Stan Gooch (1932–2010)

I read this book in my late teens a lot from it - including how to disagree with an intellectual who was obviously far better educated than I was (at that tender age). I found myself making furious notes in the margin. The author was- inter alia - trying to create an intellectual case for sexism. He determined that there were activities more suitable for women and others for men. He tried to construct an elaborate taxonomy of male v. female, physical v. spiritual, scientific v. intuitive etc. But what was good about the book was that the author clearly distinguished between what was known fact and what was his personal theory and speculation. Although he erred at one point in implying that it was accepted that modern humans are descended from an interaction of Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal, elsewhere in the book he presented accurate facts alongside with outlandish and controversial opinions. But the key point here is that this book got me seriously thinking. It was not enough to think "this man is wrong!" - I also had to ask "why is he wrong?" and formulate a counter-argument in my own mind.… (mehr)