The Importance of the Past
The Unbroken Thread - Discovering the wisdom of tradition in an age of chaos
By Sohrab Ahmari
Born into a well-to-do family, Sohrab Ahmari spent his first thirteen years in Iran before immigrating to the United States. During that time, his faith in Islam faded to atheism, but in 2016 he converted to Roman Catholicism. Today, Ahmari is the op-ed editor of the New York Post, a columnist for the religious journal First Things, and a contributing editor for the Catholic Herald magazine. Somehow he still finds time to write books.
Kyle with his copy of The Unbroken Thread, by Sohrab Ahmari
In the introduction to The Unbroken Thread, he states, “A radically assimilated immigrant isn’t supposed to complain about his freedom. Yet as I grow into my faith and my role as a father, I tremble over the prospect of my son’s growing up in an order that doesn’t erect any barriers against individual appetites and if anything, goes out of its way to demolish existing barriers.”
As a father, I have had similar worries. I sometimes wonder if the Greatest Generation of World War II is destined to fade into the directionless generation of the new millennium.
Americans often act as if they have nothing to learn from the past. Yet we ponder many of the same questions that have perplexed those of earlier generations. The Unbroken Thread is built around twelve moral questions that human beings have asked since the dawn of civilization. These include. “How do you justify your life,” “What is freedom for,” “What is good about death,” and more. Each question is paired with a biographical sketch of someone from history that dealt with the issue. Thus we travel through western literature reading classical and Christian authors that are often ignored today while examining the great questions of civilization.
Ahmari’s book is well-researched but doesn’t provide definitive answers. It illuminates facts and history in a writing style that is both profound and accessible at the same time. In a chapter highlighting Confucius, we learn about the duty to family. While examining politics, we learn about St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Thus the book works as an introduction to classical and Christian authors that many might never read. Ahmari is Catholic, but only four of the twelve chapters feature Catholic thinkers.
Most of us believe that what is modern is best. In some fields, that is often true. For serious illness, I prefer modern medicine over the practices of a few generations ago. But, does the modern practice always work the best? Should there be room for herbal or traditional options? I found myself reexamining such questions.
Despite Ahmari’s accessible writing style, this book was not a quick read for me. I found myself stopping and pondering many passages. Still, as I finished each chapter, I felt something profound had been revealed. I was glad to have found the book but, sad to have finished it. I recommend this book for all conservatives seeking a deeper understanding of their beliefs.
