THIS INCREDIBLY well written and interesting book is actually by John Ralston Saul, a brilliant writer and observer of world events. His fiction and non-fiction have won many awards and he holds the distinction of being the husband of Canada's beloved previous Governer General Adrian Clarkson.

A critique of the technocrat and just about every perceived failing in the Western World over the last two centuries. Saul takes a broad axe and mace to Western societies elites - a rapier may have been more appropriate. His central thesis is that the age of reason gave way to the age of systems logic. Common sense and humanitarianism fell victim to the Hero, the technocrat, the system and material progress. He saves his main attack against the MBA, the staff officer, the political system, economics and the like. While Saul scores some good points, like the true anarchist (he is not one), he tends to critique and not provide alternatives. I suspect no system or organization, or for that matter its antithesis would satisfy him. His criticism of careerism, particularly in the military, is valid. His attack against non-productive financing such as takeovers and the like are also good. In too many cases it is easy to say what's your point or so-what . He curses the staff officer, but I don't see how a modern army can survive without a competent staff. One of the areas he attacks and which I whole heartedly agree is academic specialization which invents itself again and again to the degree where it is unintelligible and for the most part meaningless. Such specialization tends to exclude or otherwise render useless good communication. In fact I have often thought that the more pretentious, uncomprehensible and jargon laded a paper was the more it was probably useless and incorrect in its proposed theory. He attacks crass materialism and the self-centered ambition to which the west seems to hold in such high esteem. A good overview of many of the short-comings of Western Society, but on the whole not convincing enough to suggest we have completely lost the way.

Like shampoo for your mind - you know, lather, rinse, repeat. I especially liked his retelling of the myths of modern warfare.