SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Wisdom by Jason A. Merchey
A canny blend of expert quotations, insightful observations, and personal anecdotes, Jason A. Merchey’s Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought is an intensive, yet highly readable, study of the concept of wisdom across history.
Merchey’s work springs from the idea that wisdom is currently underappreciated, particularly in the United States. The text highlights the necessity of balancing the American tendency to focus on individual exceptionalism with concern for the collective common good. Drawing on the importance of “the wisdom of crowds,” Merchey ends each chapter with an extensive list of quotes aimed at provoking questions from readers.[…]