But What If We're Wrong? Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past is a 2016 non-fiction book by American author and essayist Chuck Klosterman.
 Hardcover edition | |
| Author | Chuck Klosterman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Culture, social science, epistemology |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Penguin Press, Blue Rider Press imprint |
Publication date | June 7, 2016 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print, e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 288 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-399-18412-3 |
Content and concepts
editThe premise of the book is that most of what we believe is likely to be wrong, but to avoid delusions in our perceptions, Klosterman advises us to "think about the present as if it were the distant past."[1]
Klosterman examines such phenomena as the history of scientific theories, our perception of historical literary geniuses and our interests in entertainment and professional sports, as background examples to challenge the reader's confidence in their contemporary perceptions, and to try to detect how those perceptions might be mistaken.[1] In a series of what have been called thought experiments,[2] various topics (literary greats, multiverses, time, dreams, democracy, television shows, sports) are analyzed under "Klosterman's Razor": the concept that "the best hypothesis is the one that reflexively accepts its potential wrongness to begin with."[3]
Reception
editBut What If We're Wrong? reached The New York Times Best Seller list in the Culture category.[4]
Jim Holt wrote in The New York Times that while he was "never bored" and Klosterman's goals were admirable, the book left him "exasperated," Holt asserting the book lacked rigor and treated profound questions with glibness: "My hackles raised, I argued inwardly with the author on every page."[1]
Kirkus Reviews indicated the book is "full of intelligence and insights" and "makes readers think," challenging our beliefs "with jocularity and perspicacity."[3]
Publishers Weekly acknowledged the book was "pop philosophy" but noted parts were based on interviews of "heavyweights," adding that Klosterman's humor and curiosity "propel the reader through the book."[2]
In The Oregonian, Douglas Perry recognised the impossibility of the predicting the future, explaining why the book includes "endless streams of maybes, coulds and ifs, all leading to a shrug"—while affirming that Klosterman is "good company throughout the long, fruitless expedition."[5]
In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Will Ashton asserted the book to be Klosterman's most wide-reaching accomplishment to date and confirmed the writer's "signature wit," but wrote that Klosterman appeared "overwhelmed" by the challenge, leaving "an ongoing sense (Klosterman) is grasping here."[6]
The book's cover, designed by Paul Sahre, was judged among the year's best, as chosen by the art director of The New York Times Book Review.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Holt, Jim (June 29, 2016). "The Good, the True, the Beautiful and Chuck Klosterman". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.
- ^ a b "But What If We're Wrong? Thinking About the Present as if It Were the Past". Publishers Weekly. April 18, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016.
- ^ a b "KIRKUS REVIEW / An inquiry into why we'll probably be wrong about almost everything". Kirkus Reviews. March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016.
- ^ "BOOKS / BEST SELLERS / Culture". The New York Times. September 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017.
- ^ Perry, Douglas (June 21, 2016). "Chuck Klosterman's 'But What If We're Wrong?' peers into the future". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016.
- ^ Ashton, Will (July 10, 2016). "'But What If We're Wrong?': Certitude is a four-letter word in Chuck Klosterman's latest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on July 12, 2016.
- ^ Dorfman, Matt (December 7, 2016). "The Best Book Covers of 2016". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016.