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Cleopatra's Nose: Essays on the Unexpected
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Discoverers demonstrates the truth behind the aphorism that if Cleopatra's nose had been shorter, the face of the world would have been changed. Boorstin goes on to uncover the elements of accident, improvisation and contradiction at the core of American institutions and beliefs.
210 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
Daniel J. Boorstin
198 books379 followersDaniel Joseph Boorstin was a historian, professor, attorney, and writer. He was appointed twelfth Librarian of the United States Congress from 1975 until 1987.
He graduated from Tulsa's Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 15. He graduated with highest honors from Harvard, studied at Balliol College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and earned his PhD at Yale University. He was a lawyer and a university professor at the University of Chicago for 25 years. He also served as director of the National Museum of History and Technology of the Smithsonian Institution.
His The Americans The Democratic Experience received the 1974 Pulitzer Prize in history.
Within the discipline of social theory, Boorstin’s 1961 book The Image A Guide to Pseudo-events in America is an early description of aspects of American life that were later termed hyperreality and postmodernity. In The Image, Boorstin describes shifts in American culture—mainly due to advertising—where the reproduction or simulation of an event becomes more important or "real" than the event itself. He goes on to coin the term pseudo-event which describes events or activities that serve little to no purpose other than to be reproduced through advertisements or other forms of publicity. The idea of pseudo-events closely mirrors work later done by Jean Baudrillard and Guy Debord. The work is still often used as a text in American sociology courses.
When President Gerald Ford nominated Boorstin to be Librarian of Congress, the nomination was supported by the Authors League of America but opposed by the American Library Association because Boorstin "was not a library administrator." The Senate confirmed the nomination without debate.
Boorstin died in 2004 in Washington, D.C.
He graduated from Tulsa's Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 15. He graduated with highest honors from Harvard, studied at Balliol College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and earned his PhD at Yale University. He was a lawyer and a university professor at the University of Chicago for 25 years. He also served as director of the National Museum of History and Technology of the Smithsonian Institution.
His The Americans The Democratic Experience received the 1974 Pulitzer Prize in history.
Within the discipline of social theory, Boorstin’s 1961 book The Image A Guide to Pseudo-events in America is an early description of aspects of American life that were later termed hyperreality and postmodernity. In The Image, Boorstin describes shifts in American culture—mainly due to advertising—where the reproduction or simulation of an event becomes more important or "real" than the event itself. He goes on to coin the term pseudo-event which describes events or activities that serve little to no purpose other than to be reproduced through advertisements or other forms of publicity. The idea of pseudo-events closely mirrors work later done by Jean Baudrillard and Guy Debord. The work is still often used as a text in American sociology courses.
When President Gerald Ford nominated Boorstin to be Librarian of Congress, the nomination was supported by the Authors League of America but opposed by the American Library Association because Boorstin "was not a library administrator." The Senate confirmed the nomination without debate.
Boorstin died in 2004 in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 26, 2019
Historian and former Librarian of Congress, Daniel Boorstin, has crafted a logical flow of essays that start with a worldwide focus then transitions to a detailed examination of the United States' foundation and growth. The book ends with a penultimate chapter detailing his father's life story as an immigrant to the United States, then, adds a bit of personal biography before summarizing aspects of our history that "lead to the idea of American Exceptionalism." This is a concept he examines respectfully, noting the success the United States has had with "four basic elements of culture--religion, language, law, and wealth."
As the best essayists do, I believe, he examines his themes in their varying associations in the broader culture, and by providing cogent examples. The writing here draws interesting contrasts. For instance, he notes the differences between explorers and inventors in their quest for new knowledge. He also includes two chapters that examine the growth of the United States and Russia as both moved to occupy a continent. His sources are Tocqueville's classic "Democracy in America" and the Marquise de Custine's "Empire of the Czar." Written by outside visitors within a few years of one another, both books are held to be important texts explaining why the two nations are the very different ways they are today.
