Michiko Kakutani

Author

Michiko Kakutani is one of the most influential literary critics in American history, having served as chief book critic for The New York Times from 1983 to 2017. Her book The Death of Truth examines the decline of truth and reason in American public life, tracing how a culture of relativism, polarisation and disinformation has... undermined the shared foundations of democratic discourse. Kakutani won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1998 and was known for her rigorous, unsparing reviews that could make or break literary reputations. In The Death of Truth, she brings her formidable analytical skills to the broader cultural crisis, drawing on literature, philosophy, history and media studies to explain how facts and expertise came to be devalued in American public life. Her analysis connects developments in academic theory, political strategy, technology and media to create a comprehensive account of how truth became contested territory. Kakutani's prose is precise, forceful and deeply informed by her decades of engagement with literature and ideas. The audiobook edition, narrated by Tavia Gilbert, brings her urgent analysis to listeners concerned about the erosion of truth in contemporary politics and culture. Read more Show less