Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part One
1. What is a work of art?
2. Is "high" art superior?
3. Can science help?
4. Do the arts make us better?
5. Can art be a religion?
Part Two
6. Literature and Critical Intelligence
7. Creative reading: Literature and indistinctness
Afterword
Bibliography/Notes/Index
John Carey is the Chief Book Reviewer for The Sunday Times (London).
"An intensely argued polemic against the intellectually
supercilious, the snooty rich and the worship of high culture as a
secular religion for the spiritually refined and socially
heartless. Anyone seriously interested in the arts should read
it."--Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World
"Smart, saucy."--Newsday
"Anyone who still insists on lecturing us about 'high' culture and
its superiority to 'mass' culture should be made to read John
Carey's 'What Good Are the Arts?'.... Carey defines art, tells us
what it's good for and has enormous fun dismantling the claims of
aesthetic theorists, from Kant onward. It's been a long time since
I've read a saner book." --Nick Hornby, Favorite Book of 2005
selection, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Brilliant, funny, and insightful.... Makes a compelling and
persuasive case that creative expression--especially the written
word--is absolutely central to a rich and thoughtful life."--New
York Post
"Exhilarating and suggestive.... Professor John Carey is at his
most acerbic, combative and impassioned in this brilliant
polemic."--Rupert Christiansen, Spectator
"An informative, thought-provoking and entertaining book on a
subject that rarely produces writing with all three
qualities."--David Lodge, Sunday Times
"Brilliantly stimulating and timely."--Helen Meany, Irish Times
"Engaged, provocative and frequently funny."--Sam Leith, Daily
Telegraph
"Incisive and inspirational.... How interesting it would be if
Careys anti-elitist values were adopted and put into practice. Next
time the post of chair of the Arts Council becomes vacant, someone
ought to nominate him."--Blake Morrison, Guardian
"Brilliant, erudite and often hilarious.... Carey has already been
voted one of Britain's top public intellectuals. What Good Are The
Arts? should enhance and cement that reputation."--Julian Baggini,
Sunday Herald
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