The Future of Truth

Praise for THE FUTURE OF TRUTH

“The ‘g’ word is now tossed about so blithely it has become a sibling to the blurbist’s go-to cliché: brilliant. If there is any living artist who overwhelmingly deserves to be dubbed a genius, that living artist is Werner Herzog, and The Future of Truth is yet more proof.” —The Baffler

“In these impassioned pieces, [Herzog] offers his insights into the threats to the concept of truth . . . Herzog is an engaging ally . . . An erudite plea to not give up on truth.” —Kirkus

“Here’s proof that a book doesn’t have to be long to be weighty. The new book by filmmaker Herzog (nimbly translated by Michael Hofmann) is slim, but it’s packed with enough ideas to fill several doorstop-sized tomes.” —Booklist

“Herzog is an erudite and elegant writer seeking to understand what he considers the simulacrum of truth . . . Herzog concludes, on a more positive note, that the hard work of discovering the truth is what gives life dignity and meaning. An intelligent and thoughtful reflection on the truth and how we got here.” —Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Werner Herzog

“Stepping outside a conventional human identity to achieve an ecstatic vision is the ruling passion that runs through this astonishing book. . . . Regaling stories that sometimes seem beyond credibility, Herzog does not claim to be offering a literal rendition of the events of his life . . . His memoir should be read for what it is: a visionary masterpiece that speaks, as did the ancient Greek daimon, of the world of mortals and the regions that seem to lie beyond.” —John Gray, The New Statesman

“The book is nonlinear and exuberantly free-associative, less a narrative than an extravagant demonstration of sensibility . . . I feel the same sense of awe when I contemplate the phenomenon of Werner Herzog as I do when I contemplate the pyramids. Amazing, that this fabulous impracticality exists.” —Becca Rothfeld, The Washington Post

“Written in that rich, dramatic speaking style . . . Every Man for Himself and God Against All is packed with memorable vignettes and tidbits of information . . . God also makes two appearances . . . But what He’s wearing is something only Herzog could dream up. So is every word in this entertaining and informative book.” —Odie Henderson, The Boston Globe

“Like his films (Fitzcarraldo, say, or Aguirre, the Wrath of God), Herzog’s memoir is a decidedly nontraditional piece of storytelling . . . The book is written in a literary voice that is outspoken and conversational . . . (The translation by Hofmann, who has also translated books by Wim Wenders and Franz Kafka, is delightful.) A fascinating portrait of an inventive and idiosyncratic filmmaker.” —Booklist

“Herzog in all his extravagant, perspicacious glory . . . witty and captivating as he recollects all kinds of odd, curious, and outlandish events, people, and injuries . . . Fans and neophytes alike will relish the opportunity to delve deeply into Herzog’s fascinating mind.” —Kirkus (starred review)