what makes them so radical and so unusual today. The most uncommon thing today is common sense."
Kreeft says that one thing we can all do to help save our culture is to gather wisdom as data to preserve and remember, like the monks in the Dark Ages. Data is important and necessary; they are the premises for our conclusions. He presents relevant, philosophical data that can guide us, divided into 7 epistemological, theological, metaphysical, anthropological, ethical, political, and historical. He then explores these categories with classic Kreeft insights, presenting 40 pithy points on how we can implement the data from these categories to help save civilization – and more importantly, save souls.
He emphasizes the single most necessary thing we can do to save our civilization is to have children. If you don't have children your civilization will cease to exist. Before you can be good or evil, you must exist. Having children is heroic because it demands sacrificial love and commitment. Cherishing children is the single most generous and unselfish act that a society can perform for itself.
He discusses the "unmentionable elephant in the room". It's sex. Religious liberty is being attacked in the name of "sexual liberty". Our culture war today is fundamentally about abortion, and abortion is about sex. Today we hear astonishing, selfish reasons people give to justify not having children, or killing children through abortion. So let's fight our culture war, which is truly a holy war, with joy and confidence. And with the one weapon that will infallibly win the children.
Kreeft says that one thing we can all do to help save our culture is to gather wisdom as data to preserve and remember, like the monks in the Dark Ages. Data is important and necessary; they are the premises for our conclusions. He presents relevant, philosophical data that can guide us, divided into 7 epistemological, theological, metaphysical, anthropological, ethical, political, and historical. He then explores these categories with classic Kreeft insights, presenting 40 pithy points on how we can implement the data from these categories to help save civilization – and more importantly, save souls.
He emphasizes the single most necessary thing we can do to save our civilization is to have children. If you don't have children your civilization will cease to exist. Before you can be good or evil, you must exist. Having children is heroic because it demands sacrificial love and commitment. Cherishing children is the single most generous and unselfish act that a society can perform for itself.
He discusses the "unmentionable elephant in the room". It's sex. Religious liberty is being attacked in the name of "sexual liberty". Our culture war today is fundamentally about abortion, and abortion is about sex. Today we hear astonishing, selfish reasons people give to justify not having children, or killing children through abortion. So let's fight our culture war, which is truly a holy war, with joy and confidence. And with the one weapon that will infallibly win the children.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
71 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
197 books1,070 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 4, 2022
“Putting God second is like putting the top button of your coat into the second buttonhole. It throws off all the others. When the second button is put into the first hole, nothing comes out right. When subjective reality does not conform to objective reality, nothing comes out right. Sanctity is sanity.”
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3.5/5 - interesting read, Kreeft makes alot of good points, rating would have been higher if there wasnt a blatant discontent towards islam and muslims from the author & some bits just felt like a load of waffle (mostly because it was lotr references)
His views towards us confused me - at times it seemed like he admires muslims for their commitment towards their religion so we are mentioned throughout the book because “Christians should learn something about their own religion from Muslims” but other times it comes off as if he sees us a threat (??) like we’re going to take over and brainwash Europe & we’re rivals of some sort. Pretty sure he thought he was being nice because he dedicated a few pages at the end to “justify” his *positive* take on Islam (🙄)
Obviously this book wasnt written for a muslim audience rather its directed to Christians - a reminder for them to “wake up” & to take their religion seriously. Interesting read nonetheless - not so sure if id recommend it though (i mean I’d probably suggest reading it if you’re borrowing my copy but to buy it? no)
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3.5/5 - interesting read, Kreeft makes alot of good points, rating would have been higher if there wasnt a blatant discontent towards islam and muslims from the author & some bits just felt like a load of waffle (mostly because it was lotr references)
His views towards us confused me - at times it seemed like he admires muslims for their commitment towards their religion so we are mentioned throughout the book because “Christians should learn something about their own religion from Muslims” but other times it comes off as if he sees us a threat (??) like we’re going to take over and brainwash Europe & we’re rivals of some sort. Pretty sure he thought he was being nice because he dedicated a few pages at the end to “justify” his *positive* take on Islam (🙄)
Obviously this book wasnt written for a muslim audience rather its directed to Christians - a reminder for them to “wake up” & to take their religion seriously. Interesting read nonetheless - not so sure if id recommend it though (i mean I’d probably suggest reading it if you’re borrowing my copy but to buy it? no)
September 4, 2021
A rare book that measures up to its title and subtitle. No matter how many books you read this year, this book will possibly change your life the most. It could change the course of history if only enough people would read it. Do yourself a favour and become one of those lucky people that have found the key to peace in adversity, read it soonest.
