After reviewing the philosophical and psychological literature on the question of evil, Rosenthal finds the answers unsatisfactory and therefore adopts a literary approach to the question. By doing so, Rosenthal shows what evil is and how it is a perennial threat to us. For Rosenthal, "narrative self understanding" is the heart of a good life -- and of goodness itself. Evil is not an abstract concept but a lived reality and situation in which we encounter. If you want to understand evil as well as to know how to live your life, A Good Look at Evil is a perfect way to begin writing your own story.
I was most challenged by Rosenthal's review of Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem. Because, as Rosenthal convincingly argues, it was Arendt's own inability to tell the truthfulness about her own life that clouded her telling of Eichmann's trial. And, in so doing, mistold the story of evil that was at the heart of Eichmann's life.
A Good Look at Evil is a challenging book. But it opens the questions that swirl around the nothingness that is evil in fresh ways. It's a must-read.
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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.