CURTIS MCMANUS
Clio's Bastards or, the wrecking of history and the perversion of our historical consciousness
Victoria BC: Friesen Press, 2016 vii+242 pp.
Victoria BC: Friesen Press, 2016 vii+242 pp.
Synopsis: In his provocative and path-breaking second book Clio's Bastards, Curtis R. McManus confronts the philosophies that animate those academic historians who have turned the discipline of history into an ideological weapon in the battle for "social justice." McManus argues that these sociological ideas are recrudescent expressions of the twin philosophies of destructive Sophistry and nihilistic Cynicism, both of which helped to ruin and foul ancient Athens, the intellectual and spiritual home of the West. As an alternative to mechanistic sociological thought, McManus outlines a way of seeing and understanding the past that returns us to our culture's rich tradition of humanism rooted in classical philosophy.
Published in the early summer of 2016, Clio's Bastards achieved "#1 Best Seller" status in Canada. It was reviewed in one of Canada's largest newspapers, the National Post, and Clio's Bastards was also featured on The John Gormley Show. Clio's Bastards was widely praised for the excellence of its research and the liveliness of its prose.
Reviews
"I have always wondered why, in all the massive media coverage focused on JP [Jordan Peterson] I have not come across references to you or your fine book. For me, I regard Clio's Bastards as the spark that lit the fire."
— Mr. R.H. Baker, LL.B. (ret.)
"The book itself is fascinating. [McManus] said many things that needed to be said."
— Professor Christopher Dummit, School for the Study of Canada, Trent University
"The book was a tour de force...[McManus] was 'over the target' as the old US Air Force adage puts it."
— Canadian writer, poet, and essayist David Solway, PhD, former Writer-in-Residence at Concordia University
"An interesting read...there's a genuine difference of opinion presented that is often lacking in academic spaces. It offers some dangerous ideas that are more critical than 'critical theory.'"
— Mr. Bill Perehudoff, The Sheaf
"I enjoyed it...including the difficult blending of outrage with diligence [and] I was fascinated by many of the quotations."
— Mr. John Robson, PhD, Canadian journalist and documentary filmmaker
"I love [his] writing style and thesis. [McManus] writes like the wind, with clarity and passion."
— Mr. John MacIntyre, MacIntyre-Purcell Publishing
"Clio’s Bastards is a lively and informative book. I recommend it."
— Ms. Barbara Kay, National Post
"Fun!"
— Robert Gordon Currie, former University of Calgary senator, on twitter tweeting about Clio's Bastards
Availability
Canada
hardcover & paperback
both formats are available on the Friesen Press website
America
hardcover & paperback
both formats are available at amazon.com
International
e-book/kindle
electronic versions of Clio's Bastards can also be found on the Friesen Press website
as well as amazon, Apple iTunes and Google Books
Reviews
"I have always wondered why, in all the massive media coverage focused on JP [Jordan Peterson] I have not come across references to you or your fine book. For me, I regard Clio's Bastards as the spark that lit the fire."
— Mr. R.H. Baker, LL.B. (ret.)
"The book itself is fascinating. [McManus] said many things that needed to be said."
— Professor Christopher Dummit, School for the Study of Canada, Trent University
"The book was a tour de force...[McManus] was 'over the target' as the old US Air Force adage puts it."
— Canadian writer, poet, and essayist David Solway, PhD, former Writer-in-Residence at Concordia University
"An interesting read...there's a genuine difference of opinion presented that is often lacking in academic spaces. It offers some dangerous ideas that are more critical than 'critical theory.'"
— Mr. Bill Perehudoff, The Sheaf
"I enjoyed it...including the difficult blending of outrage with diligence [and] I was fascinated by many of the quotations."
— Mr. John Robson, PhD, Canadian journalist and documentary filmmaker
"I love [his] writing style and thesis. [McManus] writes like the wind, with clarity and passion."
— Mr. John MacIntyre, MacIntyre-Purcell Publishing
"Clio’s Bastards is a lively and informative book. I recommend it."
— Ms. Barbara Kay, National Post
"Fun!"
— Robert Gordon Currie, former University of Calgary senator, on twitter tweeting about Clio's Bastards
Availability
Canada
hardcover & paperback
both formats are available on the Friesen Press website
America
hardcover & paperback
both formats are available at amazon.com
International
e-book/kindle
electronic versions of Clio's Bastards can also be found on the Friesen Press website
as well as amazon, Apple iTunes and Google Books
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