Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody

Written by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay

Narrated by Helen Pluckrose

Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller!

Have you heard that language is violence and that science is sexist? Have you read that certain people shouldn’t practice yoga or cook Chinese food? Or been told that being obese is healthy, that there is no such thing as biological sex, or that only white people can be racist? Are you confused by these ideas, and do you wonder how they have managed so quickly to challenge the very logic of Western society?

In this probing and intrepid volume, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay document the evolution of the dogma that informs these ideas, from its coarse origins in French postmodernism to its refinement within activist academic fields. Today this dogma is recognizable as much by its effects, such as cancel culture and social-media dogpiles, as by its tenets, which are all too often embraced as axiomatic in mainstream media: knowledge is a social construct; science and reason are tools of oppression; all human interactions are sites of oppressive power play; and language is dangerous. As Pluckrose and Lindsay warn, the unchecked proliferation of these anti-Enlightenment beliefs present a threat not only to liberal democracy but also to modernity itself.

While acknowledging the need to challenge the complacency of those who think a just society has been fully achieved, Pluckrose and Lindsay break down how this often-radical activist scholarship does far more harm than good, not least to those marginalized communities it claims to champion. They also detail its alarmingly inconsistent and illiberal ethics. Only through a proper understanding of the evolution of these ideas, they conclude, can those who value science, reason, and consistently liberal ethics successfully challenge this harmful and authoritarian orthodoxy—in the academy, in culture, and beyond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pitchstone Publishing
• Release date: Sep 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664909885

Reviews for Cynical Theories

[Jan Wustmann · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wer ohne Vorbereitung auf den zynischen Gedankenapparat postmoderner Theorien in eine öffentliche Diskussion geht, wird im Zeitalter von Shitstorms und SJW wohl kaum mit seiner öffentlichen Haut davonkommen.

Danke für das Buch, das hoffentlich hilft, gewaltiges gesellschaftliches Leid durch die Resignation der Freiheitsliebenden abzuwenden.

[Jerry Shanahan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Its easier to politicize queer theory, destroying categories. End racism by seeing it everywhere. Characterizing people as inferior because they disagree. These are not Liberal principles and the book journeys thru, rolls us back in time and reminds us to stay true to the definition.

[Hilary Easton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredibly valuable scholarly analysis of those offspring of postmodern theory that are troubling and confusing us at the moment. We all want to advance social justice but is Social Justice a help or a hindrance? Find out here.

[Joshua Calderon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A must read for anyone trying to understand this stuff

[Robert Ross · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent. A clear exposition on the origins of Theory, the concepts engendered by Post Modernism and how they threaten liberal democratic society. How to understand the various “Theories” race, gender, fat queer etc) and the destructive discourses of BLM and Antifa. How to understand and counter Social Justice Warriors. Essential Reading / listening.

[jake davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent.... should be required reading for any student of history, philosophy, education or current events...... very succinct , approachable overview of the issues and problems of postmodern critical theory

[Joel Murray · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Self serving argument posited by the authors. Found it a frustrating read.

[Juno L · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I think this book actually shoved me further left.

I went in with an open mind, as I usually do. And I usually walk away from books challenging my perspective with some new ideas. This was not the case with this one.

It's an opinion piece void of any facts, but appeals to what they consider authorities on the matter. It is a book for those who want to get angry at the wokist, those who seek new one-liners to sing the wokist in, without actually getting any examples the research the "woke academia" is leaning upon. It does not properly lift examples of when the wokists has hindered research either.

If your goal is to have your opinions agreed on. This is a book for you. If you wish to challenge your left leaning views, this is certainly not the book you're looking for.

[Maria Grzywacz · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I understand why it's a best seller; it's provocative. But that doesn't mean it's good. I do think it's relevant to break out of one's usual academic and thinking patterns/circles, but I found parts of this book nothing less than deceiving. The first part in which the authors summarize cultural theories, has facts wrong, and a very sneering tone to it. I disliked the rhetorics, and I think one should stick to pure facts, even when ethically/personally disagreeing with the theory/issue.
I don't think this is the best book on the topic, I much rather recommend "Problem with Everything: My Journey Through the New Culture Wars" by Meghan Daum.

[Triggerman1976 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An interesting and informative book that describes the history and thought behind modern Critical Theories. However, I think that the authors are willing to concede certain moral ground that they don’t need to as well as their willingness to attribute certain negative elements as apparently existing ONLY on the political right rather than recognize that those elements exist on both extremes of the political spectrum. Aside from that, it was a good read.

[noacheyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A pivotal work, clearly written and beautifully read. At long last someone has had courage and analytical depth to confront the New Wave drowning the Academy and posturing/performing in wider culture and media.

The result requires careful reading/listening several times over, because you or someone close to you is going to need your help while Woke fundamentalists do them over in the quest for power.

[Dave L · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Highly recommended. As a liberal progressive, I agree with basically all that they wrote. Very well written. It's dry and theoretical, but keep in mind that these cynical theories are quite abstracr and divorced from reality, so...

[Michael Groves · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very good explanation of CRT and other woke stuff

[Ian Evans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Essential reading if you want to arm yourself against the authoritarian and intentionally incomprehensible tsunami of wokeness coming to us all.

