“Scott offers a brilliant series of readings that do not merely elucidate the irony of truth but also extend an urgent reminder of the critical role that reading can play in an era where, ironically, ‘postcritical’ appeals to experiential immediacy have risen against the backdrop of unprecedented technological mediation. Elaborating pivotal moments in the oeuvres of Hegel and his readers—both at the level of conceptual formations as well as specific formulations; or, at the level of the ‘spirit’ and the ‘letter’—Scott exposes the far-reaching implications of Hegelian thought for the practice of theory today.”

Kristina Mendicino, Brown University

“An impressive, original, and exhilarating exploration of Hegel’s theory and practice of speculative reading (and writing) that demonstrates the profound importance of dialectical thinking for contemporary literary theory. Offering a fine-grained reading of some of the most difficult passages of Hegel’s philosophy, Scott makes a compelling argument for the centrality of what he calls ‘speculative experience’—specifically, the experience of speculative reading as a repetitive, retroactively self-correcting, self-defamiliarizing, self-undermining, and self-surprising procedure. We need to learn again how to read. This book shows us how.”

Rebecca Comay, University of Toronto

“Scott foregrounds the experiential character of Hegelian thinking and reminds us that on the Hegelian path nothing may be presupposed or taken away. In this sense, reading Hegel is like reading literary texts. Those for whom that is too inconsequential may turn to Scott’s argument that Hegel’s philosophy yields caricatures, which can function as seeds for further growth and harvest. The ironic twists abound in this sophisticated defense of the experience of reading.”

Katrin Pahl, Johns Hopkins University