Fritz Stern’s book is a feast of analysis and historical insight. Great to see somebody’s still reading it. For something similarly rich and rewarding on the aestheticization of cultural despair intertwined with fascist nihilism and power worship, Modris Ekstein’s “The Rites of Spring” (1989) pays great dividends (although it deals with the interwar period). Also, a both deep and wide survey of the cultural pushback against the late-19th century triumphalist black hole represented by the protagonists of Stern’s book, there’s Allan Janik and Stephen Toulmin’s “Wittgenstein’s Vienna” (1973). A blend of technical philosophy and cultural history of the highest order. Oldies but goodies. (Apologies for the didacticism but who doesn’t like recommending good books).
Fritz Stern’s book is a feast of analysis and historical insight. Great to see somebody’s still reading it. For something similarly rich and rewarding on the aestheticization of cultural despair intertwined with fascist nihilism and power worship, Modris Ekstein’s “The Rites of Spring” (1989) pays great dividends (although it deals with the interwar period). Also, a both deep and wide survey of the cultural pushback against the late-19th century triumphalist black hole represented by the protagonists of Stern’s book, there’s Allan Janik and Stephen Toulmin’s “Wittgenstein’s Vienna” (1973). A blend of technical philosophy and cultural history of the highest order. Oldies but goodies. (Apologies for the didacticism but who doesn’t like recommending good books).
Always trying to play catch-up; this list helps. Thank you.
Glad you decided to write this post - thanks!
This is the closest to my own tastes of any year-end book list I've seen so far. Thanks John, and happy holidays!