Pangle's discussion has the virtues of brevity, of first-hand knowledge of the man himself, and of the culture that grew up around him in the 1960's and 1970's. It is probably not a book that will help elucidate Straussian thought for the "outsider," but rather one which will serve to spark debate among those already immersed in Strauss' work. The biographical material at the beginning is touching, but much of the text is written in the Straussian dialect (e.g., "comes to light as"); Pangle, as far as I can tell, does not concern himself with the task of encapsulating the most easily understood of Strauss' precepts, or even remarks, for the sake of the general reader whose interest has been piqued by the media hype. Still, he has done a great service in perpetuating interest in Strauss' work in the present generation.
