This book is a transcription of a series of academic lectures by Lionel Trilling concerning the subtle shifts in ethics in the culture. Trilling begins by examining the broader context of ethics, the improvement of the moral life through constant testing and revision. This happens both on an individual level through the constant revision of one's believes, behaviors, and decisions, and also on a broader cultural level, as communities work through what constitutes ethical behavior.
Then, Trilling sets about to define the two terms of his title, sincerity and authenticity, but he does not offer his own definitions. Instead, he spends a great deal of time considering various definitions, some from written works by others, and some that he has heard other people say. The basic gist of the words is this: Sincerity is a moral feature of genuinely identifying with your beliefs and mores (pronounced: morays). Authenticity has to do with "staying true to one's self."
Trilling identifies in these lectures (originally delivered in 1970 at Harvard) that the culture has shifted from moral sincerity to "authenticity" and truth to one's self. He says that this new modern ideal will bring changes in every aspect of the culture, and he notices that the West has already begun to see art and academia that suggests "authenticity to who one really is" is a new standard for the Western world.
