The Closing of the American Mind
Liberal education and the function of the university in a democracy
Prior to the publication of The Closing of the American Mind, Allan Bloom was known in the academic world of philosophy for his publication of a unique translation and interpretation of Plato’s Republic. The Closing of the American Mind was an unexpected and immediate best seller, with strongly favorable initial reviews, including a review by Christopher Lehmann-Haupt in The New York Times, an op-ed piece by syndicated conservative commentator George Will, and positive reviews in Time, Newsweek, the Chronical of Higher Education, and The Washington Post. The hardback edition sold nearly a half million copies, and the book remained on The New York Times Bestseller List for nonfiction for four months. However, a second round of reviews was generally more critical, including a characterization by David Rieff that the book is “vengeful, reactionary, and antidemocratic.”
