The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture

The story is now well-known. David Mamet underwent a conversion to conservatism which he briefly chronicled in an essay in the Village Voice. Now he provides a more extended account of the results of that process in The Secret Knowledge.The book consists of 39 brief essays, 4-5 page political/historical/philosophic sound bites on matters of political importance. Mamet admits that he was an indifferent student and conceives of himself as, essentially, an autodidact. Autodidacts are, traditionally, passionate, exuberant writers who exhibit genius in nontraditional bursts. Think: Blake versus Wordsworth, Keats, Byron or Shelley.Each essay is occasioned by an image, an anecdote or an experience. The book feels very spontaneous and it has been described, not inaccurately, as sometimes over the top. While it deals with questions of policy it is more focused on questions of fundamental vision. It is more either/or than an examination of incremental differences along an extended continuum. Who is right--the proponent of the tragic vision of human limitation or the celebrator of Rousseau's noble savage?In couching the argument in basic, theoretical terms, the progressivism which Mamet assails is that of the so-called hard left, not that of, e.g., the `Reagan democrat'. Fundamentally, he argues, they are wrong in their understanding of human nature and knowing that they are wrong (or fearing that they are wrong) leads them to emotional arguments that cannot stand up to logical scrutiny. They assail colonialism, for example. (So did many major conservative thinkers like Johnson and Burke.) At the same time they defend all-powerful government, but which entity pursues the acquisition of others' property and liberty to expand its own? Big government. If you wish to reduce governmental predation you should strive to reduce governmental power. If you believe that political power will resist corruption and the blandishments of self-interest, that it will husband its bureaucratic strengths and not attempt to extend them, that its first goal is the public good rather than its own self-aggrandizement, you are simply ignorant of human nature and human history.The writing is lively, at points predictable, at points electric. Many of the arguments (from Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, Friedrich Hayek, et al.) are familiar but no less powerful or persuasive. Those seeking their own conversion experience might do better to go to Mamet's sources, but his account is never dull. Whether or not it will spark further debate is an interesting question. Some of his critics have attacked him personally (his best work is behind him, etc.) and some have attacked him piecemeal, looking at isolated issues (if white guilt has resulted in ultimately-detrimental public policy, should we repeal civil rights legislation?). The real debate (certainly as he understands it) is at the most fundamental level--who is correct, Hobbes or Rousseau?The most interesting answers now, I believe, are coming from those studying `human nature' via such avenues as evolutionary psychology. In some ways, e.g., Rousseau was right. His ice-age ancestors did live in peace. They had time to make jewelry and do magnificent cave paintings. There is no evidence that they exploited and killed their cro-magnon fellows. However, there were (what?) 10,000 or so in ice-age France, with an ample food supply, little reason to fight for reindeer protein, relatively few encounters with other individuals and a life expectancy in the 20's. The political template which finds utopia or utopian elements in their experience cannot be easily applied to our own times and situation.

Surely by now, many readers know David Mamet's story. An outstanding playwright, author, screenwriter, and director, fully immersed in the liberal mindset found in the entertainment industry. Then, after joining a new synagogue, meeting some conservatives, and - perhaps most importantly - reading Hayek's "Road to Serfdom" and Whittaker Chambers' "Witness", his mindset is transformed, and he recognizes the myriad follies and destructive nature of the Liberal orthodoxy."The Secret Knowledge", then, is perhaps Mr. Mamet's "official" coming-out party. In a word, it is brilliant. It is my opinion that the best works of the political genre - which this will certainly fall into - most often come from those who lived and thought on one side of the political spectrum, then had a reawakening and change of mindset to the other side. These individuals - like Mr. Mamet - have the requisite background and experience to speak about both sides, whereas most political authors have only known life in the "bubble" on one side or the other and only speak in shaky talking points about the other side.What Mr. Mamet accomplishes with "The Secret Knowledge" is methodically taking apart the Liberal mindset and ideology. Through his intellectual and highly logical perspectives, he undermines the foundation - and shows the destructive nature - of this ideology on education, the economy, popular culture, society at-large, and politics. I found his analysis of the education system to be the strongest in the book. He shows how the Liberal orthodoxy - and their focus on "multiculturalism", diversity, and sensitivity - has fostered a system where youth are completely unprepared in the basic skills to succeed in the free market system, in turn making them a part of the victim class, dependent on Government and/or becoming permanent "students" to avoid the hard choices of life. His comparison of the education system to the lab experiments of mice earning pellets is at once incisive and heartbreaking.Throughout the book, Mr. Mamet uses his tremendous writing skills to devastating effect, yet does so with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. He provides many excellent citations - on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum - to bolster his arguments. Perhaps he leans too heavily on Hayek and Thomas Sowell, though considering Hayek was the catalyst for his conversion, it makes sense. But most important of all - and unlike the vast majority of other books in the political genre, often written by the blowhards and "shouting heads" of the media - Mr. Mamet takes apart the Liberal orthodoxy in a completely rational manner. The "agree-with-me-or-else" themes so prevalent in media today are completely nonexistent in "The Secret Knowledge".Mr. Mamet surely knows how this book will be received in some circles, and how it will impact his professional career. Yet as he indicates in "The Secret Knowledge" and in recent media interviews, he is completely at peace with whatever criticism comes his way. Of course, for an individual who has made his living in an industry where his work is so publicly and mercilessly critiqued, we should expect nothing less than Mr. Mamet's come-what-may perspective. However it is ultimately received, I thoroughly enjoyed "The Secret Knowledge", and have recommended it to many friends and family. I think it is a very important read, and is almost essential reading in this hyper-partisan, politically-charged society. As a side note, I am glad to have a writer - and talent - like Mr. Mamet on the conservative side of the political spectrum. He is a welcome addition, and I will look forward to whatever observations he has on society in the future.

