THE IDEAS OF HENRY LUCE

by John K.--Ed. Jessup ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 27, 1969

Though long-Time readers may not have known it, the late Henry R. Luce was a man much attached to Big Ideas--Civilization, Christianity, the Liberal Tradition, the American Proposition--and also to the notion that since ""Ideas Have Consequences,"" what everyone needs most is the correct Philosophy. His own--a blend of Calvinistic-Free Enterprise-Internationalism reminiscent of the creed of John Foster Dulles--he frequently expounded in convention and commencement speeches assembled here by a former associate, who divides them under various headings (""Politics and Patriotism,"" ""The Businessman and His System""). Unfortunately, most of the statements lean more heavily toward lofty vacuities (""the strength of America is in the principles by which we exist as a nation"") and sweeping dicta (""there can be no basic ethical agreement in America unless the ethics of our society are largely inspired by . . . Christianity"") than toward reasoned argument. Especially notable for cant is the section on Law, in which Luce concludes that ""what the world now needs, more than food or goods,"" is ""more law, with greater universality."" Luckily, the great publisher's reputation Will not rest on these Luce truths . . . though they do prove that a picture (magazine) is worth a thousand words.

Pub Date: Oct. 27, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION