The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
By Carl Trueman

1. Would you Recommend this Book?
Absolutely, there is no more insightful book about our current world than this one; Trueman
makes sense of a world that is hard to make sense of. This book has been one of the most
impactful books written in the past 20 years.

2. What is the Main Point?
Trueman argues convincingly that the modern conception of the self and the glorification of what
he calls “expressive individualism” is actually the result of a long history of philosophical steps
away from one’s identity being grounded in external truths like family, God, community, to
internal psychological reflection. Trueman walks out this historical trajectory through very
specific leaders and thinkers and shows how we got to the place where someone could say, “I’m
a man trapped in a woman’s body” or anything of that effect.

3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?
Definitely read chapters 1-2, and then chapter 5; but if you don’t want to read the whole thing, it
would be better to just read the shorter version that he wrote called A Strange New World.

4. Why does this book Matter?
It is easy to just think our world is insane and without reason when we hear people say things
like, “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body,” or that their truth is the only truth that matters or
even phrases like “Follow your heart,” or “Be true to yourself,” but Trueman makes sense of it.

5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)
I wouldn’t call it difficult, but it also probably shouldn’t be called easy; its also quite long.

6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?
Trueman has quickly become one of my very favorite authors; as soon as I finished this one I
read A Strange New World, which is actually just a shorter version of this one (I wanted to
reread it as soon as I finished but decided to just read the shorter one), and I have since read
his book Crisis of Confidence as well which is about modern churches reclaiming the historic
faith. You are welcome for introducing you to Trueman if I am currently having such a privilege.

7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?
One way the devil is lying to the modern Christians is trying to convince us that this expressive
individualism is self-evident and clearly true and best; Trueman debunks that with dominant
force.

8. What was One point of Disagreement?
I am not nearly learned enough to disagree with Trueman.

9. What are any other things that stood out to You?
His illustration at the beginning of the book grabbed me. He said if a patient walked into a
doctors office just half a century ago and said, “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body,” the
doctor would have told them (as all would have throughout history) that that was a problem with
their mind and we needed to bring their mind into conformance with their body; however, a short
few decades later, the doctor would tell them that this was a problem with their body, and we
needed to bring their body in conformance with their mind. This shift illustrates the change that
Trueman is explaining in this book.

10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one
to read first to help with this one?
I think Glen Scrivener’s The Air We Breathe would be helpful to read beforehand. As mentioned
above, Trueman’s A Strange New World is basically just an abridged version of this book if
you’d rather read that one.