Shattuck is an English professor with an interesting critical review of knowledge that should remain hidden, including criticism of the fashion for De Sade, and of recent episodes in genetics. ( )

Shattuck's only effective argument in this considerably over-written scholarly study is his argument that violent pornography correlates strongly with sexually sadistic serial killers (although he fails to even address the issue of whether violent pornography is a cause or an effect in that correlation). Shattuck is a literary scholar attempting sociology, and frankly, he's not very good at it. His concept of language and myth as potential contagion has promise as a literary theory, but it was worthy of far more development than it was given. ( )

Interesting, in all but the chapter on the Marquis de Sade. Perhaps the author would have benefited more from extending his reading out into the literature of other cultures (he's certainly well-read). Get a fresh perspective on a civilization sweltering in sin. There's no merit in devolving into an embarrassing and childish fetish of western literati. What do they say about trawling the sordid for the sublime?

The unicorn and sphinx? Hmm.... ( )

A book that questions whether or not there are things we cannot know; things we should not know; and whether the pursuit of certain knowledge is for the betterment or detriment of humanity. The author uses various literary works as the basis for his discussion. Enlightening and thought-provoking. Due to the nature of some of the material discussed (e.g. de Sade's Justine), this is NOT for children. ( )

It makes some interesting points, but tends to make them over and over and over. If you read it, I would recommend skimming heavily. ( )

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/gergen/january97/forbid_1-2.html;
http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9702/reviews/sculley.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article771235.ece ( )