THE FIRST PARAGRAPH of the book jacket lays it out: “There is a common belief that we live in unprecedented times, that people are too sensitive today, that nobody objected to the actions of actors, comedians, and filmmakers in the past. Modern pundits would have us believe that Americans of a previous generation had tougher skin and seldom complained. But does this argument hold up to scrutiny?”
There’s a good point underneath the hyperbole. People tend to believe—and pundits, politicians, and activists tend to claim—that whatever issues trouble them are worse than ever. Why? Because these things are happening now. To us. Problems in the past weren’t as urgent or significant because they happened to others, and anyway things turned out OK (or if they didn’t, at least those problems are over).
So Kliph has a decent premise. Alas, it also has significant flaws.
