Anti-Intellectualism in America (feat. C. Derick Varn)

Anti-Intellectualism in America (feat. C. Derick Varn)

From Emancipations Podcast by Daniel Tutt

February 27, 2026 · 2h 28m · Episode 144

About this episode

The episode explores the roots of anti-intellectualism in American life with guest C. Derick Varn.

We discuss the roots of anti-intellectualism in American life for the first episode in a four-part series co-created and presented with C. Derick Varn, "The Problem of Intellectuals." Learn more about C. Derick Varn by checking out his show "VarnVlog" https://www.patreon.com/c/varnvlog/posts These are the primary readings we discuss: Anti-Intellectualism in American Life by Richard Hofstadter The American Intellectual Elite by Charles Kadushin The New Radicalism in America: The Intellectual as Social Type by Christopher Lasch The Future of Intellectuals and the Rise of the New Class by Alvin Gouldner "The Missing Generation: Academics and the Communist Party from the Depression to the Cold War" by Ellen Schrecker

People in this episode

Host: Daniel Tutt

Guest: C. Derick Varn

Topics covered

  • anti-intellectualism
  • American culture
  • intellectual discourse
  • social critique
  • historical analysis

Keywords

  • anti-intellectualism
  • American life
  • intellectuals
  • cultural critique
  • historical roots

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, The American Intellectual Elite, The New Radicalism in America: The Intellectual as Social Type, The Future of Intellectuals and the Rise of the New Class, The Missing Generation: Academics and the Communist Party from the Depression to the Cold War

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