The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World
Andrew Doyle
Sep 2022 · Little, Brown Book Group · Narrated by Andrew Doyle
4.2star
5 reviewsreport
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11 hr 28 min
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'A sober but devastating skewering of cancel culture and the moral certainties it shares with religious fundamentalism' Sunday Times
'Andrew Doyle has written a masterful broadside against the woke that will also discomfit the anti-woke, proposing to both the radical notion that rather than being identities, we embrace our status as individuals' Critic
Engaging, incisive and acute, The New Puritans is a deeply necessary exploration of our current cultural climate and an urgent appeal to return to a truly liberal society.
The puritans of the seventeenth century sought to refashion society in accordance with their own beliefs, but they were deep thinkers who were aware of their own fallibility. Today, in the grasp of the new puritans, we see a very different story.
Leading a cultural revolution driven by identity politics and so-called 'social justice', the new puritanism movement is best understood as a religion - one that makes grand claims to moral purity and tolerates no dissent. Its disciples even have their own language, rituals and a determination to root out sinners through what has become known as 'cancel culture'.
In The New Puritans, Andrew Doyle powerfully examines the underlying belief-systems of this ideology, and how it has risen so rapidly to dominate all major political, cultural and corporate institutions. He reasons that, to move forward, we need to understand where these new puritans came from and what they hope to achieve. Written in the spirit of optimism and understanding, Doyle offers an eloquent and powerful case for the reinstatement of liberal values and explains why it's important we act now.
'Andrew Doyle has written a masterful broadside against the woke that will also discomfit the anti-woke, proposing to both the radical notion that rather than being identities, we embrace our status as individuals' Critic
Engaging, incisive and acute, The New Puritans is a deeply necessary exploration of our current cultural climate and an urgent appeal to return to a truly liberal society.
The puritans of the seventeenth century sought to refashion society in accordance with their own beliefs, but they were deep thinkers who were aware of their own fallibility. Today, in the grasp of the new puritans, we see a very different story.
Leading a cultural revolution driven by identity politics and so-called 'social justice', the new puritanism movement is best understood as a religion - one that makes grand claims to moral purity and tolerates no dissent. Its disciples even have their own language, rituals and a determination to root out sinners through what has become known as 'cancel culture'.
In The New Puritans, Andrew Doyle powerfully examines the underlying belief-systems of this ideology, and how it has risen so rapidly to dominate all major political, cultural and corporate institutions. He reasons that, to move forward, we need to understand where these new puritans came from and what they hope to achieve. Written in the spirit of optimism and understanding, Doyle offers an eloquent and powerful case for the reinstatement of liberal values and explains why it's important we act now.
Ratings and reviews
4.2
5 reviews
2010Wilde
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November 20, 2022
Doyle is a massive hypocrite. He slams cancel culture and censorship, yet he himself engages in it. He tried to sue a young comedian for every penny after she joked about his blind obsession for Douglas Murray. At his comedy club, Comedy Unleashed, a few comedians have coming out saying Doyle controls their set list and forbids them from joking about people he agrees with. It's rich being lectured from a man who will not hesitate to destroy someone's career if you stray from his script!
Barnaby Patchett
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November 8, 2022
Excellent exploration of the critical social justice movement and the dangers of ideological certainty. Engaging, thoughtful and well referenced - it characterises modern identity politics and critical social justice as religion. As part of this process compares the rise in its popularity, power and impact in Western society to that of the Salem Witch Trials. Although not impartial by any means, it approaches the subject with a more charitable characterisation of the movement than you might expect, while offering hope for a resurgence in liberal values.
Chris Ffelan
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October 11, 2022
I was a bit worried that this might be a bit preachy, but I shouldn't have worried. It's informed, witty, illuminating & a thoroughly good listen.
About the author
Andrew Doyle is a writer, broadcaster and satirist whose commentary on political and cultural issues is regularly published in the national press. He is the author of Free Speech and Why It Matters and has also written two satirical books as Titania McGrath - Woke: A Guide to Social Justice and My First Little Book of Intersectional Activism. He is the presenter of Free Speech Nation, a weekly television show on GB News, and was formerly a panellist on the BBC's Moral Maze. He has a doctorate in Renaissance Literature from the University of Oxford where he also worked as a stipendiary lecturer.
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