A favorite chapter in this collection is " An Un-American Capital," an offbeat, but telling portrait of Washington, D.C. He writes, "Thought notorious for its violent crime, drugs, gangs, and teenage pregnancies, the city has a uniquely American charm." He notes the continual flow of elected and appointed people to the town, people who, when their job ends, "desperately seek jobs that will keep them living here--as lobbyists, lawyers, public relations consultants, journalists, TV commentators, or anything else." Of the local workforce and population, living there gives them, "a casual attitude towards the nation's passions and protests. They've always come, and they'll keep coming, and then they'll go away."
His discussion of national social issues, written a generation ago, provides an interesting slate of concerns and attitudes against which we can measure the more inflamed condition of the nation today. The magnitude of this change extends beyond politics. A recurring theme through the book is the influence of science and technology. He makes an interesting comparison of the three kingdoms of Darwinian thought--animal, vegetable and mineral-- to which he appends a fourth, the kingdom of the machine. The discussion links to unintended social consequences stemming from new science and technology. Boorstin postulates that the natural limits to growth and survival of natural systems does not apply to machines, these creations of man. Part of his discussion from the mid-1990s talks about the proliferation of new machines. Each seems to generate creation of a newer version or a competing attraction. One wonders how he would view his prescience today as we are inundated by the new universe of electronic things that communicate with one another, sometime sharing what they have learned about us.
Who should read this book? Although grounded in history, these essays range broadly across both time and topic. Any who enjoy a thoughtful introduction to a subject, compellingly presented, may find "Cleopatra's Nose" interesting fare. (The introduction explains the link between title and topic.)
As the best essayists do, I believe, he examines his themes in their varying associations in the broader culture, and by providing cogent examples. The writing here draws interesting contrasts. For instance, he notes the differences between explorers and inventors in their quest for new knowledge. He also includes two chapters that examine the growth of the United States and Russia as both moved to occupy a continent. His sources are Tocqueville's classic "Democracy in America" and the Marquise de Custine's "Empire of the Czar." Written by outside visitors within a few years of one another, both books are held to be important texts explaining why the two nations are the very different ways they are today.
A favorite chapter in this collection is " An Un-American Capital," an offbeat, but telling portrait of Washington, D.C. He writes, "Thought notorious for its violent crime, drugs, gangs, and teenage pregnancies, the city has a uniquely American charm." He notes the continual flow of elected and appointed people to the town, people who, when their job ends, "desperately seek jobs that will keep them living here--as lobbyists, lawyers, public relations consultants, journalists, TV commentators, or anything else." Of the local workforce and population, living there gives them, "a casual attitude towards the nation's passions and protests. They've always come, and they'll keep coming, and then they'll go away."
His discussion of national social issues, written a generation ago, provides an interesting slate of concerns and attitudes against which we can measure the more inflamed condition of the nation today. The magnitude of this change extends beyond politics. A recurring theme through the book is the influence of science and technology. He makes an interesting comparison of the three kingdoms of Darwinian thought--animal, vegetable and mineral-- to which he appends a fourth, the kingdom of the machine. The discussion links to unintended social consequences stemming from new science and technology. Boorstin postulates that the natural limits to growth and survival of natural systems does not apply to machines, these creations of man. Part of his discussion from the mid-1990s talks about the proliferation of new machines. Each seems to generate creation of a newer version or a competing attraction. One wonders how he would view his prescience today as we are inundated by the new universe of electronic things that communicate with one another, sometime sharing what they have learned about us.
Who should read this book? Although grounded in history, these essays range broadly across both time and topic. Any who enjoy a thoughtful introduction to a subject, compellingly presented, may find "Cleopatra's Nose" interesting fare. (The introduction explains the link between title and topic.)
August 1, 2009
I loved Boorstin's Discoverers, but was thoroughly underwhelmed by this book. Whereas Discoverers was full of interesting information, this book was...not...
February 27, 2025
Much of this book is dense and not all of it is compelling (which may be a result of its age). I did better skimming the parts that didn't hold my interest, which allowed me to digest better the parts that did - namely, Parts I and V.
