This image is the cover for the book Cultural Repercussions

Cultural Repercussions

A revised & expanded examination of the words and ideas of the man of letters and drummer extraordinaire of the rock band Rush.

In January 2020, the world lost not only one of the greatest drummers, but also one of the most insightful lyricists. And a brilliant writer.

Though Neil Peart was universally lauded as drummer for legendary rock band Rush, few studies have been devoted to his writings. Yet, Peart was very much a man of his words. He wrote lyrics, travelogues, essays, cultural criticism, short stories, and fantasy novels. The themes in his writings are timeless: personal journeys, exploration, excellence, growth, philosophy, art, satisfaction and happiness, religion, politics, individualism, natural history, life, love, loss, redemption, and beauty.

Peart wanted every person to persevere through individual trials, find unique gifts and abilities and, ultimately, true happiness. He did not just profess such things; he lived them. Never satisfied with second best or any form of defeat, Peart challenged himself to live up to his own philosophy. And he always succeeded with grace, which earned him even more fervent admirers. Since his death in 2020, Neil Peart has continued to inspire thousands through his music, his words, and his example.

This book—revised and expanded to incorporate Peart’s final years—carefully examines the influence that his life, his witness, and his words have had on others. Neil Peart lived life to the fullest, and he made us each better for it.

“Includes some of the strongest analysis of Peart’s lyrics that you’ll find, and does a rigorous job of nailing down the tenets of Peart’s ever-evolving philosophy.” —PROG Magazine

Bradley J. Birzer

Bradley J. Birzer holds the Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies and is Professor of History at Hillsdale College, Michigan. In 2010, he co-founded The Imaginative Conservative website, and, in addition to writing a weekly column, serves as Editor at Large. He also writes for Spirit of Cecilia, Ignatius Insight, Acton, Catholic World Report, and his personal website, Stormfields. In 1990, he earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and, in 1998, he earned his PhD from Indiana University. He and his wife (Dedra) and have seven children, four cats, and one dog. For the 2014-2015 school year, Birzer held the positions of “Scholar in Residence” and “Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy,” University of Colorado-Boulder. Birzer cherishes human liberty and dignity; baking; cooking; playing Legos with his kids; hiking and backpacking; good writing; Great Books and Great Ideas; western civilization; science fiction; Apple products; and progressive rock and progressive jazz.

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