Shifting Involvements: Private Interest and Public Action (Eliot Janeway Lectures on Historical Economics)

My (used) copy of this book has the following inscription: "For my brother, a man of praxis: I found this one of those wonderful books that gives you more than is there, because you keep wanting to take off on your own with different parts of the argument. Love, WT. May 1982". This is amusing because my opinion is exactly the opposite. Instead of taking off with any parts, I wanted to lay this argument to rest as soon as possible and never return to it again.

The argument is that people who meet disappointments in their private life, particularly as consumers of products that don't give ultimate satisfaction, will seek fulfillment by getting involved in public affairs instead. But then they will for various reasons be disappointed by show more public life as well, and return again to private matters. I found this argument strange, unconvincing and uninteresting. Even if the author is right, so what? I don't see how these questions have any relevance for political theory or practical politics.

I would advise against taking off with any parts of this book. There are many better works for that purpose. show less