Fools, Frauds and Firebrands

Thinkers of the New Left

By: Roger Scruton

Narrated by: Rory Barnett

From one of the leading critics of leftist orientations comes a study of the thinkers who have most influenced the attitudes of the New Left. Beginning with a ruthless analysis of New Leftism and concluding with a critique of the key strands in its thinking, Roger Scruton conducts a reappraisal of such major left-wing thinkers as E. P. Thompson, Ronald Dworkin, R. D. Laing, Jurgen Habermas, Gyorgy Lukacs, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, Slavoj Žižek, Ralph Milliband, and Eric Hobsbawm. In addition to assessments of these thinkers' philosophical and political contributions, the book contains a biographical and bibliographical section summarizing their careers and most important writings.

In Fools, Frauds and Firebrands Scruton asks, what does the Left look like today, and how has it evolved? He charts the transfer of grievances, from the working class to women, gays, and immigrants, asks what we can put in the place of radical egalitarianism, and what explains the continued dominance of antinomian attitudes in the intellectual world. Can there be any foundation for resistance to the leftist agenda without religious faith? Writing with great clarity, Scruton delivers a devastating critique of modern left-wing thinking.

©2015 Roger Scruton (P)2018 Tantor

An Explanation of The Politics of 2020

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wishes for a better understanding of the sources of the Chaos, from the 'Left' that has dominated our Politics of the past 12 years and beyond.

Exhaustive

A rigorous journey through mountains of human hogwash and oceans of abject cluelessness by many past thinkers that I now know to dismiss rather than waste my time with.

The Delivery From the (Prevalent) Nonsense

Through a resourceful and deep analysis, Scruton is the maverick thinker that enables us all to confront the acclaimed “newspeak” (of course) from the Academia and demolishes it through rigorous arguments and a scholarly culture.
Essential reading for a world adrift.

very informative with sufficient background

a bit convoluted but only because I lack the sufficient background in contemporary philosophy.

Best Audible Book I’ve Read so Far

This is the best audio book I have read since subscribing to audible. Reader is fantastic as is the subject matter