The following review was submitted by: NORM GOLDMAN, EDITOR OF BOOKPLEASURES

The over-whelming sentiment of Lee Harris’s timely Civilization And Its Enemies The Next Stage of History is pretty much summed up in the Preface when he asserts: “The subject of this book is forgetfulness.”

Harris, who could be described as a “philosopher’s philosopher,” convincingly places 9/11 into perspective with carefully crafted arguments reminding the reader that we have learned little from the past.

Concepts such as who the enemy is and why it is imperative to react ruthlessly are extensively examined in the light of past historical events as the French Revolution, World War 1 and the teachings of the great political philosophers.

No doubt, the book is a riveting attack on many naive liberal ideals that refuse to believe that the enemy is motivated by a fantasy ideology bent on destroying the very foundations of Western democratic principles and ideology no matter what it takes.

Harris argues that it is a grave mistake to adopt out-dated rationalizations espoused by many intellectuals that the enemy can be a viable negotiator, notwithstanding that they may be misguided, misunderstood or politically immature-that in the end things can be worked out. This naïve and complacent view of the world as it should be and not as it is a gross misunderstanding of the collision we are presently facing. Unless, as the author points out, we are prepared to look seriously at the historical stakes in America’s world-historical gamble, we will completely misunderstand the enemy.

To explain the notion of “world-historical gamble,” Harris relies on the writings of the German philosopher, Hegel, who believed that that such gambles arise from situations of historical impasse or deadlock for the human race. In such instances, it is vital that mankind doesn’t ignore these situations and bury its head in the sand, as if they don’t exist. This would be far more dangerous than taking the “world-historical gamble.”

Many other concepts examined within the context of the present day crisis are origins and importance of leadership, team spirit, tolerance, the origin of the enemy, the rare virtues of the West, ruthlessness and Hegel’s origin of civilization.

Harris’s gets top marks for his clear and precise writing that contains a great deal of substance that avoids generalizations that are often the shortcomings of books of a similar nature. You get a sense that Harris knows what he is talking about without talking down to his audience.