Reviews
"A wonderfully crafted collection of essays."--In My Father's House "Appiah's book on the place of Africa in contemporary philosophy powerfully exposes the dangers of any simplistic notion of African identity in the contemporary world....Tellingly, his reflections upon the calling of philosophy and the relation between post-traditional and not-yet-modern African culture(s) offer a welcome perspective on the increasingly shrill debates over "multiculturalism" that rend the academy. The epilogue on his father's funeral alone more than justifies the whole book."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese,Common Knowledge "Interesting and thought-provoking."--Safro Kwame,Lincoln University "Montaigne invented the modern essay;...Appiah has the brilliance to extend it."--The Village Voice "A groundbreaking--as well as ground-clearing--analysis of absurdities and damaging presuppositions that have clouded our discussions of race, Africa and nationalism since the 19th century....Mr. Appiah delivers what may very well be one of the handful of theoretical works on race that will help preserve our humanity and guide us gracefully into the next century."--Charles Johnson,The New York Times Book Review "Appiah's essays are exquisitely and painstakingly argued."--Washington Post Book World "An exceptional work, whose contextual sweep and lucidity provide a refreshing intellectual tone away from yahoo populism. In many profound ways, Kwame Appiah'sIn My Father's Houseushers in a new level of discourse on race and culture, placing it within a universal narrative--and where else should it belong'...Without question, a first of its kind."--Wole Soyinka, fromRace and the Rout of Reason "In My Father's Houseis a remarkable book that brings previously invisible cultural assumptions to the surface and obliges us to rethink our conceptions about African identity. Drawing upon a variety of elegantly analyzed historical examples and relating them to his own personal experiences of the African world, Anthony Appiah convincingly demonstrates the need to go beyond stereotyped notions of race and futile laments about past injustices. His observations about authenticity movements, the persistence of Western constructions of African realities, and the emergence of new syntheses of knowledge among African peoples represent a major breakthrough in the ongoing debate over the future of African culture."--Richard Bjornson,Ohio State University "This is an absorbing and path-breaking book by a gifted philosopher. Appiah rescues the philosophy of culture from Herder by insisting that we drop notions like 'authentic negritude' and that 'African culture' is the name of an important project rather than of an available datum. The book's range of reference and the vigor of its argumentation are equally impressive."--Richard Rorty,University of Virginia "Appiah's concern is, he modestly states, 'with the situation of African intellectuals.' In the growing literature on the subject, nobody has defined that situation, as it exists now, more sharply; nobody has built so many bridges to a discourse that might be shared universally. Learned yet unpretentious, serious and witty, critical and kind--this book is bound to infuse debates among African intellectuals with new vigor and to engage philosophers, literary critics, anthropologists and others everywhere. One also wishes it would be read by politicians for its lucid analyses of racism as well as its demonstration of intellectual independence tempered by colonial and post-colonial experience."--Johannes Fabian,University of Amsterdam, "A groundbreaking--as well as ground-clearing--analysis of absurdities and damaging presuppositions that have clouded our discussions of race, Africa and nationalism since the 19th century....Mr. Appiah delivers what may very well be one of the handful of theoretical works on race that willhelp preserve our humanity and guide us gracefully into the next century."--Charles Johnson, The New York Times Book Review, "A wonderfully crafted collection of essays."--In My Father's House "Appiah's book on the place of Africa in contemporary philosophy powerfully exposes the dangers of any simplistic notion of African identity in the contemporary world....Tellingly, his reflections upon the calling of philosophy and the relation between post-traditional and not-yet-modern African culture(s) offer a welcome perspective on the increasingly shrill debates over "multiculturalism" that rend the academy. The epilogue on his father's funeral alone more than justifies the whole book."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Common Knowledge "Interesting and thought-provoking."--Safro Kwame, Lincoln University "Montaigne invented the modern essay;...Appiah has the brilliance to extend it."--The Village Voice "A groundbreaking--as well as ground-clearing--analysis of absurdities and damaging presuppositions that have clouded our discussions of race, Africa and nationalism since the 19th century....Mr. Appiah delivers what may very well be one of the handful of theoretical works on race that will help preserve our humanity and guide us gracefully into the next century."--Charles Johnson, The New York Times Book Review "Appiah's essays are exquisitely and painstakingly argued."