I regard the two terms as now having the same meaning – namely an awareness of social inequalities such as racial injustice, sexism, and denial of LGBT rights. ‘Woke’ is now best known as a negative political buzzword used to describe anything deemed too liberal or progressive.
Douglas Murray is a British author and conservative political commentator, cultural critic, and journalist. This extensively researched book is a detailed – one might say exhaustive – and, in my opinion, well-argued and convincing polemic against wokeism. But in me Douglas was preaching to the converted, and everyone likes to be ‘proven’ correct.
The book’s contents are entitled:
Chapter 1 Gay
Interlude: The Marxist Foundations
Chapter 2 Women
Interlude: The Impact of Tech
Chapter 3 Race
Interlude: On Forgiveness
Chapter 4 Trans
Conclusion.
Early in the last chapter Murray says: “This whole subject has become so emotive and incendiary that dealing with it requires a forensic approach, though even that will never be accurate enough to satisfy everyone.” I think the same could be said of all the subjects he addresses.
Of course I think it would be much more useful if the book were read by woke people. Unfortunately, the woke are rarely prepared to listen to contrary opinions, so the book is unlikely to have much impact on today’s society. Lest you think this criticism applies equally to those with conservative opinions, I can speak only for myself; but I enjoy hearing contrary views, so that I can argue against them. Indeed, I sometimes play devil’s advocate just to provoke a discussion. Surely it would be preferable if everyone, whether conservative or woke, were prepared to listen to those with contrary opinions, and discuss them in a civilised manner – sadly a rare trait today.
This dichotomy is well illustrated by these extracts from two reviews of the book:
“Anger is ultimately a mystery to Murray, seeming to emanate spontaneously from his political and ideological foes. He can come up with no better explanation for it than that bad people enjoy it, that ‘their desire is not to heal but to divide, not to placate but to inflame’. And yet when an author goes to such great lengths to assure you that others are degraded, and that ‘we’ white, male conservatives simply want to live in harmony, you have to wonder whom much of this anger truly belongs to.” [The Guardian]
“Murray investigates the dangers of ‘woke’ culture and the rise of identity politics. In lively, razor-sharp prose he examines the most controversial issues of our moment: sexuality, gender, technology and race, with interludes on the Marxist foundations of ‘wokeness’, the impact of tech and how, in an increasingly online culture, we must relearn the ability to forgive. One of the few writers who dares to counter the prevailing view and question the dramatic changes in our society – from gender reassignment for children to the impact of transgender rights on women – Murray’s penetrating book clears a path of sanity through the fog of our modern predicament.” [The Sunday Times]
In my Kindle edition of the book, Murray has added an “Afterword”, based partly on the book’s reception, which gave him reason for hope, but also on events in the year since its first publication, which only reinforced the concerns he had earlier expressed. It also includes a reminder that the author is gay – a fact which might surprise some readers, but which only serves to confirm that one should be judged by their words and actions, not by their identity.
Each section is long, and includes many factual examples to support the author’s opinions. I certainly found these examples served to reinforce my existing opinions. It is surely beyond contention that, on each of these issues, some movement away from traditional approaches was required. However, I firmly believe that the movement has gone too far. I can only wonder how the examples cited by the author would be readily dismissed by anyone holding contrary opinions. Sadly, I think too few of those are likely to read the book to put this to the test.
I can only urge Voice readers, whatever your opinions on these social issues, to read the book and judge for yourselves.