This book is a great find for someone fixated on US history and early culture, philosophy, bioscience, or technological development (up until '94, anyway). The idea of the "Fourth Kingdom" as the advent of technology/machines is riveting, and the author treats it with a fascinating mix of observation, insight, and foresight. It's worth noting that that entire chapter can be diluted into one idea: machines beget machines, for better or for worse.
Cleopatra's Nose - more like a collection of essays given an overarching theme and organization than a book - is now 30 years old. As such, it's dated and slightly out of touch for a modern American reader. But, the historian in Boorstin reaches far enough back in time while writing that his concepts are still accessible. Just make sure you find a way to keep trudging forward when the heavy-as-mud discussions get your boots stuck. (Better yet, just skip Parts IV and VI altogether and save yourself a "take it or leave it" 50ish pages.)
This book is a great find for someone fixated on US history and early culture, philosophy, bioscience, or technological development (up until '94, anyway). The idea of the "Fourth Kingdom" as the advent of technology/machines is riveting, and the author treats it with a fascinating mix of observation, insight, and foresight. It's worth noting that that entire chapter can be diluted into one idea: machines beget machines, for better or for worse.
Cleopatra's Nose - more like a collection of essays given an overarching theme and organization than a book - is now 30 years old. As such, it's dated and slightly out of touch for a modern American reader. But, the historian in Boorstin reaches far enough back in time while writing that his concepts are still accessible. Just make sure you find a way to keep trudging forward when the heavy-as-mud discussions get your boots stuck. (Better yet, just skip Parts IV and VI altogether and save yourself a "take it or leave it" 50ish pages.)
May 13, 2019
I might have enjoyed it more, had it a better title, or a more accurate description of what it was about.
It’s a collection of essays on what is unique and unexpected about the United States of America. There is no inkling in the presentation of the book that this is what it is about.
I loved “The Discoverers”, “The Creators”, and “The Seekers”. This is not them, which is fine, But the title, the artwork, and the lack of any description lead you to believe that this might be on the same expansive themes.
It is an interesting little book, but it is not what I was looking for. I do not fault Dr. Boorstin, But I think that the ambiguity of how it was presented was by design of the publishers, specifically to capitalize on the reading public’s enthusiasm over the works mentioned earlier.
It’s a collection of essays on what is unique and unexpected about the United States of America. There is no inkling in the presentation of the book that this is what it is about.
I loved “The Discoverers”, “The Creators”, and “The Seekers”. This is not them, which is fine, But the title, the artwork, and the lack of any description lead you to believe that this might be on the same expansive themes.
It is an interesting little book, but it is not what I was looking for. I do not fault Dr. Boorstin, But I think that the ambiguity of how it was presented was by design of the publishers, specifically to capitalize on the reading public’s enthusiasm over the works mentioned earlier.
July 18, 2021
The last (I think) collection of essays from Boorstin, and sadly, they're pretty uneven. I'm kind of hacked off because Cleopatra, much less her nose, is not mentioned at all in the book. I don't know who chose the title, but it's not a good one. There's a lot of stuff about how SCIENCE has to be balanced by ART, which is where all the warm human stuff lies -- so it's a 70's style reaction to the rise of technology. Fair enough, but not great reading now.
May 1, 2020
Overall quite a strong collection of essays, even if some are more interesting than others. In addition, there is much in them to ponder in relation to the way our country has evolved since this book's publication.
January 23, 2019
Didn't keep me engrossed the way The Discoverer's did.
Read
April 3, 2021DNF. Boring, pretentious, tangential.
June 13, 2021
The interpretation of various historical facts sometimes felt forced to fit a given thesis
October 3, 2021
The book is well written and thoughtfully researched. I just didnt happen to enjoy reading it too much. A little too cerebral.
June 16, 2024
A dry read, but thought provoking in its conclusions. Slightly dated already, unfortunately.
December 14, 2024
One of my college professors gave me this book as a gift, perhaps thinking that my writing style was like the author’s. That might be correct, and I know that my cultural, although certainly not my academic background, is similar to the author’s. But politics? I don’t know. The author’s conservatism runs through some of the essays. It doesn’t distract from the scholarship, but it still taints this work and made me not like it as much as I should. I expected something better from a former Librarian of Congress.