--Washington Post Book World "An exceptional work, whose contextual sweep and lucidity provide a refreshing intellectual tone away from yahoo populism. In many profound ways, Kwame Appiah's In My Father's House ushers in a new level of discourse on race and culture, placing it within a universal narrative--and where else should it belong'...Without question, a first of its kind."--Wole Soyinka, from Race and the Rout of Reason "In My Father's House is a remarkable book that brings previously invisible cultural assumptions to the surface and obliges us to rethink our conceptions about African identity. Drawing upon a variety of elegantly analyzed historical examples and relating them to his own personal experiences of the African world, Anthony Appiah convincingly demonstrates the need to go beyond stereotyped notions of race and futile laments about past injustices. His observations about authenticity movements, the persistence of Western constructions of African realities, and the emergence of new syntheses of knowledge among African peoples represent a major breakthrough in the ongoing debate over the future of African culture."--Richard Bjornson, Ohio State University "This is an absorbing and path-breaking book by a gifted philosopher. Appiah rescues the philosophy of culture from Herder by insisting that we drop notions like 'authentic negritude' and that 'African culture' is the name of an important project rather than of an available datum. The book's range of reference and the vigor of its argumentation are equally impressive."--Richard Rorty, University of Virginia "Appiah's concern is, he modestly states, 'with the situation of African intellectuals.' In the growing literature on the subject, nobody has defined that situation, as it exists now, more sharply; nobody has built so many bridges to a discourse that might be shared universally. Learned yet unpretentious, serious and witty, critical and kind--this book is bound to infuse debates among African intellectuals with new vigor and to engage philosophers, literary critics, anthropologists and others everywhere. One also wishes it would be read by politicians for its lucid analyses of racism as well as its demonstration of intellectual independence tempered by colonial and post-colonial experience."--Johannes Fabian, University of Amsterdam, "A wonderfully crafted collection of essays."--In My Father's House"Appiah's book on the place of Africa in contemporary philosophy powerfully exposes the dangers of any simplistic notion of African identity in the contemporary world....Tellingly, his reflections upon the calling of philosophy and the relation between post-traditional and not-yet-modern African culture(s) offer a welcome perspective on the increasingly shrill debates over "multiculturalism" that rend the academy. The epilogue on his father's funeral alone more than justifies the whole book."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Common Knowledge"Interesting and thought-provoking."--Safro Kwame, Lincoln University"Montaigne invented the modern essay;...Appiah has the brilliance to extend it."--The Village Voice"A groundbreaking--as well as ground-clearing--analysis of absurdities and damaging presuppositions that have clouded our discussions of race, Africa and nationalism since the 19th century....Mr. Appiah delivers what may very well be one of the handful of theoretical works on race that will help preserve our humanity and guide us gracefully into the next century."--Charles Johnson, The New York Times Book Review"Appiah's essays are exquisitely and painstakingly argued."--Washington Post Book World"An exceptional work, whose contextual sweep and lucidity provide a refreshing intellectual tone away from yahoo populism. In many profound ways, Kwame Appiah's In My Father's House ushers in a new level of discourse on race and culture, placing it within a universal narrative--and where else should it belong?...Without question, a first of its kind."--Wole Soyinka, from Race and the Rout of Reason"In My Father's House is a remarkable book that brings previously invisible cultural assumptions to the surface and obliges us to rethink our conceptions about African identity. Drawing upon a variety of elegantly analyzed historical examples and relating them to his own personal experiences of the African world, Anthony Appiah convincingly demonstrates the need to go beyond stereotyped notions of race and futile laments about past injustices. His observations about authenticity movements, the persistence of Western constructions of African realities, and the emergence of new syntheses of knowledge among African peoples represent a major breakthrough in the ongoing debate over the future of African culture."--Richard Bjornson, Ohio State University"This is an absorbing and path-breaking book by a gifted philosopher. Appiah rescues the philosophy of culture from Herder by insisting that we drop notions like 'authentic negritude' and that 'African culture' is the name of an important project rather than of an available datum. The book's range of reference and the vigor of its argumentation are equally impressive."