Grandstanding

Grandstanding is an absolute MUST READ for anybody using social media to discuss the causes they care about. * Laci Green, sex educator *
Grandstanding is a valuable and timely book. It provides a lively, engaging and informed account of some of the crucial issues and troubling problems that we face, and which are disrupting liberal democratic political and social life throughout the world right now. While it will certainly stimulate conversation and debate, it is balanced and moderate in its tone Readers will, obviously, vary in their responses to both the general analysis and to the particular examples. But whether you are persuaded by this account of grandstanding or not, this is a timely, stimulating and significant book that deserves to be widely read and discussed. * Times Literary Supplement *
Tosi and Warmke keep it short and snappy. Fortunately, they do not write like the philosophers they are. ...Even if this all sounds like common sense, we probably know somebody else who should read this short, lucid and useful little book. * Longview News Journal *
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the ethics of discourse. Grandstanding is an accessible and informative introduction to a neglected topic. The book also has a light touch. Whereas delving into moral issues such as abortion and euthanasia can be depressing, grandstanding is an amusing topic to read about, and it's gratifying to see such self-promotion exposed. Tosi and Warmke do a good job of showing how grandstanding connects with issues such as political polarization, honesty, and respect for others. What they say is, by and large, persuasive. * National Review *
"[A] timely and sharp new work bridging philosophy with online culture. * Nicholas Clairmont, The Washington Free Beacon *
Tosi and Warmke are nothing if not insightful. We all need to hear this message. * Scot McKnight, Christianity Today *
This may be the book of the decade at least in the sense that it explains so much behavior distinctive of or amplified by our social media-fueled decade. * Jason Brennan, 200-Proof Liberals *
Tosi and Warmke have produced something genuinely rare--a work of philosophy that addresses issues of great practical importance with writing that is lucid and accessible. Anyone concerned about a public culture of outrage and polarization will benefit from reading this book. It even explains how Nietzsche can shed light on our politics! * Dan Moller, University of Maryland, and author of Governing Least: A New England Libertarianism (OUP, 2019) *
Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke have written a great book on a topic that has been underexplored in academic literature: moral grandstanding. Moral grandstanding occurs when someone acts on their desire to impress others by showing off their moral qualities. As Tosi and Warmke discuss, there are dangers to moral grandstanding, and those dangers have been amplified by social media, leading to 'pile-ons' and extreme outrage. Their careful analysis of this issue has practical implications for devising strategies to mitigate posturing outrage. This book is an important contribution to social philosophy, but in addition to that it is highly accessible and a very important read for those who want a better understanding of this social phenomenon. * Julia Driver, University of Texas at Austin *
We live in an age of moral outrage--every day billions plug into social media to learn about, or share, the latest source of outrage. While moral language can inspire social change, it can also fracture society, fuel conflict, and foster harassment. This highly accessible and timely book by Tosi & Warmke explains why moral grandstanding can be contagious as well as corrosive to our discourse. This excellent book is a must read for anyone interested in civil discourse, moral cognition, or social media. * Jay Van Bavel, New York University *