Fantasyland

How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History

Kurt Andersen

The book explores the historical evolution of American culture and its inclination towards the fantastical and irrational, tracing a lineage of magical thinking, conspiracy theories, and the blurring of reality and fiction. It argues that this cultural trajectory has culminated in a society where subjective belief often trumps empirical evidence, deeply influencing politics, religion, and media.

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Evil Geniuses

The Unmaking of America: A Recent History

Kurt Andersen

The book examines the economic, cultural, and political transformations in the United States since the 1970s, arguing that a coalition of wealthy elites and right-wing activists engineered a shift towards unfettered capitalism that has increased inequality and undermined democracy. It delves into the consequences of these changes, including the erosion of the middle class, the rise of corporate power, and the weakening of governmental and societal institutions meant to protect the public interest.

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