--Richard Rorty, University of Virginia"Appiah's concern is, he modestly states, 'with the situation of African intellectuals.' In the growing literature on the subject, nobody has defined that situation, as it exists now, more sharply; nobody has built so many bridges to a discourse that might be shared universally. Learned yet unpretentious, serious and witty, critical and kind--this book is bound to infuse debates among African intellectuals with new vigor and to engage philosophers, literary critics, anthropologists and others everywhere. One also wishes it would be read by politicians for its lucid analyses of racism as well as its demonstration of intellectual independence tempered by colonial and post-colonial experience."--Johannes Fabian, University of Amsterdam, "In My Father's House is a remarkable book that brings previously invisible cultural assumptions to the surface and obliges us to rethink our conceptions about African identity. Drawing upon a variety of elegantly analyzed historical examples and relating them to his own personal experiencesof the African world, Anthony Appiah convincingly demonstrates the need to go beyond stereotyped notions of race and futile laments about past injustices. His observations about authenticity movements, the persistence of Western constructions of African realities, and the emergence of new synthesesof knowledge among African peoples represent a major breakthrough in the ongoing debate over the future of African culture."--Richard Bjornson, Ohio State University, "An exceptional work, whose contextual sweep and lucidity provide a refreshing intellectual tone away from yahoo populism. In many profound ways, Kwame Appiah's In My Father's House ushers in a new level of discourse on race and culture, placing it within a universal narrative--and where elseshould it belong'...Without question, a first of its kind."--Wole Soyinka, from Race and the Rout of Reason, "In My Father's House is a remarkable book that brings previouslyinvisible cultural assumptions to the surface and obliges us to rethink ourconceptions about African identity. Drawing upon a variety of elegantly analyzedhistorical examples and relating them to his own personal experiences of theAfrican world, Anthony Appiah convincingly demonstrates the need to go beyondstereotyped notions of race and futile laments about past injustices. Hisobservations about authenticity movements, the persistence of Westernconstructions of African realities, and the emergence of new syntheses ofknowledge among African peoples represent a major breakthrough in the ongoingdebate over the future of African culture."--Richard Bjornson, Ohio StateUniversity, "An exceptional work, whose contextual sweep and lucidity provide arefreshing intellectual tone away from yahoo populism. In many profound ways,Kwame Appiah's In My Father's House ushers in a new level of discourse on raceand culture, placing it within a universal narrative--and where else should itbelong'...Without question, a first of its kind."--Wole Soyinka, from Race andthe Rout of Reason, "This is an absorbing and path-breaking book by a gifted philosopher. Appiah rescues the philosophy of culture from Herder by insisting that we drop notions like 'authentic negritude' and that 'African culture' is the name of an important project rather than of an available datum. The book'srange of reference and the vigor of its argumentation are equally impressive."--Richard Rorty, University of Virginia, "Illumined in this book are issues of race and ethnicity; culture andrationality; literature and cosmology; orality, literacy, and philosophy....Thefocus is on Africa, and the commitment, both moral and emotional, is to Africa;but the intellectual standpoint is universal. Appiah's philosophical genius andwide learning are evident on every page. All readers, in particular, those withany interest in Africa--literary, philosophical, historical, anthropological,political--should find the book both stimulating and instructive."--KwasiWiredu, University of South Florida, "Appiah's book on the place of Africa in contemporary philosophypowerfully exposes the dangers of any simplistic notion of African identity inthe contemporary world....Tellingly, his reflections upon the calling ofphilosophy and the relation between post-traditional and not-yet-modern Africanculture(s) offer a welcome perspective on the increasingly shrill debates over"multiculturalism" that rend the academy. The epilogue on his father's funeralalone more than justifies the whole book."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, CommonKnowledge, "Appiah's concern is, he modestly states, 'with the situation of African intellectuals.' In the growing literature on the subject, nobody has defined that situation, as it exists now, more sharply; nobody has built so many bridges to a discourse that might be shared universally. Learned yetunpretentious, serious and witty, critical and kind--this book is bound to infuse debates among African intellectuals with new vigor and to engage philosophers, literary critics, anthropologists and others everywhere. One also wishes it would be read by politicians for its lucid analyses of racismas well as its demonstration of intellectual independence tempered by colonial and post-colonial experience."--Johannes Fabian, University of Amsterdam, "A groundbreaking--as well as ground-clearing--analysis of absurdities anddamaging presuppositions that have clouded our discussions of race, Africa andnationalism since the 19th century....Mr. Appiah delivers what may very well beone of the handful of theoretical works on race that will help preserve ourhumanity and guide us gracefully into the next century."