Intriguing take on things. Readable and thought provoking.

Als ich mir das Buch gekauft habe, habe ich wohl angenommen, dass ich mit den allermeisten der politischen Ansichten Mamets nicht übereinstimmen würde. aber es hat mich interessiert, warum Mamet zu seinen Positionen gekommen ist und was genau der Knackpunkt war, der ihn dazu brachte.Bedauerlicherweise ist das Buch mehr Glaubensbekenntnis als Analyse. Die allermeisten Positionen werden nicht argumentiert, sondern schlicht und ergreifend behauptet. Den "Liberalen" (im amerikanisch-politischen Sinn des Wortes, also auf Deutsch in etwa "Kryptokommunisten") werden Positionen unterstellt, die von Naivität bis hin zu absichtlicher und arglistiger Zersetzung der amerikanischen Werte reichen. Dabei werden diese Werte auch in einem Aufwaschen mit den judäo-christlichen Werten gleichgesetzt, was ich persönlich auch für eine starke Simplifizierung halte. Alle Argumentationslinien laufen in etwa nach dem Motto ab: "Staatliche Regierung ist schlecht, weil von Menschen gemacht, die andere nur manipulieren und für sich das beste herausholen wollen. Das zeigt die Geschichte. Der Markt ist viel besser geeignet, die Bedürfnisse der Menschen zu erfüllen. Alles, was keinen Markt findet, seien es Menschen, seines es Ideen, hat keinen Wert."In einem Aufwaschen wird hier Harry Truman und sein New Deal für die Verschärfung der Weltwirtschaftskrise verantwortlich gemacht, die Affirmative Action als gelebten Rassismus gebrandmarkt und die Sozialversicherung Obamas ohnehin als Kulmination kommunistischen Gedankengutes, das die USA endgültig in den Abgrund reißen wird verteufelt. Diskussionen über etwaige negative Auswirkungen des Kolonialismus oder aber des Sklavenhandels lässt Mamet ebenso wenig zu wie auch nur die leiseste Kritik am Kurs Israels (letzteres kann ich immerhin nachvollziehen.Jetzt könnte das Ganze durchaus unterhaltsam sein, bedauerlicherweise schafft es Mamet nicht, ein Thema oder auch nur einen Gedankengang halbwegs systematisch zu entwickeln, springt von These zu These, von bissiger Fußnote zur nächsten, muss auch hier noch geschwind auf die angeborene Schlechtigkeit (aller?) Politiker hindreschen und dort noch schnell auf die Sozialwissenschaften im allgemeinen.Ganz überraschen hätte es mich nicht sollen, sind doch auch seine Bücher über Filmtheorie nicht vom leisesten Selbstzweifel befallen (Man lese nur seine Ausführungen gegenüber Studenten über die Wirkung von Filmschnitt). Dennoch habe ich vier Monate und unzählige Anläufe gebraucht, um das Buch in stets homöopathischen Dosen zu lesen. Mehr als fünf-zehn Seiten am Stück waren aufgrund der mieselsüchtigen, selbstgerechten und zu Teil auch ausgesprochen dummen Grundstimmung des Buches nicht zu schaffen.

Former Progressive Mamet writes logically & convincingly about the folly of today's Progressive Movement. I recommended this book to a college professor friend in California who is a dyed-in-the-wool socialist (as so many of his colleagues are), and was almost startled by the virulent seething hatred that came my way.Heh. Loved that reaction. Shows that Mamet has his facts right, and his book cuts the liberals to the bone. I recommend it highly.

Excellent and insightful book. David Mamet digs deep.

I love the power of Mamets writing. He always nails it. This book should be read by everyone who thinks they know what's going on, so they can find out what's really going on.