The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students

Super Short Summary

The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom critiques American culture and higher education's embrace of moral relativism, tracing its origins in German philosophy and its consequences for democracy. Bloom argues that the influence of consumerism, rock music, and the breakdown of the family has led to anti-intellectualism and a social crisis. The book consists of three parts: "Students," "Nihilism, American Style," and "The University," analyzing the impact on youth, the history of relativism, and the role of liberal arts education, concluding that a return to Great Books is essential for cultivating and civilizing students.