--Charles Johnson, TheNew York Times Book Review, "A wonderfully crafted collection of essays."--In My Father's House "Appiah's book on the place of Africa in contemporary philosophy powerfully exposes the dangers of any simplistic notion of African identity in the contemporary world....Tellingly, his reflections upon the calling of philosophy and the relation between post-traditional and not-yet-modern African culture(s) offer a welcome perspective on the increasingly shrill debates over "multiculturalism" that rend the academy. The epilogue on his father's funeral alone more than justifies the whole book."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Common Knowledge "Interesting and thought-provoking."--Safro Kwame, Lincoln University "Montaigne invented the modern essay;...Appiah has the brilliance to extend it."--The Village Voice "A groundbreaking--as well as ground-clearing--analysis of absurdities and damaging presuppositions that have clouded our discussions of race, Africa and nationalism since the 19th century....Mr. Appiah delivers what may very well be one of the handful of theoretical works on race that will help preserve our humanity and guide us gracefully into the next century."--Charles Johnson, The New York Times Book Review "Appiah's essays are exquisitely and painstakingly argued."--Washington Post Book World "An exceptional work, whose contextual sweep and lucidity provide a refreshing intellectual tone away from yahoo populism. In many profound ways, Kwame Appiah's In My Father's House ushers in a new level of discourse on race and culture, placing it within a universal narrative--and where else should it belong?...Without question, a first of its kind."--Wole Soyinka, from Race and the Rout of Reason "In My Father's House is a remarkable book that brings previously invisible cultural assumptions to the surface and obliges us to rethink our conceptions about African identity. Drawing upon a variety of elegantly analyzed historical examples and relating them to his own personal experiences of the African world, Anthony Appiah convincingly demonstrates the need to go beyond stereotyped notions of race and futile laments about past injustices. His observations about authenticity movements, the persistence of Western constructions of African realities, and the emergence of new syntheses of knowledge among African peoples represent a major breakthrough in the ongoing debate over the future of African culture."--Richard Bjornson, Ohio State University "This is an absorbing and path-breaking book by a gifted philosopher. Appiah rescues the philosophy of culture from Herder by insisting that we drop notions like 'authentic negritude' and that 'African culture' is the name of an important project rather than of an available datum. The book's range of reference and the vigor of its argumentation are equally impressive."--Richard Rorty, University of Virginia "Appiah's concern is, he modestly states, 'with the situation of African intellectuals.' In the growing literature on the subject, nobody has defined that situation, as it exists now, more sharply; nobody has built so many bridges to a discourse that might be shared universally. Learned yet unpretentious, serious and witty, critical and kind--this book is bound to infuse debates among African intellectuals with new vigor and to engage philosophers, literary critics, anthropologists and others everywhere. One also wishes it would be read by politicians for its lucid analyses of racism as well as its demonstration of intellectual independence tempered by colonial and post-colonial experience."--Johannes Fabian, University of Amsterdam, "This is an absorbing and path-breaking book by a gifted philosopher.Appiah rescues the philosophy of culture from Herder by insisting that we dropnotions like 'authentic negritude' and that 'African culture' is the name of animportant project rather than of an available datum. The book's range ofreference and the vigor of its argumentation are equally impressive."--RichardRorty, University of Virginia, "Appiah's book on the place of Africa in contemporary philosophy powerfully exposes the dangers of any simplistic notion of African identity in the contemporary world....Tellingly, his reflections upon the calling of philosophy and the relation between post-traditional and not-yet-modernAfrican culture(s) offer a welcome perspective on the increasingly shrill debates over "multiculturalism" that rend the academy. The epilogue on his father's funeral alone more than justifies the whole book."--Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Common Knowledge, "Appiah's concern is, he modestly states, 'with the situation of Africanintellectuals.' In the growing literature on the subject, nobody has definedthat situation, as it exists now, more sharply; nobody has built so many bridgesto a discourse that might be shared universally. Learned yet unpretentious,serious and witty, critical and kind--this book is bound to infuse debates amongAfrican intellectuals with new vigor and to engage philosophers, literarycritics, anthropologists and others everywhere. One also wishes it would beread by politicians for its lucid analyses of racism as well as itsdemonstration of intellectual independence tempered by colonial andpost-colonial experience."--Johannes Fabian, University of Amsterdam
