WE’RE ONLY HUMAN: Andrew Ferguson reviews The Kingdom of Speech by Tom Wolfe:

Clearing the popularizers from the field, as many specialists would like to do, would cede all scientific argument to scientists, who in many notable cases have not earned the deference they demand. The danger is doubled when scientists use science to draw metaphysical lessons—when, that is, they assert that human beings and primates are in essence the same kind of creature. A flurry of data and polysyllabic detail shouldn’t obscure the fact that such a thesis defies human experience and devalues the noblest human endeavors (including science, by the way).

Wolfe joins a small and hardy band of writers and other high-brows who take joy in staring down the bullies of scientism: Marilynne Robinson, David Berlinski, Wendell Berry, Thomas Nagel, a few others. But Wolfe is the best of them. And, listen, he does it . . .  somehow . . . I mean, really!!!! – at the (((HEE_YAH!))) mother-lovin’ age of eighty-freakin’-six!!!!

(Sorry.)

Heh. Read the whole thing.™

And if you missed it in late August, here’s my own review of Wolfe’s new book, written in a flurry after staying up ‘til 3:00 am or so to devour the whole book immediately upon its publication.