[Bellkeyce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This might deserve a five-star review, but I'm hesitant, so I always try to leave time to see if the merit of the text I've read or listened to deserves the five starts. Without agreeing with every single conclusion the authors come to, Pluckrose and Lindsay both make a compelling case for the danger of the postmodern idea that all knowledge is subjective and the activist ideology that has surrepetitiously infiltrated not only the academy and college campuses but research as well.

Speaking as someone who is center-left, some of the viewpoints espoused by advocates of different social justice movements (that science and reason are 'western' ways of knowing that are inherently racist, that folklore and a person's 'lived experience' is equivalent to peer-reviewed, double-blind research are positively Orwellian and horrifying that they have gained as much traction as they have. I wholly agree with the authors that the advances of rights of women and other minority groups has been the result of embracing empirical knowledge, not its rejection.

Most of my career has involved serving mentally and physically disabled people in care, and the idea that the disadvantages of disabilities and obesity are simply the result of society's prejudices would be laughable if it wasn't so tone-deaf to the struggles of the actual people these 'activists' think they are advocating for. Take away all prejudice in the world and a person in a wheelchair will still struggle because of their disability. As for obesity, I see mostly young twenty-somethings who prance around on social media taking photos of themselves while their skin is tight and their joints are still good; I can't think of a single fat activist over fifty-five, and that should tell you everything about the legitimacy of the Health At Every Size movement.

Solid scholarship, reasoned, and clearly argued without any of the fluff, all while giving the lay person a clear explanation and mini historical lecture of highly esoteric and pedantic concepts like postmodernism, and Social Justice vs social justice. I genuinely recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the current culture wars plaguing the US and much of the West.

[G A McKee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For the first time I was enabled to get a grip on the systemic injustice to which I was exposed in Australia in 2014-16. I was hauled up before a civil law tribunal because a professional LGBT activist did not like a reasonable and rational 1-paragraph comment I made on Facebook about same-sex marriage. That was in the lead-up to the 2017 referendum on same-sex pair-bonds in Australia (I refuse to call it marriage that has the same meaning for millennia). It cost me over $10,000 in legal fees to robustly defend my comment on the grounds of scientific truth and freedom of expression. I now understand the theory behind how those illiberal activist functionaries in the anti-discrimination industry can justify their existence and equate opposition to the concept of same-sex marriage as discrimination against the marginalized minority of those who, for whatever reason, believe homosexual acts are not in anyway wrong or unnatural, when viewed through the eyes of traditional Christian attitudes relating to marriage and family. Thank you so much Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay. You have done a great service to humanity in explaining the intellectual roots behind post-modern political correctness and cancel-culture, and the attempts by Social Justice to dismantle and destroy “oppressive” mainstream liberal Western culture based on individual rights, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and universal human rights based not on group identity but on universal human identity. That aside, the book is beautifully read with a clear and feminine diction of Helen Pluckrose. Finally a thank-you to Scribd for adding this watershed book to your great collection of other philosophical audiobooks.

[Gene Pennello · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scholarly deconstruction of critical theories, their suppositions, the damage they have caused to liberal societies, and how they can be refuted.

[dan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book, good information, I will be going through it again.

[John Lyon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very scholarly and professional. Debunks the Radical Left’s ideologies. Explains the differences between classical liberalism and identity politics. You learn what post modernism is, and how it gave birth to Critical Race Theory and other extremist views.

[Jeremiah Sanctafamilia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! A philosophical history and analysis critical theories from a liberal perspective. Most important for our time! Feel like your head spinning from critical theories? Get you bearings back with this book.

My own criticism: author would benefit from reading Dietrich and Alice Von Hildebrand and conversing with Franciscan university of Steubenville.

[David · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is everything I've been suspecting for 15 years, but could never articulate. Thank you!

[Caitlin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A clear overview of post-modern shadows and their current manifestations. This is a gift of discernment.

[Alec Bussen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A well written and engaging history of the various stages of postmodern philosophy and activism leading to its current expression in woke culture. The authors' contend that this philosophical/activist trend is destructive to the culture of philosophical liberalism that fostered it and should be heavily critiqued to bring about a healthier dialogue on our current divisive political issues. The authors also contend that the radicalization of the far left is inadvertently bringing about the radicalization of the far right, which will have far worse consequences than what woke culture has brought thus far. This book is well worth a listen and I hope brings a future of healthy dialogue as it's fruit.

[Kelechi Njoku · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this. (There were a few bugs with the audio production but nothing crazy.)Pluckrose and Lindsay did their homework and I've always appreciated their thinking on the issue.

[Ippei Kawano · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The authors explore how a handful of thinkers, especially Foucault, Derrida, and the Frankfurt school of critical theorests have disproportionately impacted the modern way of thinking about issues in the humanities. They explain how the overemphasis on their ideas have lead to erroneous beliefs that knowledge is nothing but power struggle, a way for the powerful to control and oppress the minority. Such thinking is especially widespread among the very liberal and vocal group that dominates the social media and also is gaining much media support. A very important read, especially considering the current political atmosphere.

[Matthew Ytsma · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Web browser version works, but the app version has a Choppy recording , must fix, important book.