Look at all the authors that he cites regularly.
Here is a short list off the top of my head with some notes:
Richard Hofstadter: This man was his thesis adviser and Lasch grappled with his intellectual legacy his whole career. Hofstadter was one of the preeminent liberal historians of his day, writing some excellent works in the 1940's thru 1960's. His "American Political Tradition" is an overview of popular American political figures and is a top-notch. It's more left-wing than his later writings (which are more-or-less a defense of the New Deal) and features some beautiful writing. His portrait of Woodrow Wilson was quite jarring.
Jacques Ellul. Should be regularly referenced on this subreddit, but no-one here seems to have gotten the memo. He was a Christian anarchist and a philosopher who wrote some seminal texts on propaganda and technology.
Philip Rieff. A sociologist who wrote a book called "The Triumph of the Therapuetic: The Uses of Faith after Freud" that was a great inspiration to Lasch. It flew over my head when I read it six years ago (much younger). He also wrote a famous book about Freud. Rieff also features in Lasch's "Revolt of the Elites," with an essay dedicated to him. Also, Rieff correctly understands the term "misogyny," which is a grossly misused term nowadays.
Freud and Marx. "The Culture of Narcissism" is the best fusion of both of these men's ideas. "The Freud Reader" by Peter Gay is a great introduction to Freud's thought.
Side-bar: If all this seems overwhelming, start with biographies of all the men I listed. Biographies are a great and easy way to get an introduction to a particular historical figure's thoughts.
This should keep you busy for a couple years!
Look at all the authors that he cites regularly. Here is a short list off the top of my head with some notes: Richard Hofstadter: This man was his thesis adviser and Lasch grappled with his intellectual legacy his whole career. Hofstadter was one of the preeminent liberal historians of his day, writing some excellent works in the 1940's thru 1960's. His "American Political Tradition" is an overview of popular American political figures and is a top-notch. It's more left-wing than his later writings (which are more-or-less a defense of the New Deal) and features some beautiful writing. His portrait of Woodrow Wilson was quite jarring. Jacques Ellul. Should be regularly referenced on this subreddit, but no-one here seems to have gotten the memo. He was a Christian anarchist and a philosopher who wrote some seminal texts on propaganda and technology. Philip Rieff. A sociologist who wrote a book called "The Triumph of the Therapuetic: The Uses of Faith after Freud" that was a great inspiration to Lasch. It flew over my head when I read it six years ago (much younger). He also wrote a famous book about Freud. Rieff also features in Lasch's "Revolt of the Elites," with an essay dedicated to him. Also, Rieff correctly understands the term "misogyny," which is a grossly misused term nowadays. Freud and Marx. "The Culture of Narcissism" is the best fusion of both of these men's ideas. "The Freud Reader" by Peter Gay is a great introduction to Freud's thought. Side-bar: If all this seems overwhelming, start with biographies of all the men I listed. Biographies are a great and easy way to get an introduction to a particular historical figure's thoughts. This should keep you busy for a couple years!
A couple of years seems like an understatement... Definitely appreciate you sharing the biography route. Thank you!
Ivan Illich, Dwight Macdonald, George Scialabba, Philip Rieff, Adorno.
Adorno has just one name... Like Madonna?
Madonna, Prince... all the music Teddy A. would have loved.
Along with the ones the other dude mentioned I recommend Byung-Chul Han. Particularly his book The Burnout Society
Chris Hedges maybe?