Book Review –
I read many books in 2020, and perhaps the finest books I read is The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl R. Trueman. If you want to know how the modern west has come to a place where identity is preeminent, this book is for you. Trueman points out that the quest to understand “the self” did not develop out of nowhere. But over time, individuals like Rousseau, Shelly, Nietzsche, Marx, Darwin, and especially Freud (to name a few) contribute to the current cultural climate. The cultural climate is obsessed with identity, particularly it’s a culture obsessed with sexual identity. Trueman frames the issue like this:
The question of identity in the modern world is a question of dignity. For this reason, the various court cases in America concerning the provision of cakes and flowers for gay weddings are not ultimately about the flowers or the cakes. They are about the recognition of gay identity and, according to members of the LGBTQ+ community, the recognition that they need in order to feel that they are equal members of society (p. 69).
Here is a question Trueman helps to resolve. How did we come to a point in our culture where a person’s sexual identity is not only tolerated but must be accepted by all? If a man says he is a woman, then all must agree he is a she. Tolerance is no longer the goal but only complete surrender to the subjectivity of what a person thinks about themself. If a person says their gender is “fluid,” then that person’s subjective view of the self is not only to be respected but must be accepted. How did we get to this point?
From one mind to the next, Trueman traces the philosophical, social, and political bricks that have been laid down. These bricks eventually turned into a solid foundation that could see the outcome of Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. At present, the sexual revolution continues.
Rating – 9 out of 10 Bookmarks
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self is intelligently written but accessible to those who are not philosophers or theologians. If you know a twinge of history from the Enlightenment onwards, you will be able to track figures you know and ones you have not yet met. If 400 pages is a daunting task, find the audiobook. No matter how you consume this book, it will be worth your time. This might be the book of the decade. If you want to know how the foundation of the modern self has been created, then read this book to find out.
If there is one reason why Trueman does not receive 10 out of 10 bookmarks, it’s because he leaves the reader without solutions. (If you are looking for solutions). By the time I arrived at the end of the book, I was left with the question in my head, so now what? Trueman is a Christian, and while his faith is muted throughout this book, he does write from a Protestant worldview. The current sexual revolution is not congruent with Scripture. He knows this. In light of this, how should Christians respond? Perhaps Trueman intends to leave the reader with the hanging chad. Maybe a follow-up book is in the works. Who knows. Only time will tell. Nevertheless, read this book if you need help making sense of what is going on around you.
Amazon link to The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
Here are several lectures that were given by Trueman about this book.