Two Cheers for Democracy

In times when it seems all too easy to give away our rights in exchange for largely virtual safety, the voice of E. M. Forster sounds more loud and clear than ever before. In his essays written before and after the Second World War Forster discusses the dangers that we are facing today. Forster's solution may seem naive to our cynical age but only if we don't try to get to the bottom. This book is a lesson we still have not learned - always worth another look.

I couldn't care less about the political essays -- but what he has to say about creativity and criticism is better than anything I've read in modern "how to write" books.Skip the politics if you want (I did); if you want insight into art, specifically writing, buy this book and his ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL.

E.M. Forster is better known as a writer than as a great thinker.This volume contains most of his nonfiction writings and thus introduces us to a different side of Forster. Some of the pieces, it is true, are on writing, but most relevant for today is probably his political thought. Forster provides us with a window into the world of the nineteen thirties where democracy was perceived as a fragile and precious object in danger of being blown away by the forces of fascism and communism. Still, in "What I believe" and "Three Anti-Nazi broadcasts" Forster reaffirms his belief in this form of government. Democracy is important, he argues, because it allows criticism. He argues that "parliament is often sneered at because it is a Talking Shop. I believe in it because it is a talking shop. I believe in the Private Member who makes himself a nuisance. He gets snubbed and is told that he is cranky or ill- informed, but he does expose abuses which would otherwise never have been mentioned". Forster argues forcefully against hero worship and against the cult of "great men". Although rooted in a bygone era, much of his thinking retains some relevance today.

The poetic begining of the book was the best part. I especially liked the way Forrestor used the displays to describe human nature. Foresstor has tremendous insight into human nature; maybe only the pessimistic side. I thoughthe was long winded when he got into his own views. But then again that is my own opion.