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Lost Causes: The Romantic Attraction of Defeated Yet Unvanquished Men & Movements
Lost The Romantic Attraction of Defeated yet Unvanquished Men and Movements , by George and Karen Grant, is a thoughtful look at several causes that captured the hearts of people, survived defeat, and ultimately out-lived their foes.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
34 people want to read
About the author
George Grant
130 books210 followersDr. George Grant is an evangelical educator recognized by a Tennessee newspaper “Review Appeal” as the one who “lives and breathes” education.
Grant is known as a reformed scholar and evangelical activist who hopes to promote sound Christian doctrine, seeking honest answers to honest questions, developing true spirituality and experiencing the beauty of human relationships.
He founded Franklin Classical School, located in Franklin, Tennessee and the King’s Meadow Study Center, which seeks to help the modern church to develop a practical cultural expression of a Christian worldview in art, music, literature, politics, social research, community development and education.
Grant has also produced numerous writings of more than 60 works on the topics relating to theology, school curriculum, arts, fiction and politics.
Grant is known as a reformed scholar and evangelical activist who hopes to promote sound Christian doctrine, seeking honest answers to honest questions, developing true spirituality and experiencing the beauty of human relationships.
He founded Franklin Classical School, located in Franklin, Tennessee and the King’s Meadow Study Center, which seeks to help the modern church to develop a practical cultural expression of a Christian worldview in art, music, literature, politics, social research, community development and education.
Grant has also produced numerous writings of more than 60 works on the topics relating to theology, school curriculum, arts, fiction and politics.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 17, 2015
A wonderful little book. Each chapter has to do with a specific virtue/quality which might be described in the modern age as a "lost cause". First, a wonderful grab-bag of quotations are presented to illuminate each virtue; then follows a brief biography of some historical personage who exemplified that virtue.
I thoroughly enjoyed dipping into the quotes, and getting to know both old and new heroes from history. Those who were new to me include Dympna of Gheel and Vincent de Paul, the latter of whom I only know from the op shops. Old friends include Sir Walter Scott and John Buchan, the latter of whom stood for manliness. Kudos to Grant for drawing out this not-often-mentioned aspect of Buchan, who has always been (to my mind) the great exemplor of that quality.
I thoroughly enjoyed dipping into the quotes, and getting to know both old and new heroes from history. Those who were new to me include Dympna of Gheel and Vincent de Paul, the latter of whom I only know from the op shops. Old friends include Sir Walter Scott and John Buchan, the latter of whom stood for manliness. Kudos to Grant for drawing out this not-often-mentioned aspect of Buchan, who has always been (to my mind) the great exemplor of that quality.
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October 23, 2017Lost Causes is a lost cause. In addition to providing a cheap shot at itself, it isn't about lost causes. In almost all cases, the illustrations used as examples were actually causes won very successfully.
It's possible that the authors chose to classify their topics as lost causes because they were unable to find a good phrase to classify the 12 topics they chose to include. How do you group such diverse topics as Tradition, Wisdom, Chivalry, Manliness, Mercy, etc.?
Each of these topics has a chapter dedicated to it. Leading off are a number of quotes that often didn't have much connection to the lead topic. After this, a section of prose followed. These were supposed to be primarily about people who exemplified the lead topic (again, only a loose connection in many cases), but the accounts often included the Grants' revision of a historical time period as well. This too seldom illustrated their lead topic well.
Additionally, the scholarship was carefully shaped by the authors' Christian views. They lauded Christian accomplishments while denigrating complete cultures and their achievements; they wrote off the entire nation of India as heathen and corrupt without bothering to mention any achievements.
I am not saying that there weren't abhorrent practices that Christians laudably ended. There certainly were. However, that was not all that was going on there at the time.
Nor is there any critique of the Church here except in a general way. You won't be hearing about acrid divisions in the Church, superstitious nonsense, saving the heathen and then using them as virtual slaves while eradicating all of their cultural practices, and so on.
I found this book to be romantic, distorted and false. What else would you expect from a book that uses a quote from Robert E. Lee, the American South's general that ordered men to kill one another in defense of a way of life dependent on human slavery, as an example of honor?
It's possible that the authors chose to classify their topics as lost causes because they were unable to find a good phrase to classify the 12 topics they chose to include. How do you group such diverse topics as Tradition, Wisdom, Chivalry, Manliness, Mercy, etc.?
Each of these topics has a chapter dedicated to it. Leading off are a number of quotes that often didn't have much connection to the lead topic. After this, a section of prose followed. These were supposed to be primarily about people who exemplified the lead topic (again, only a loose connection in many cases), but the accounts often included the Grants' revision of a historical time period as well. This too seldom illustrated their lead topic well.
Additionally, the scholarship was carefully shaped by the authors' Christian views. They lauded Christian accomplishments while denigrating complete cultures and their achievements; they wrote off the entire nation of India as heathen and corrupt without bothering to mention any achievements.
I am not saying that there weren't abhorrent practices that Christians laudably ended. There certainly were. However, that was not all that was going on there at the time.
Nor is there any critique of the Church here except in a general way. You won't be hearing about acrid divisions in the Church, superstitious nonsense, saving the heathen and then using them as virtual slaves while eradicating all of their cultural practices, and so on.
I found this book to be romantic, distorted and false. What else would you expect from a book that uses a quote from Robert E. Lee, the American South's general that ordered men to kill one another in defense of a way of life dependent on human slavery, as an example of honor?
January 30, 2013
Encouraging quotes, inspiring biographical vignettes, a defense of, and a lament for the Lost Causes known as Tradition, Work, Mercy, Honor, Chivalry, Courage, Faith, Wisdom, Truthfulness, Manhood, Vision,and Domesticity. The Grants give us a poignant glimpse of the values of a culture deeply influenced by the gospel. It is what we call Christendom. Inspiring quotes and biographical sketches are encouraging and profitable for the soul. Reading this is tantamount to drinking a very sweet and rich Ale.
Favorite quotes:
"Throughout history men have reacted instead of acted in times of crises. They have sought to ameliorate an ill on the right hand by turning immediately and entirely to the left. They have tried to solve a problem in the citadels of the present by desecrating the foundations of the past. Driven by extremism, they have failed to see the moderating application of adjustments and alternatives"
George and Karen Grant
Favorite quotes:
"Throughout history men have reacted instead of acted in times of crises. They have sought to ameliorate an ill on the right hand by turning immediately and entirely to the left. They have tried to solve a problem in the citadels of the present by desecrating the foundations of the past. Driven by extremism, they have failed to see the moderating application of adjustments and alternatives"
George and Karen Grant
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews