Difference between revisions of "Leonard Lewin"
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{{person | {{person | ||
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_C._Lewin | |wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_C._Lewin | ||
| + | |amazon=https://www.amazon.com/Report-Iron-Mountain-Possibility-Desirability/dp/068482390X?ref_=ast_author_dp | ||
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|birth_date=2 October 1916 | |birth_date=2 October 1916 | ||
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|death_place= | |death_place= | ||
|constitutes=writer | |constitutes=writer | ||
| + | |alma_mater=Harvard | ||
| + | |description=Best known as the (ostensible?) author of ''[[Report from Iron Mountain]]'' | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | '''Leonard C Lewin''' was an American writer. Lewin is best known as the author of ''[[Report from Iron Mountain]]''. The the settled concensus of western opinion is that it constitutes a 'hoax' or, as Lewin, its ostensible author, tells us, a 'satire'. Be that as it may, events over the 50 years since its original publication confirm it as a remarkably precient piece of fiction analogous to [[Aldous Huxley]]'s '[[Brave New World]]' and [[Orwell]]'s '[[1984]]' a precient analysis of why war is considered necessary by the power-brokers of the western world. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Personal life== | ||
| + | Lewin graduated from [[Harvard University]]. Before becoming a writer, he worked as a labor organizer in [[New England]] and in his father's sugar refinery in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]. He was twice married: first to Iris Zinn Lewin and later to poet, playwright and children's book author [[Eve Merriam]]. Both marriages ended in divorce. Later, his "longtime companion" was Lorraine Davis.<ref name=nyt/> | ||
| + | He is survived by his two children, Julie and Michael Lewin, the latter of whom continues his legacy as an author, residing in the UK. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Report From Iron Mountain== | ||
| + | The satire ''Report From Iron Mountain on the Possibility and Desirability of Peace'' was published in [[1967]] by a non-fiction publisher. An introductory interview and a short introduction give the impression that the rest of the work is the report of a group of scientists working in secret. This "Special Study Group" met in a [[nuclear bomb]]-proof bunker called "Iron Mountain" to examine the negative consequences of a long peace and to develop alternatives.<ref name=nyt>https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/30/us/l-c-lewin-writer-of-satire-of-government-plot-dies-at-82.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, one of the scientists, called "John Doe" in the satire, decided to make the final report available to the public. For this purpose, he approached Leonard Lewin, who then established the necessary contacts with the "Dial Press" at the [[Simon & Schuster]] [[Publishing industry|publishing house]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The report's conclusions are sobering, stating that "[[peace]] is not in the interest of a stable society". [[War]] is too important for [[the economy]] to be "abolished". What's more, governments derive their authority from their ability to wage war and therefore have no interest in bringing about a state of lasting peace. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, if lasting peace is unavoidable, the government should initiate alternative programs: the [[welfare state]], a [[space program]] or a gigantic arms control program. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In addition, the creation of "[[alternative enemies]]" is a possible solution; Threats from [[aliens]], [[asteroids]] or [[massive global environmental pollution]] were suggested. But [[gladiatorial games]] or [[public trials]] like those in the [[Spanish Inquisition]] are also conceivable. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Impact of the report=== | ||
| + | When the report was published, many people believed it to be authentic. This impression was reinforced by the general mistrust of the [[US government]], which specifically instructed its departments to present the "report" as a joke. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A right-wing group ([[Liberty Lobby]]) went so far as to reprint the report on the grounds that a government report is not subject to [[copyright]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In [[1972]], five years after the book was published, Lewin acknowledged his authorship.<ref name=nyt/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Lewin also wrote ''Triage'' (1972), a novel about a covert group dedicated to murder for social benefit, to eliminate those who either obstruct or drag down the progressive interests of the commonwealth.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Triage-Leonard-C-Lewin/dp/0356041891/ref=sr_1_1?crid=M0ZAAFS6H7DM&keywords=Leonard+C.+Lewin+triage&qid=1701489957&s=books&sprefix=leonard+c.+lewin+tri%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C468&sr=1-1</ref> | ||
{{SMWDocs}} | {{SMWDocs}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 04:07, 2 December 2023
 Leonard Lewin     (writer) | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 October 1916 |
| Died | 28 January 1999 (Age 82) |
| Alma mater | Harvard |
Best known as the (ostensible?) author of Report from Iron Mountain | |
Leonard C Lewin was an American writer. Lewin is best known as the author of Report from Iron Mountain. The the settled concensus of western opinion is that it constitutes a 'hoax' or, as Lewin, its ostensible author, tells us, a 'satire'. Be that as it may, events over the 50 years since its original publication confirm it as a remarkably precient piece of fiction analogous to Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' and Orwell's '1984' a precient analysis of why war is considered necessary by the power-brokers of the western world.
Contents
Personal life
Lewin graduated from Harvard University. Before becoming a writer, he worked as a labor organizer in New England and in his father's sugar refinery in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was twice married: first to Iris Zinn Lewin and later to poet, playwright and children's book author Eve Merriam. Both marriages ended in divorce. Later, his "longtime companion" was Lorraine Davis.[1] He is survived by his two children, Julie and Michael Lewin, the latter of whom continues his legacy as an author, residing in the UK.
Report From Iron Mountain
The satire Report From Iron Mountain on the Possibility and Desirability of Peace was published in 1967 by a non-fiction publisher. An introductory interview and a short introduction give the impression that the rest of the work is the report of a group of scientists working in secret. This "Special Study Group" met in a nuclear bomb-proof bunker called "Iron Mountain" to examine the negative consequences of a long peace and to develop alternatives.[1]
However, one of the scientists, called "John Doe" in the satire, decided to make the final report available to the public. For this purpose, he approached Leonard Lewin, who then established the necessary contacts with the "Dial Press" at the Simon & Schuster publishing house.
The report's conclusions are sobering, stating that "peace is not in the interest of a stable society". War is too important for the economy to be "abolished". What's more, governments derive their authority from their ability to wage war and therefore have no interest in bringing about a state of lasting peace.
However, if lasting peace is unavoidable, the government should initiate alternative programs: the welfare state, a space program or a gigantic arms control program.
In addition, the creation of "alternative enemies" is a possible solution; Threats from aliens, asteroids or massive global environmental pollution were suggested. But gladiatorial games or public trials like those in the Spanish Inquisition are also conceivable.
Impact of the report
When the report was published, many people believed it to be authentic. This impression was reinforced by the general mistrust of the US government, which specifically instructed its departments to present the "report" as a joke.
A right-wing group (Liberty Lobby) went so far as to reprint the report on the grounds that a government report is not subject to copyright.
In 1972, five years after the book was published, Lewin acknowledged his authorship.[1]
Lewin also wrote Triage (1972), a novel about a covert group dedicated to murder for social benefit, to eliminate those who either obstruct or drag down the progressive interests of the commonwealth.[2]
A Document by Leonard Lewin
| Title | Document type | Publication date | Subject(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Report from Iron Mountain.pdf | book | 1967 | War NWO | A precient analysis of why war is considered necessary by the power-brokers of the western world |
References
- ↑ a b c https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/30/us/l-c-lewin-writer-of-satire-of-government-plot-dies-at-82.html
- ↑ https://www.amazon.com/Triage-Leonard-C-Lewin/dp/0356041891/ref=sr_1_1?crid=M0ZAAFS6H7DM&keywords=Leonard+C.+Lewin+triage&qid=1701489957&s=books&sprefix=leonard+c.+lewin+tri%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C468&sr=1-1
