The late Henry (he recently died of a heart attack) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning culture critic for Time and a self-described white, Yale-educated, suburban, registered Democrat. One guesses he spent his youth being a liberal but, judging from this book, became another neoconservative in middle age because of the excesses of affirmative action, feminism, multiculturalism, etc. What the United States needs now, argues Henry, is elitism, which he never defines but which seems to mean a social system that rewards only competence, not skin color, gender, disability, etc. Henry never seems to appreciate fully how much talent was going unrewarded before affirmative action, feminism, etc., or that any human activity, no matter how worthy, is liable to silly or dangerous excesses. Unfortunately, this book may attract the attention of reactionaries like Henry, so academic and public libraries should consider it for purchase. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/94.]-Jeffrey R. Herold, Bucyrus P.L., Ohio (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly Review
Pulitzer Prize-winning cultural critic Henry debunks ideas of inherent equality, arguing that not all achievements are the same. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
In defense of elitism
APA
Henry W. A., . (1994). In defense of elitism. New York: Doubleday.
Chicago
Henry William A, . 1994. In defense of elitism. New York: Doubleday.
Harvard
Henry W. A., . (1994). In defense of elitism. New York: Doubleday.
MLA
Henry William A, . In defense of elitism. New York: Doubleday. 1994.
