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microglyphics's review against another edition
4.0
This book is at the same time dated and relevant. The methodology isn't quite up to par, but the observations and sentiments are spot on.
I feel there are definitional and statistical challenges, obvious covariance across categories and the elephant in the room as to what is really being measured. I discounted the psychanalytical aspects, which are anachronistic at best.
Still, there is a lot to gain from the material, and it provides a strong foundation for future studies, which have in fact been performed.
My biggest negative comments are that the Jewish aspect is overspecified and so can likely be generalised to most categories of haters. Also, I feel that the use of the spectre of Fascism is intentionally polemic, when it seems that the correlation is toward authoritarianism.
I've avoided Adorno for the most part because I wasn't interested in his commentary on media culture. Reading this, I hope to explore some of his other material.
I feel there are definitional and statistical challenges, obvious covariance across categories and the elephant in the room as to what is really being measured. I discounted the psychanalytical aspects, which are anachronistic at best.
Still, there is a lot to gain from the material, and it provides a strong foundation for future studies, which have in fact been performed.
My biggest negative comments are that the Jewish aspect is overspecified and so can likely be generalised to most categories of haters. Also, I feel that the use of the spectre of Fascism is intentionally polemic, when it seems that the correlation is toward authoritarianism.
I've avoided Adorno for the most part because I wasn't interested in his commentary on media culture. Reading this, I hope to explore some of his other material.
redbecca's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been debunked by contemporary social psychologists for its flawed execution, Freudianism, and confirmation bias. Having read some of these critiques first, I was surprised to find that the book was much more nuanced, compassionate toward its subjects (including the "high scorers") and liberal on matters of sexuality than most of the contemporary critics give it credit for. I can understand why it's had such a huge influence.
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