<<<, the one redeeming point of the book was its utility in shocking people into thinking about what human beings are capable of doing when the "social order" breaks apart.>>>
I think, though, that because the book was essentially a hoax, the events in it having been demonstrated to have been fictitious, (it was a fiction book purporting to be autobiography,) its net effect, once its central lie was exposed, was to strengthen denial of the importance of such thinking.
People thought, "Oh my God, so such things can really happen!"
And then they learned that they were hoodwinked.
I don't see how you could argue that the book is redeemed because it made people think about "what human beings are capable of doing..." when... it showed only what Kosinski was capable of making up.
But Edwarda, I simply love your dear, civilized approach to argument, your "now let's sit down and think together." It makes me want very much to agree with you....
(And in fact we do agree about most things!) |
