The Wilding of America: Greed, Violence, and the New American Dream (Contemporary Social Issues)
by Charles Derber
Category: Social Science

The American dream champions individualism. But at what price? In the fully updated fifth edition of The Wilding of America, Charles Derber chronicles the latest incidents of “wilding”- acts of self-interested violence or greed that weaken the social fabric. Each chapter of the new edition has been thoroughly revised. New discussions include: an analysis of global corporate power in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis including an in-depth look at factory workers in both Guatemala and South China; an examination of the state of New Orleans in 2009; and a look at the impact of the Obama administration on wilding behavior. In addition, two all new chapters have been added to the Fifth Edition. Chapter 5, Subprime Capitalism, examines the 2008 Wall street collapse including sections on the rise and fall of Bernie Madoff, the workings of the housing market, and the role of the media before and after the collapse. Chapter 9, The Tragedy of the Commons, identifies how wilding behavior threatens the building blocks of a good society. This chapter specifically examines the effects of wilding on our public space, social infrastructure, and natural environment.