THE RESTLESS QUEST OF MAN

by William Graham Cole ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 29, 1966

The cliche ring of the title unfortunately predicts the general tone and content of this book by the president of Lake Forest College. Much in the author's examination of the malaise of modern civilization might have been stimulating, if not stirring, a generation ago; but it has become familiar to the point of the platitudinous today, and its failure to penetrate beyond conventional analyses of our times to some points of fresh insight and exposition may lead it to be put aside more quickly than, on the whole, it might deserve. The familiar literary sources of a passing generation, Eliot, Orwell, Camus--even Odets and Millay--are drawn upon. When the author describes the uncommitted stance of modern youth he is able to speak more authentically out of his own experience. The style tends, on the whole, to stay in the realm of generalizations; and the last chapter, dealing with the church, takes on the tone of sermonizing.

Pub Date: Sept. 29, 1966

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Oxford

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1966

Categories: NONFICTION