Notes on Democracy
Published on 1. January 2022
255 pages
978-1-5040-6794-2 (ISBN)
Description
The renowned satirist and author of The American Language presents a scathing critique of democracy, demagogues, and politicians of all kinds.
H.L. Mencken was one of the greatest contrarian minds of the twentieth century. As a columnist for the Baltimore Sun, he was an outspoken skeptic of America's most cherished institutions-namely, organized religion and representative democracy.
In Notes on Democracy, Mencken presents an incisive critique of how democratic ideals are doomed to fall short in practice. From disproportional representation to rampant political corruption, Mencken's assessments-first published in 1926-are surprisingly applicable today.More details
Person
H.L.Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians, and contemporary movements. Mencken is best known for
The American Language, a multivolume study of how the English language is spoken in the United States.
Content
- Cover
- Title
- Contents
- I DEMOCRATIC MAN
- 1 HIS APPEARANCE IN THE WORLD
- 2 VARIETIES OF HOMO SAPIENS
- 3 THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY
- 4 POLITICS UNDER DEMOCRACY
- 5 THE RÔLE OF THE HORMONES
- 6 ENVY AS A PHILOSOPHY
- 7 LIBERTY AND DEMOCRATIC MAN
- 8 THE EFFECTS UPON PROGRESS
- 9 THE ETERNAL MOB
- II THE DEMOCRATIC STATE
- 1 THE TWO KINDS OF DEMOCRACY
- 2 THE POPULAR WILL
- 3 DISPROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
- 4 THE POLITICIAN UNDER DEMOCRACY
- 5 UTOPIA
- 6 THE OCCASIONAL EXCEPTION
- 7 THE MAKER OF LAWS
- 8 THE REWARDS OF VIRTUE
- 9 FOOTNOTE ON LAME DUCKS
- III DEMOCRACY AND LIBERTY
- 1 THE WILL TO PEACE
- 2 THE DEMOCRAT AS MORALIST
- 3 WHERE PURITANISM FAILS
- 4 CORRUPTION UNDER DEMOCRACY
- IV CODA
- 1 THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY
- 2 LAST WORDS
- Copyright
