Strange New World

How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution

By: Carl R. Trueman, Ryan T. Anderson - foreword

Narrated by: Carl R. Trueman

Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

From Philosophy to Technology, Tracing the Origin of Identity Politics

How did the world arrive at its current, disorienting state of identity politics, and how should the church respond? Historian Carl R. Trueman discusses how influences ranging from traditional institutions to technology and pornography moved modern culture toward an era of “expressive individualism.” Investigating philosophies from the Romantics, Nietzsche, Marx, Wilde, Freud, and the New Left, he outlines the history of Western thought to the distinctly sexual direction of present-day identity politics and explains the modern implications of these ideas on religion, free speech, and personal identity.

For fans of Trueman’s The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, this audiobook offers a more concise presentation and application of some of the most critical topics of our day. Individuals and groups can work through the book together with the Strange New World Study Guide and Strange New World Video Study, sold separately.

©2022 Carl R. Trueman (P)2022 Crossway

Thorough, Concise, Accessible

Felt like my History and English degrees got crammed into a five-hour book! Makes me want to read my favorite literary heroes all over again.

Outstanding.

I read Carl Trueman’s the rise and triumph of the modern self two years ago, and found it incredibly challenging from an academic perspective, very helpful in terms of weaving together a strong correlation among what we might otherwise think of as discrete contributors to our modern psychologized anthropology, gracious, but very polemic in terms of approach to the subject, calling for further study on the subject of critical theory in general, and perhaps most of all highlighting our need for lament and repentance in the church, and perhaps all, but at least western nations. Having just finished listening to this abbreviated version, I am struck by the same chords in a much more digestible presentation. If anyone has pause before listening to or reading this book, I would suggest starting with the final chapter, and letting that convince you in shorthand of the importance of reading the whole book. I haven’t done all my homework, but I am praying that that the Lord will lay it on Dr. Trueman’s heart to write a book addressing critical theory more generally at the intersection of political theology and what this means for the church and the gospel in the 21st-century.

Hard truths in a clear and compelling way

Incredibly well researched, explained and traced throughout philosophical history, this book frame is the whole picture in an accessible way. It really explains why our western world is so divided today, and how that all rests on the philosophical change in the Enlightenment, Renaissance, Reformation and Post-Modernism. As Christians, we must understand our contemporary world, and love those who think differently, while not losing the essence of the Salvation story. Well worth your time to read.

Great book. Must read

A deep look at how we got to todays culture. Superb and penetrating analysis with deep insights.

Very worthwhile read.

A clear eyed, historically informed view of the world. Carl Trueman clearly understands the philosophical and historical framework of our modern times.

Great work by a thoughtful Christian teacher

Great work by a thoughtful Christian teacher. Truman breaks his larger work into understandable chapters that all Christians should hear.

Excellent

I enjoyed this book and it helped me clarify many of the things I see around me. Excellent.

Excellent!

This is the best explanation of the rise of the pagan left that you will find. We can’t defeat the evil until we understand it.

A clarifying book

Truman does a great job of framing some of the inputs to what we see today in culture. He also does a good job of pushing back on the foolish approach of the secret sensitive church for the last 40 years, that being that we're not ever supposed to suffer and always be delivered. We live in a fallen world, this book will help us understand our current cultural moment and what to do moving forward.

Important to know

I agree with the author, that it is important to see the roots of our current culture. Lots to think about and I will probably listen to it one more time at least. I really appreciate the last chapter because that’s always the big question, where do we go from here?