Title: Why we hate us : American discontent in the new millennium /
Authors: Meyer, Dick.; Vidal, Gore, 1925-2012
Publisher: Crown Publishers,
Year: 2008
Subjects: Political culture United States.; Popular culture United States; Civilization; Political culture; Popular culture; Social conditions; United States Civilization; United States Social conditions; United States
Abstract: Here, journalist Meyer nails America's early-twenty-first-century mood disorder. He points out the most widespread symptoms, including the belligerence of partisan politics that perverts our democracy, the decline of once common manners, the vulgarity of Hollywood entertainment, the superficiality and untrustworthiness of the news media, the cult of celebrity, and the disappearance of authentic neighborhoods and voluntary organizations (the kind that have actual meetings where one can hobnob instead of just clicking in an online contribution). Meyer argues that when the social, spiritual, and political turmoil that followed the sixties collided with the technological and media revolution at the turn of the century, something inside us hit overload: our culture no longer reflects our own values. As a result, we are now morally and existentially tired, disoriented, anchorless, and defensive. The author also offers an uplifting prescription for breaking out of our current morass and learning how to hate us less.--From publisher description.
Contents: Land of the fake -- Early twenty-first-century irritants -- America untied -- OmniMedia -- Phony people, phony places -- A civic war -- OmniMarketing -- The character gap -- Authenticity, thoughtfulness, and many things.