- Published: 24 March 2016
- ISBN: 9781473545939
- Imprint: Vintage Digital
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 288
Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think about Art, Pleasure, Beauty and Truth
- Published: 24 March 2016
- ISBN: 9781473545939
- Imprint: Vintage Digital
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 288
He wears his considerable learning lightly – although not apologetically: Scott knows that the arguments he is exploring have a long pedigree.
Jonathan Derbyshire, Financial Times
Jam-packed treasure trove… The result is often deeply rewarding.
Andrew Barrow, Spectator
It’s a serious tome that raises criticism to the level of art.
Jonathan Dean, Sunday Times
That he succeeds in speaking to us all…while at the same time delineating his own specific role in culture, is only one of the many pleasures to be found in this erudite work.
Lesley Mcdowell, Independent on Sunday
Fluent, learned volume… Conscious of the irony that a culture in which everyone passionately wants their opinions heard is systematically devaluing critical thinking and analysis… Reflects the age-old critic's dilemma of how subjective to be – one of many fascinating quandaries that are put through the intellectual wringer here by a calm and clever champion of an unfashionable art.
Hannah McGill, Independent
Profound yet also perhaps surprisingly uplifting appreciation of the art of criticism… He blends intimacy with something more objective, which is perhaps the ideal combination for the critic… That he succeeds in speaking to us all ("everyone’s a critic"), whilst at the same time delineating his own specific role in culture, is only one of the many pleasures to be found in this erudite work.
Lesley McDowell, Independent
You don’t have to have a personal investment in the future of criticism to find this a stimulating read.
Hannah McGill
I love Scott’s characterization of criticism… Better Living Through Criticism is, in short, both the most important and the most annoying book on the topic I’ve read in years. Scott cold not have picked a better time to highlight the usefulness of criticism than this moment.
Sight and Sound
Truly accessible, avoids obscurity and demonstrates learning without demanding it of the reader… Nothing less than a work of art.
Tanjil Rashid, Prospect
One of the funniest, smartest, most articulate critics around.
Gaby Wood, Daily Telegraph
An engaging host… His voice is good-natured, even chummy, the prose populous and bright.
Jenny Hendrix, Times Literary Supplement