Whatever happened to Tradition? by Tim Stanley

This book was surprisingly engaging. It is well written and captures the readers interest quickly and hold it throughout. One might not anticipate it, given the subject matter of tradition and cultural change in the West, but it is also often quite light hearted and occasionally down-right funny.

 

It is slightly patchy, some chapters are stronger than others. He is on rather weak ground when discussing the monarchy and using this as an example of the positive role of tradition in society but much stronger when on subject areas which are obviously his strong points. His chapters on faith and religion are very strong and, as an agnostic, I found these aspects of the book the most illuminating and thought provoking.

This is not a calumny about the West having lost its heritage and tradition and falling into decay. Rather it is a serious exploration of the role of tradition, and regard for the past and societal authority, in society and what we may lose if we jettison all of these safeguards in a culture which increasingly lauds iconoclasm and taboo busting.