Book Review: Out on a Limb

I discovered Andrew Sullivan through a podcast that explored his new book “Out on a Limb”. I was and continue to be fascinated by how he explores ideas and frameworks for thinking in this modern era. In particular, his ability to admit that he was wrong, and not let that hinder his writing was an astounding idea. In this era, where everything seems so permanent once pen is put to paper (or perhaps finger to keyboard), here was someone that let his thoughts flow as they are, a snapshot in time, unapologetic to a future that could judge or reward.

I’ve read this collection of essays, and in parallel, listened to Andrew Sullivan’s interviews on his own podcast, The Dishcast. Every conversation is a challenging clash and expression of ideas. It is an entrancing strategy with which to engage in the many facets of this world. And Andrew’s writing is an even better example of this.

I enjoy the chronology of this collection of essays. They do not attempt to be sorted or categorized. Instead they appear in order of publication throughout three decades of career writing. In this presentation, we have an opportunity to see Andrew’s writing mature, understand the evolution of his ideas, and stroll through history. It is the journalistic equivalent of seeing the rings of a tree.

I know not whether I agree with everything that Andrew puts forward. But here is a man willing to stake the moment on his opinion. And then, let the moment pass. He distills life through these spoken and written mediums; or at least, what his perspective of life is in that very moment. I love this book and Andrew’s podcast. I love them because the expectation is not to agree continuously with the ideas presented; the expectation is that one must engage. Think critically, build your own mountain of ideals and philosophy, and then be ready to watch it crumble as it invariably does for all of us. The crumbling of this mountain matters not, it is the unwillingness to build it in the first place that is the mortal sin.

Notable Essays

This is a small sample, as I failed to keep track of my favorites over the course of 6 months of reading.

• Gay Life, Gay Death. This book overall has been a glimpse into the horror that was the AIDS epidemic. This essay in particular demonstrates the presence of death in culture.
• The Politics of Homosexuality & Alone Again, Naturally. These essays provide an argument for homosexuality from a political and religious perspective respectively. Am I well read in this area, no. Are these essays good, yes.
• My America. A modern lover letter to America as it has been an ideological home to Andrew.
• Going Down Screaming. An essay from 1998, already worrying about the future of conservatism (from the perspective of a conservative). Andrew wrote about history in motion.
• Crisis of Faith. A deep investigation of how religious fundamentalism is used by the conservative powers that be.
• The End of Gay Culture. A nostalgic essay to the culture that espoused around the gay rights movements of the nineties. A lesson that all successful revolutionaries must get used to; at some point it doesn’t feel as revolutionary.
• The Abolition of Torture. Torture is always wrong; those that tell you otherwise are lying to you or ignorant. This is the essay that proves it.
• How Did I Get Iraq Wrong. The ability that you can admit you are wrong is admiral. The ability to write a thoughtful essay analyzing that mistake is another talent.
• Why I Blog. This is an incredible essay analyzing the mediums by which we connect with audiences and the importance of both short form and long form writing in our society moving forward.
• Dear Ta-Nehisi. Even more than other essays, this is an apology. It is one that tries to balance professional responsibility with humanism. Conclusions for Andrew as well as the reader are uncertain.
• What Is the Meaning of Pope Francis. I loved Andrew’s perspective of religion throughout these essays. This history of the current papacy is deep in its literary investigation, and contains many lessons.
• Democracies End When They are Too Democratic. May before the 2016 election. “Trump is an extinction-level event”. Sound summary if I’ve ever heard one.
• I Used to Be a Human Being. Social media technology has an affect on us that is deeper than we possibly understand.
• The Poison We Pick. Opiates are a social terror, accelerated by our ubiquitous loneliness.
• America’s New Religions. Religion has a role to play ever still in our modern lives. Our political lives might depend upon it.