The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought

Robinson turns her keenly analytical mind to the problem of Adamic hubris. She sees the universal adoption of Darwinian thinking by our scientific, social, political, economic, and religious communities a hazard to the existence of mankind (adam) on the earth.Robinson is not a young earth creationist. She does not deny that evolution is a major player in the progress of our universe, planet, and even the human race. What she objects to is the borrowing of Darwin's "survival of the fittest" as an excuse for the raping of the environment and the oppression of the poor.It may well be that the "fittest" can survive at the expense of the unfit. It might also be true that by eliminating the "weak" we enable the "strong" to thrive. But Robinson argues (from her Calvinist background) that it is far from inevitable that the week must perish at the hands, or the devising, of the strong. And arguing again from her Calvinist background she insists that our nearly forgotten religious roots go back to Puritan, and Calvinist, and first century Christian teachings that the strong have an obligation to protect the weak."The Death of Adam" is one of the most challenging books I've read in a long time. One does not need to agree with Robinson's religious justifications for her positions. She makes her case clearly by simply showing how the Darwinian path we are on leads to destruction, for our environment, for our nation, and ultimately for the human race.

Everything arrived on time and as advertised

Many of these essays were excellent. Robinson makes many very good points - particularly regarding those who write about others (like Calvin) without actually having read their work. The last two essays seemed repetitive to me - they made arguments that had already appeared in earlier chapters, and occasionally seemed to re-make the same point multiple times. That said, Robinson's writing is a joy to read. The mechanics of her sentences and her word choices turn all of the essays into sparkling jewels. Have a dictionary handy, as you will be dazzled by some words you don't see often that turn out to be PRECISELY the right choice.

i read this collection of essays on the strength of MR's novel Housekeeping. it is very rare indeed to find prose as strong and elegantly written in 20th century america - mostly we must turn to emerson, thoreau, fuller, hawthorne, to find such good writing, which by definition must be elegant, exact and tuned to its own pitch, as this collection surely is. again, to compare this work with emerson, reading this is much like reading Nature for the first time. Maybe you will not agree with MR, but if you read her rightly, your disagreement will be your own, not your newschannel's or your professor's opinion. her essay on darwinism (as distinct from evolution) is a masterwork of radical liberalism.

So good, so smart, so cantankerous, vox clamantis in deserto. Putting the Enlightenment in its fuller context, shining the light on the estimable Marguerite de Navarre and her intellectual heir - John Calvin and his inestimable contributions to the concept of liberal democracy!, some goodhearted exegesis, and the other (compassionate) side of Puritanism.Not a 'religious' book as such, yet one filled with spirit and tempered by reason. There is always something in Robinson's writing that tickles my casuistry bone, but I'm firmly convinced she'd welcome the debate. Highly recommend.

I give this book 3 stars because I do like her informed and cogent essay on Darwinism. She has studied the phenomenon in question, considered the opposing views, and presented her case with good logic. Unfortunately, none of these qualities is brought to bear on her next essay, "Family".The writing there is subjective, wandering, and absent of any traditional wisdom or sound research on family. From there we go on to personal reminiscing. This is a book with but one arrow in the quiver.

Reading this book is like a soul-searching journey. In the modern age of cynicism and existentialist crisis, I am at loss of my own spirits, that mysticism Robinson stresses as vital in defining our own humanity. There a lot of things we cannot answer, and Robinson has guided me with reason to believe again.

This book of essays is a wonderful testimony of a person who is not afraid to go against the commonly held beliefs of much of the non-religious world. Who knew Calvin was so intersting, or that New Englander Calvinists and the McCuffie (sp?) readers were so admirable, or that the Darwinists so untrustworthy? You don't have to believe her, but she will make you read more about all these and other topics.

I am not sure that I agree with every word written by Marilynne Robinson but she is someone to read and read again.. I especially liked the essays on Darwin and Marguerite of Navarre. In the first Robinson, eloquent and exact, shows how Darwin's work was a polemic just as much as it was an exposition of scientific thought. In the second (two essays) the nature of Calvinism is explored, with learned speculation about the influence on John Calvin of the sixteenth century princess, herself a sharp-minded poet and patron of religious reform. New ideas, old ideas re- examined, an attack on contemporary materialism, radiant prose, balanced, clear, honest, and subtle. There is no dumbing down in Robinson's work but that is her point - the complexity of things makes them interesting..

Superb analysis of the malaise at the heart of modern culture. Wonderful dissection of those who mock Calvinism, which the author argues was the basis of the freedoms today's generation are casting off. Not an easy read. Read in small doses and digest. Well worth the effort.

Outstanding! A real mind-blower, and guaranteed to sweep away the cobwebs of complacency!

Robinson is on form as a voice of intelligent and sensitive American Christianity.

Ms Robinson strikes a quixotic tone but in having a go at social darwinism I think she's tilting at the wrong windmill as this ideology seems largely defunct. I was disappointed that she didn't take on Dennett's views in, say, "Freedom Evolves" as I think that would have made a fascinating essay. The chapters on the reformists and self improvers of the nineteenth century are very interesting but the later essays on the environment and political correctness suffer from the "it seems to me.." approach- so beloved of Prince Charles in his windier moments.But the true value of the book is in the first chapter where Ms Robinson argues compellingly for genuine academic rigour and a delicious sardonic wit emerges which is sadly absent from the later essays.