July 10, 2024
Kreeft provides eighteen essays on the current state of our Western culture from a (mostly) philosophical view. A lot is going on that undermines the basic principles of our society, often in the name of being "tolerant" or "open-minded." The ongoing sexual revolution highlights the shift away from reality-based thinking. Truth and meaning are not found outside of ourselves; we choose them for ourselves. Reality is not something to discover and explore, which would mean that we need to be beholden to it. We need to accept reality and learn from it according to classical and Christian thinking. According to modern thought, we need to dominate, control, and define reality.
Kreeft's discussion of the problems that arise is very insightful and interesting. He has a very entertaining style and is easy to read, thus making his ideas easy to understand and digest. He uses a lot of common sense, a tool often neglected in modern thinking. Providing solutions and ways to shift back into a better, more realistic way of thinking is refreshing. So many doom and gloom books are about how terrible things are without any sense of a way out. Kreeft does talk about our problems but provides plenty of answers too.
Recommended.
Kreeft's discussion of the problems that arise is very insightful and interesting. He has a very entertaining style and is easy to read, thus making his ideas easy to understand and digest. He uses a lot of common sense, a tool often neglected in modern thinking. Providing solutions and ways to shift back into a better, more realistic way of thinking is refreshing. So many doom and gloom books are about how terrible things are without any sense of a way out. Kreeft does talk about our problems but provides plenty of answers too.
Recommended.
March 3, 2023
This book ought to be titled, “Peter Kreeft Goes Off”
I agree with nearly everything Kreeft says (save a couple Roman Catholic asides), but this book mostly suffers from poor editing (in the form of repeated quotes, anecdotes, one liners) and just Pete hopping on his hobby horses and letting the libs have it. There’s some nuggets, but it’s a lot of work to sift for them.
I agree with nearly everything Kreeft says (save a couple Roman Catholic asides), but this book mostly suffers from poor editing (in the form of repeated quotes, anecdotes, one liners) and just Pete hopping on his hobby horses and letting the libs have it. There’s some nuggets, but it’s a lot of work to sift for them.
April 4, 2022
In spots, quite brilliant with the usual Kreeftian combination of wit, wisdom, and startling insights; in other spots, the book comes across as a phoned-in pastiche of rehashings without form or coherence to link them together. He actually quotes the same lengthy passage from C.S. Lewis twice in two different essays in this one slim volume (p. 20 and p. 103). Obviously, this is far more an editorial misstep than an authorial one. I was left with the distinct impression that Ignatius Press had somehow obtained the rights to previously published speeches and essays and decided to throw them all together with the trust (not unfounded) that "something by Peter Kreeft is better than nothing by Peter Kreeft."
Had the editors done their job, this could have been a nicer collection from the foremost Catholic philosopher of our day. Kreeft is a treasure - which is why this book got 3 stars despite my grousing. Footnotes, annotations, short introductions to each chapter, a publisher's page that noted whence the works had come - all would have helped make the read richer and less frustrating.
Flipping back through the pages, though, I see that I made lots of notes and underlinings while reading, and the underlined sentences and passages are deliciously Kreefty, indeed. Here are a few random ones:
Tolerance is the last virtue that is still left after you have lost all your principles. (p. 115)
[Jesus] told us the only two things we need to know: the identity of the only two person we will never, ever be able to avoid, for all eternity: God and ourselves. (p. 121)
[Even] if the pen is not mightier than the sword, it is more arrogant. (p. 97)
[Why Islam is winning in the west] When a Cross without Christ confronts a Christ without a Cross, the Cross will win. (p. 91)
If you must have Kreeft (and you know you must) and there is no other Kreeft to be had, well, some Kreeft is better than no Kreeft, and this collection with suffice. Dang it, the Ignatius Press editors outfoxed us for sure!
Had the editors done their job, this could have been a nicer collection from the foremost Catholic philosopher of our day. Kreeft is a treasure - which is why this book got 3 stars despite my grousing. Footnotes, annotations, short introductions to each chapter, a publisher's page that noted whence the works had come - all would have helped make the read richer and less frustrating.
Flipping back through the pages, though, I see that I made lots of notes and underlinings while reading, and the underlined sentences and passages are deliciously Kreefty, indeed. Here are a few random ones:
Tolerance is the last virtue that is still left after you have lost all your principles. (p. 115)
[Jesus] told us the only two things we need to know: the identity of the only two person we will never, ever be able to avoid, for all eternity: God and ourselves. (p. 121)
[Even] if the pen is not mightier than the sword, it is more arrogant. (p. 97)
[Why Islam is winning in the west] When a Cross without Christ confronts a Christ without a Cross, the Cross will win. (p. 91)
If you must have Kreeft (and you know you must) and there is no other Kreeft to be had, well, some Kreeft is better than no Kreeft, and this collection with suffice. Dang it, the Ignatius Press editors outfoxed us for sure!