I did like a lot of the essays. The title, nor the subtitle, doesn’t quite describe this essay collection very well. It works on a metaphorical level, but I wasn’t expecting what was actually in the book. Some of the events Boorstin describes are quite unexpected, but they aren’t the focus here. Here is more of the tide of history, the underlying things that shape it, and the unexpected only goes along with it. There’s no trivia here, just some very good essays and some essays of average quality.
Some of them are relevant today, like the ones about Russia and America. Some I don’t think are relevant today, even if my classical liberal professor may think they are. And this book also critiques the undefined theory of “postmodernism”. Critiquing “postmodernism” without defining it seems to have been the favorite pastime of conservative academics since the 1950s. I could do without it.
There was good pathos in the essay about the author’s background and how he makes it relevant to history. Daniel Boorstin had an immigrant father who became successful through hard work. This relatable essay capped off a perfectly fine work. It was good, but not exceptional, and with a good yet flawed understanding of history.
I did like a lot of the essays. The title, nor the subtitle, doesn’t quite describe this essay collection very well. It works on a metaphorical level, but I wasn’t expecting what was actually in the book. Some of the events Boorstin describes are quite unexpected, but they aren’t the focus here. Here is more of the tide of history, the underlying things that shape it, and the unexpected only goes along with it. There’s no trivia here, just some very good essays and some essays of average quality.
Some of them are relevant today, like the ones about Russia and America. Some I don’t think are relevant today, even if my classical liberal professor may think they are. And this book also critiques the undefined theory of “postmodernism”. Critiquing “postmodernism” without defining it seems to have been the favorite pastime of conservative academics since the 1950s. I could do without it.
There was good pathos in the essay about the author’s background and how he makes it relevant to history. Daniel Boorstin had an immigrant father who became successful through hard work. This relatable essay capped off a perfectly fine work. It was good, but not exceptional, and with a good yet flawed understanding of history.
August 27, 2016
My disappointment with this book is not entirely its fault. Had I read the "about the author" instead of the jacket copy I would have realized it would be almost 100% American Government history.
The title comes from an adage about the size of Cleopatra's nose affecting history - and the book promises to explore "unexpected" historical moments. I don't feel it met this challenge. There were a few quick tidbits I found enjoyable, an essay on the selection of the design of our nation's capital, two book reviews, and one rant against linguistic sensitivity. Oh, and a biographical essay near the end about the author's father that I found entertaining.
I will say that he did a great job of knitting these separate essays together in an order that made them seem like a through-written book. I just feel there wasn't enough UNEXPECTED in it. Or, well, anything to do with Cleopatra or non-American history, save the one book review which was of a Russian travelogue.
The author did make a valid case against prognostication by repeatedly - in the early 90s when he was writing - ranting about how unfairly open our government is.
The title comes from an adage about the size of Cleopatra's nose affecting history - and the book promises to explore "unexpected" historical moments. I don't feel it met this challenge. There were a few quick tidbits I found enjoyable, an essay on the selection of the design of our nation's capital, two book reviews, and one rant against linguistic sensitivity. Oh, and a biographical essay near the end about the author's father that I found entertaining.
I will say that he did a great job of knitting these separate essays together in an order that made them seem like a through-written book. I just feel there wasn't enough UNEXPECTED in it. Or, well, anything to do with Cleopatra or non-American history, save the one book review which was of a Russian travelogue.
The author did make a valid case against prognostication by repeatedly - in the early 90s when he was writing - ranting about how unfairly open our government is.
September 2, 2011
Wasn't what I was expecting from the blurb (hm, maybe I should have expected that...), this is a grouping of various talks and essays. More ranting than history - there's a sustained attack on politically correct language at one point, for example. I disagreed with some of Boorstin's main points - about science being collaborative and art being solitary, and discoverers being celebrated while inventors are not. The chapter I did enjoy was his memorial of his father, a lawyer in Tulsa in its early years. Otherwise, I found Boorstin's apparent belief that life the USA is the height of human progress rather short-sighted and unquestioning. For someone who had lived overseas, his view of life seemed remarkably parochial.
