The American cultural historian and philosopher Walter J. Ong, S.J. (1912-2003) studied the deep developments of Western culture extensively. As a result, his multifaceted work can help us get our cultural bearings in the world today. In the present book, Thomas Farrell provides a comprehensive view of Ong’s thought, but he also shows the importance of Ong in the contemporary intellectual landscape.

Ong has made a contribution in the following disciplines: literary studies, communication, theology and religious studies, psychology, literary history, and linguistics, and he is a recognized scholar in still other areas. The objective of this book is not so much to summarize and synthesize but rather to provide some interpretative guides that will bring the reader into Ong’s own lively discussion of contemporary intellectual issues.