About book The Seekers: The Story Of Man's Continuing Quest To Understand His World (2001)
The first two books in Daniel Boorstin's Knowledge Trilogy, The Discoverers (about science) and The Creators (about art), are both outstanding examples of comprehensive history done well. They're weighty books, but the fascinating information and engaging writing do much to offset their intimidating girth. This third volume and final volume, The Seekers, is half their size and unfortunately about half as interesting. (Granted, Boorstin's a very interesting writer, so half as interesting in a Boorstin book is still more than interesting than most). Never-the-less The Seekers reads more like an afterthought. The first part of the book covers the Hebrew prophets, Greek philosophy, and Christianity. The second part is mainly about politics and the dynamic thinkers in that area, and the last bit leans more toward sociology. Most of the individual chapters are engrossing, though there are a few sections that lose momentum. In addition, transitions between different subjects are not as smooth as in the other books. The religious portions don't quite glide smoothly into the philosophical portions, and the general theme of the book seems slightly ambiguous.Still, the Knowledge Trilogy is like a trip through a sumptuous library with the benefit of a savvy, witty tour guide who knows all the books by heart. The Seekers is the weakest entry, but would still brighten anyone's bookcase. (I just can't help but wish there were more historians with the ambition and the voluminous erudition to write stuff like this.)
What makes this book unique (and an uniquely excellent read) from among the many intellectual histories out there is the perspective from which Boorstin approaches his subjects and the aspect of his various subjects which he focuses on. Rather than looking, as most intellectual histories do, at what the conclusions, ideas, and dogmas of their various subjects are, Boorstin instead examines the act of seeking itself. In the process, he introduces us to the means of seeking answers to life's greatest questions as they have been applied by some of the greatest seekers of history, from biblical figures like Job to Greek philosophers like Plato to modern day scientists like Albert Einstein. Boorstin's work is a masterpiece of appreciation for the amazing capacities of the human mind and the restless nature of the human spirit. His book is a paean to humanity.
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This was a truly magnificent effort for Boorstin. I love the "new"ish way history is presented within it's historical, geographical, cultural milieu . . . not just as if it happened in a vacuum.Boorstin seems to be a genius in this form of writing . . . giving the subject a sense of time and place.I tend to approach many of my readings as textural projects . . . reading, re-reading, and underlining . . . and for that reason, it usually takes me two to three times to "finish" a book than usual. But, well worth it. I may not remember all of what I read but kernels and bits remain and I know where to go to refresh.. . . an absolutely terrific historical overview, chronologically presented, with concepts distilled to their gist.Only reason I didn't give it a "five" is because my poor little brain had to work! Thank you Daniel.
—Godlarvae