January 5, 2022
It’s Peter Kreeft, so of course it was always going to be good, but you know it’s excellent when you find yourself wanting to quote and share something from practically every page. Highly recommended.
July 6, 2022
Summary: White Catholic man from Massachusetts yells at cloud (and abortion supporters) for 182 pages.
Tl/dr: "Catholicism is the answer, Republicans own lib Dems, Obama ruined everything, C.S. Lewis is God, abortion is the root of all evil, Mother Teresa rocks, Muslims and atheists don't know anything, did I mention abortion is super wrong? Oh, and the end is neigh."
I'm open to hearing others opinions, but this just wasn't for me.
Tl/dr: "Catholicism is the answer, Republicans own lib Dems, Obama ruined everything, C.S. Lewis is God, abortion is the root of all evil, Mother Teresa rocks, Muslims and atheists don't know anything, did I mention abortion is super wrong? Oh, and the end is neigh."
I'm open to hearing others opinions, but this just wasn't for me.
May 3, 2022
Generally a very profitable read. Weak in a few points, and I don't agree with his Catholicism, but he has a lot of terrific points to make, and superb insight into many cultural and moral issues. Well worth my time.
June 22, 2021
The result of an elder statesman given free range on a topic of his choosing, and the editor passing over it, mumbling to himself "It's Kreeft, it's fine."
September 2, 2021
Another great one!
Peter Kreeft never fails to deliver. And deliver he has, in spades, in this magnificent book. A must read and highly recommended.
Peter Kreeft never fails to deliver. And deliver he has, in spades, in this magnificent book. A must read and highly recommended.
March 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this book partly because it was written in ordinary language and with wit and humor (as well as a bit of humility) by a philosopher who knows his stuff. It's a collection of short essays on a large range of topics and uses literary and everyday examples to make his points. For me, it was like looking at an interesting but familiar landscape and then being invited by the author to walk through an opening that allowed me to see the incredible and beautiful underpinnings of all the structures on the surface (but I love philosophy anyway).
Everything in this volume is written from the point of view of a philosopher seeking the truth, using Aristotelian logic, and eagerly trying to understand why contemporary society is increasingly going off the rails. He eschews the labels of "liberal" and "conservative," seeking rather to see things more clearly without those maddening labels that make us instantly not listen to each other. One of his best arguments is that we have to LISTEN to those who have different views and solutions, not just dismiss them out of hand, and counter them (if we can) with reasoned arguments, not just feelings or suppositions.
In the end he shows clearly that the path our society has taken is the path of freedom as license rather than true liberty, the path of moral relativism in which we are all our own gods, and the path to individual and cultural destruction. Kreeft does all this with humor and a real love for human beings and the blessed destiny we are all called to embrace. It's definitely a worthwhile read, though sometimes uncomfortable as we recognize ourselves in his descriptions.
Everything in this volume is written from the point of view of a philosopher seeking the truth, using Aristotelian logic, and eagerly trying to understand why contemporary society is increasingly going off the rails. He eschews the labels of "liberal" and "conservative," seeking rather to see things more clearly without those maddening labels that make us instantly not listen to each other. One of his best arguments is that we have to LISTEN to those who have different views and solutions, not just dismiss them out of hand, and counter them (if we can) with reasoned arguments, not just feelings or suppositions.
In the end he shows clearly that the path our society has taken is the path of freedom as license rather than true liberty, the path of moral relativism in which we are all our own gods, and the path to individual and cultural destruction. Kreeft does all this with humor and a real love for human beings and the blessed destiny we are all called to embrace. It's definitely a worthwhile read, though sometimes uncomfortable as we recognize ourselves in his descriptions.
June 11, 2022
The title says it all!
This would be a good book to cut your teeth on with Peter Kreeft. He has a gift for conciseness, and succulent word play. He's to the point, very funny. That's what makes his ideas stick. A great book for homeschoolers, and fans of the Closing of the American mind, and the Coddling of the American
This would be a good book to cut your teeth on with Peter Kreeft. He has a gift for conciseness, and succulent word play. He's to the point, very funny. That's what makes his ideas stick. A great book for homeschoolers, and fans of the Closing of the American mind, and the Coddling of the American
August 18, 2022
This book is a collection of essays that are bound to make you think...at least they should. Some are more difficult than others, but they were all worthwhile reads. I'd like to read more of this author's writing.