September 7, 2007
I love Daniel J. Boorstein's infinite knowledge and how he uses it. If I remember correctly, he was a congressional librarian and a super smarty-pants...that's what I love about his books. He really shakes things up for a librarian! He exposes the minutiae that becomes an important revelation to the cause and effects of history.
He's like that National Geographic photographer to camps out for months charting the fragile life of some endangered Polar Bear baby...but then- that arctic fox creeps in for the kill....according to the rules, he can't do anything! Except...ƒ%@&*&k it all, he drops his camera and saves the baby.
DJB was a rebel.
He's like that National Geographic photographer to camps out for months charting the fragile life of some endangered Polar Bear baby...but then- that arctic fox creeps in for the kill....according to the rules, he can't do anything! Except...ƒ%@&*&k it all, he drops his camera and saves the baby.
DJB was a rebel.
April 30, 2008
Gosh, what a mix. A chapter wasted whining about political correctness. Two more wasted on how symbolic the White House and Capitol are, full of ironies about how open and inviting they are, just like our Government. But then he has insightful nuggets everywhere about scale, unintended consequences and more. For example, among Hottentots, "infinity begins at three. 'Ask a Hottentot how many cows he owns, and if he has more than three, he'll say, 'Many'.'" (p. 154)
The same researchers coined the term "googol" and "googolplex" (this book was published in 1994, before the big Google). And many more nuggets.
The same researchers coined the term "googol" and "googolplex" (this book was published in 1994, before the big Google). And many more nuggets.
October 9, 2010
This book seemed to have everything going for it: distinguished author, intriguing concept, attractive cover, snappy title. It turned out to be a complete bore. Rambling hare-brained essays on the way history doesn't work the way we expect it to. Ostensibly, Boorstin's interest here is the "unexpected" in history, but he includes thing like the printing press and the White House; even the layperson might see how very important those things actually are. Boorstin just holds forth and says nothing. Easily dismissed and just as well skipped.
October 23, 2015
The intellectual equivalent of using a howitzer to remove the anthill. Each essay contains one tiny gem of an original idea, contained in a single sentence. The rest of the chapter is a mishmash of historical anecdata, etymologies, and personal observations that ultimately suggest it wasn't that much of a gem after all. Very disappointing. The essay on the author's father is worth reading, and perhaps there is an idea in here worth remembering; time may tell. Book feels like a vanity project from an author who is better than that.
October 1, 2011
I listened to the audio book version over the space of a week and found it notably tedious.
Boorstin does have a great capacity to draw together fragments of knowledge into a cohesive argument but his topics are of limited interest and there is a lack of any drive to the book. At the end I had no idea what he was trying to acheive, only that he had bored this listener and left nothing memorable to mull over.
A book perhaps worhty of respect but not of interest.
Boorstin does have a great capacity to draw together fragments of knowledge into a cohesive argument but his topics are of limited interest and there is a lack of any drive to the book. At the end I had no idea what he was trying to acheive, only that he had bored this listener and left nothing memorable to mull over.
A book perhaps worhty of respect but not of interest.
August 6, 2014
A collection of essays on various topics whose general theme is the unexpected. For some reason this book reminds me of the old Connections program on PBS, where the host makes all sorts of surprising links between disparate topics. Boorstin does a similar thing here, bringing his encyclopedic knowledge to bear concerning history, science, technology, philosophy and culture. There were a couple of dry bits, but overall an enjoyable collection.
August 27, 2014
This collection of essays is uneven, some good others dull. The best focus on historical topics or descriptions of cities while the worst try and address current issues in cliched ways that add nothing new to what they are arguing.
August 7, 2007
I would have thought that someone as eminent would write more interestingly. These essays lacked anything approaching élan. "Totally pedestrian" is how I would describe them.
April 23, 2013
look it's nice but I doubt the auther's opinion.
April 19, 2014
Boorstin has a provative way of portraying American history. Not his best but good nevertheless. I personally like his Discovers, Creators, Seekers series much better than his American history works.
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