The Secret Knowledge

On the Dismantling of American Culture

By: David Mamet

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

For the past 30 years, David Mamet has been a controversial and defining force in theater and film, championing the most cherished liberal values along the way. In some of the great movies and plays of our time, his characters have explored the ethics of the business world, embodied the struggles of the oppressed, and faced the flaws of the capitalist system. But in recent years Mamet has had a change of heart. He realized that the so-called mainstream media outlets he relied on were irredeemably biased, peddling a hypocritical and deeply flawed worldview. In 2008 he wrote a hugely controversial op-ed for the Village Voice, "Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal,'" in which he methodically eviscerated liberal beliefs. Now he goes much deeper, employing his trademark intellectual force and vigor to take on all the key political and cultural issues of our times, from religion to political correctness to global warming. Mamet pulls no punches in his art or in his politics. And as a former liberal who woke up, he will win over an entirely new audience of others who have grown irate over America's current direction.

©2011 David Mamet (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A Manichean analysis from a strident new voice from the Right---for liberals, something intended to ignite antagonism; for the like-minded, a buttress against the opposition." ( Kirkus)

Enjoyable listen, take with a grain of salt

Would you listen to The Secret Knowledge again? Why?

I would listen to this book again because I particularly enjoyed Mamet's lexicon.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

A central theme of this book is differentiating justice in regards to codified law and justice in regards to personal sentiment and compassion. Mamet seems to argue for the merits of the former. The analogy in Chapter 30 between the rules of sports and the policies of government provides a compelling discussion of this theme.

Have you listened to any of Johnny Heller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to a Johnny Heller performance prior to this book. I did not enjoy Mr. Heller's narration style initially, I found it a bit raspy; however, I began to appreciate it as the book unfolded.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Also being a Chicago native myself, I enjoyed Mamet's commentary on his experiences within and near this locale.

Any additional comments?

I believe I will appreciate this book more on the second listen.

Defective recording

Caution- playback suddenly crashes about :25 before end of this work. Otherwise it was good.

Good but sloppy in parts

Where Mamet gets it right, he gets it very right. His critique of, for instance, liberals disdain for the West and the reflexive anti-Americanism that passes for concern for the wretched of the Earth is pretty spot on. His critique of the Nobel Savage myth and much of what he has to say about education, particularly in the humanities is also very good.

The problem is that where he gets it wrong, he gets it very, very wrong. His critique of liberal economics is not right. It's not even wrong. At best, he descends into caricature, putting into the mouths of liberals words that very few actual liberals would say. He also makes a very common conservative mistake and that is to pretend that capitalism has no flaws, or at least no flaws worthy of taking note of and certainly no flaws worthy of society taking any action to ameliorate. It is amazing, at least to me, that anyone calling themselves a conservative could be opposed to public education but it appears that Mamet believes that education is just a commodity like, say, a table. It isn't.

He also descends into "let's just mock Obama" FOX News territory. His statement on czars around chapter 19 conveniently ignores that every president since Nixon has had this or that czar around with nary a peep. It is just that czar sounds Russian (because it is) and Russian sounds Communist (because they were) and so now that the POTUS is a Democrat czars are one step away from dictatorship. His statements about Obama 'running the car companies' was also not even wrong.

All in all, a worthwhile book. If you are a conservative, I would not waste my money on it because you will not hear anything about liberals that you do not already believe. If you are a liberal then you should buy this book. Yes, it will make you mad but sometimes apostates and outsiders give the clearest picture of a movement and Mamet is certainly entirely wrong about what has become of modern-day liberals.

Good, but not too autobiographical like I thought.

I had expected to hear much more about Mamet himself.

I thought it was insightful. For example, he talks about why American Jews are usually liberal. I found that helpful.

Over all, a very good book.

It shouldn't be a secret

What did you love best about The Secret Knowledge?

Memet is quite the wordsmith. He uses that talent to make a strong case for his beliefs on a number of issues impacting society.

What does Johnny Heller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Heller accomplishes what all good narrators strive to do. He doesn't distract from the narrative.

worth listening to

A formal liberal explains how he came to his senses. A well written explanation of what makes our country unique and great.

Great

Such compelling arguments, and very entertaining. Recommend to all those seeking to understand life in America

Must read

It’s a really interesting book, full of questions each of us should ask ourselves from time to time.

Casual dialogue with Humor

I just enjoyed listing to the dialogue and humorous references to childhood experiences. I smiled and chuckled through out the book.

A Raving Conservative

Would you try another book from David Mamet and/or Johnny Heller?

Not Mamet

What didn???t you like about Johnny Heller???s performance?

He was fine

Any additional comments?

David Mamet plays the passionate conservative/libatarian but for all the plaudits he sends to the so-called wealth creating rich, he seems to have been completely absent during the 2008 financial crisis.

He also missed the fact that the government support of the US auto industry helped it make its way back. His idiotic diatribe that the government didn't know anything about designing cars was embarrassing in it's lack of the reality of what happened - the companies have paid back the government and are doing fine.

He is relentless in his criticism of the left, over and over again, continuously bashing the youth of the sixties and of today. He subtly bashes Obama without once mentioning his name. .

The book was very repetitive but I stuck it out unitl the end to see if he had a plan. He didn't.