June 14, 2021
Excellent book - I recommend that you buy extra copies for friends to read.
July 17, 2021
Excellent
September 30, 2021
Great book, real insights into what is happening today. Peter is very engaging as a writer.
March 14, 2022
A rambling book of no real merit - really did not provide an answer or an alternative to the woes of modernity.
May 7, 2022
Did this on audiobook and was probably a better read. The audiobook reader was tough, and sounded like a dorky professor while the substance of the book is more contemplative.
September 25, 2022
Not my favorite Kreeft but he, like Chesterton, always has so many great points on every page.
July 6, 2023
Many eye opening points that completely resonated with me.
December 19, 2023
Not my favorite, but this one would probably been better had I not listened to.it on Audible. Didn't warm up to the reader and it seemed too disjointed to listen to. I enjoyed it but......
January 20, 2024
I really enjoyed him! I think I may have to go down a Peter Kreeft rabbit trail this year!
He's a humble philosopher and yet snarky. Lol.
He's a humble philosopher and yet snarky. Lol.
January 5, 2025
Excellent and insightful.
Good chapter on agnosticism.
Good chapter on agnosticism.
July 23, 2022
An important and satirical/humorous work on how prevailing ideologies are destroying Western culture. So good that I read it twice.
December 28, 2024
I had a lot of fun reading this book. The first part is quite good, especially the Catholic elements. But then, suddenly, the author dedicates an entire chapter to criticising “leftist hypocrisy.”
It’s filled with countless paragraphs, such as:
All other cultures are right, except Western culture. Everyone believes ours is wrong for believing that all others are right. Therefore, all cultures are correct, except the Western one.
Or
There is no truth, and that’s the truth.
It’s amusing how shallow the right-wing intellectual debate has become, still not understanding the modern world or the left itself.
Throughout the book, he makes several nonsensical statements and refuses to elaborate:
For example,
Europeans don’t believe in a Culture War, and that’s why they’re losing it.
Which Europeans, sir? Since when? Even the left believes in a Culture War! Where did you get that nonsense?
Traditionalism is heresy. Just like progress.
When? Where? Who has ever pronounced or considered conservatism/traditionalism as heresy? Or have you, by invoking the premise that “traditionalism is equal to progressivism,” concluded this because the Church condemned LIBERALISM, not conservatism?
Alright, I can understand the frustration when looking at those who currently identify as right-wing, seeing someone thoroughly liberal and wanting to distance oneself from that term, especially as a Catholic; but to then leap to the baseless conclusion that conservatism is heresy is quite the logical stretch. Not to mention, very conveniently, the author quotes Chesterton, Lewis, and Tolkien — who, shockingly, identified as conservatives.
Overall, it’s a series of interesting essays, but lacking in substance, especially for someone making such unconventional claims as these.
It’s filled with countless paragraphs, such as:
All other cultures are right, except Western culture. Everyone believes ours is wrong for believing that all others are right. Therefore, all cultures are correct, except the Western one.
Or
There is no truth, and that’s the truth.
It’s amusing how shallow the right-wing intellectual debate has become, still not understanding the modern world or the left itself.
Throughout the book, he makes several nonsensical statements and refuses to elaborate:
For example,
Europeans don’t believe in a Culture War, and that’s why they’re losing it.
Which Europeans, sir? Since when? Even the left believes in a Culture War! Where did you get that nonsense?
Traditionalism is heresy. Just like progress.
When? Where? Who has ever pronounced or considered conservatism/traditionalism as heresy? Or have you, by invoking the premise that “traditionalism is equal to progressivism,” concluded this because the Church condemned LIBERALISM, not conservatism?
Alright, I can understand the frustration when looking at those who currently identify as right-wing, seeing someone thoroughly liberal and wanting to distance oneself from that term, especially as a Catholic; but to then leap to the baseless conclusion that conservatism is heresy is quite the logical stretch. Not to mention, very conveniently, the author quotes Chesterton, Lewis, and Tolkien — who, shockingly, identified as conservatives.
Overall, it’s a series of interesting essays, but lacking in substance, especially for someone making such unconventional claims as these.
May 12, 2025
i read this to understand the conservative catholic mindset and it was insightful
September 20, 2024
Realmente, não julgar pela capa é exemplo neste livro. Esperei uma coisa, muito longe do conteúdo e as grandes questões não são sequer abordadas. O foco no cristianismo como parte total (e não integrante) da evolução e atual momento da cultura. Mau de mais.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews