Reviews

Searching for Utopia: The History of an Idea by Gregory Claeys

edowdle's review

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2.0

A very basic introduction - not bad for what it is, but nothing very groundbreaking.

galateadoesbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

There's not much narrative in this history, as it reads more like a chronological catalogue of all the works that fall under the author's definition of "Utopia", which according to him is a narrative that tries to show a realistic way towards crafting a better society. The introduction and conclusion are where his voice shines the most, while in-between, he serves more as a tour guide towards the history of what utopian literature has been, throughout the millennia.

While there isn't a very strong emotional narrative here to hook the reader throughout, the book more than makes up for it with a comprehensive, if shallow, look at an idea that's popped up again and again over the centuries, which is impressive in terms of scope alone.

lyndonleigh's review

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.0